my router is the 2WIRE971 (first one) I can ping my router at 127.0.0.1 without a problem. On windows I use DHCP, so I'm assuming that is what I would have to use in linux. Thanks for all the help so far.

iwlist ath0 scan
Code:
ath0      Scan completed :
          Cell 01 - Address: 00:02:2D:8C:5D:13
                    ESSID:"2WIRE971"
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Quality=28/94  Signal level=-67 dBm  Noise level=-95 dBm
                    Encryption key:on
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s
                    Extra:bcn_int=100
          Cell 02 - Address: 00:11:50:32:C4:D3
                    ESSID:"belkin54g"
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
                    Quality=5/94  Signal level=-90 dBm  Noise level=-95 dBm
                    Encryption key:off
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
                              24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
                    Extra:bcn_int=100
          Cell 03 - Address: 00:13:10:1A:D1:D0
                    ESSID:"linksys"
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Quality=2/94  Signal level=-93 dBm  Noise level=-95 dBm
                    Encryption key:off
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
                              24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
                    Extra:bcn_int=100
          Cell 04 - Address: 00:13:10:74:B1:B5
                    ESSID:"anthony"
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.452 GHz (Channel 9)
                    Quality=5/94  Signal level=-90 dBm  Noise level=-95 dBm
                    Encryption key:on
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s
                              24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s; 9 Mb/s
                              12 Mb/s; 48 Mb/s
                    Extra:bcn_int=100
          Cell 05 - Address: 00:0D:72:98:D9:A9
                    ESSID:"2WIRE587"
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.437 GHz (Channel 6)
                    Quality=2/94  Signal level=-93 dBm  Noise level=-95 dBm
                    Encryption key:on
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 22 Mb/s
                    Extra:bcn_int=100
          Cell 06 - Address: 00:19:E3:32:C6:3E
                    ESSID:"Apple Network 32c63e"
                    Mode:Master
                    Frequency:2.462 GHz (Channel 11)
                    Quality=9/94  Signal level=-86 dBm  Noise level=-95 dBm
                    Encryption key:on
                    Bit Rates:1 Mb/s; 2 Mb/s; 5.5 Mb/s; 11 Mb/s; 6 Mb/s
                              9 Mb/s; 12 Mb/s; 18 Mb/s; 24 Mb/s; 36 Mb/s
                              48 Mb/s; 54 Mb/s
                    Extra:bcn_int=100
                    IE: IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 Version 1
                        Group Cipher : WEP-104 
                        Pairwise Ciphers (2) : CCMP TKIP 
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK  
                    IE: WPA Version 1
                        Group Cipher : WEP-104 
                        Pairwise Ciphers (1) : TKIP 
                        Authentication Suites (1) : PSK  
                    Extra:wme_ie=dd180050f2020101090002a3000027a4000042435e0062322f00