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On numerous setups, including the cards you are using i have found that the simplist quickest way to get a connection, even when there is one specified in /etc/network/interfaces.... once ubuntu is loaded i have to ifdown eth1, ifup eth1, and as i do this i bring up another terminal and do iwlist scan. this then scans for the networks and i pick my connection and address instantaneously.
I have found that if i just kill the dhclient3 process do iwlist scan then run dhclient3 eth1 the effect is the same. an instant connection. Most of the GUI's available are CRUD, including network manager. Most of them fail to get a connection at all, and the ones that do, never as quick as the method above, and none of them seem to want to connect on boot....
Can i fix this so that a iwlist scan is run as root on boot as it tries to bring up eth1? it might fix the problem . . . .