Anyone know much about wireless networks?

[Dark-Star]

So I picked up this like-new Linksys wireless gizmo at a local thrift store sans power brick for all of ten dollars (place is a freaking treasure trove), scrounged a substitute from our garage and checked it out with the onboard internet configuration - plug it into a computer, type in the internal IP address and get a website-like config screen. Looks like I got it up and running.

Now my problem is I don't know how to see if there's any wireless networks that I can connect to in my area. Nobody else in the house even uses anything wireless apart from a couple cordless phones, so I'm all alone. Are there some good windows/linux utilities to scan for them? Any help would be appreciated.

The model is WRT54GS, by the way.

[Lachrymose]

That device transmits wireless internet from a hardwired connection that you would provide.

It doesn't receive wireless internet.

If you have a laptop that has a wireless card, you could scan for available wireless connections.

But without a hardwired connection, the WRT54GS is pretty useless to you unless you want to use it to just network more than one computer internally (without internet).

[Dark-Star]

That device transmits wireless internet from a hardwired connection that you would provide.

It doesn't receive wireless internet.

If you have a laptop that has a wireless card, you could scan for available wireless connections.

But without a hardwired connection, the WRT54GS is pretty useless to you unless you want to use it to just network more than one computer internally (without internet).

...

Stinkbombs.

Oh well, at least it's a perfectly good router. I could certainly use one of those, plus it isn't nearly as bulky as the one I have now.

[Broomjockey]

Now my problem is I don't know how to see if there's any wireless networks that I can connect to in my area.

It is illegal to connect to another person's wireless network without their permission. The purpose of a wireless router is so that you can distribute your internet connection around your place of residence without stringing networking cable all over the place. If you need help setting up your computers on your network using your connection, feel free to make a new thread with the appropriate details. Until then, as a request for help in illegal matters, this one is closed.