What USB wireless Ethernet device do you have? What version of Ubuntu are
you using. I have a D-Link DWA-125. Ubuntu 11.04 recognizes it when the OS
is installed, no modifications or additions to Ubuntu needed. !0.04 and
10.10 need a modification/addition to the setup then it works fine. It is
working now isn't it. (Posted using a D-Link DWA-125)

Also try,
Do a Google search for Ubuntu and your adaptor, for me it would be Ubuntu &
DWA-125