So I just fired up redhat 9.0, wow has redhat and linux changed for the better. I installed on a Thinkpad T23, and I can't beleive now it autodetected the savage video card, and even found my network ...

Probably you had to use the router management tool (either web based or a CD that came with your router) to configure wireless on the router. Since you have already done that, you shouldn't need to ...