I don't understand wireless internet connectivity. Oh, I know that with a wireless connection you can somehow magically get on the internet without, uh, wires. But how to set it up and make it work is apparently beyond me.

I have a wireless network of sorts set up in the house -- I had to make TiVo's wireless USB gadget work when we went to Ooma VOIP phone and the TiVo phone connection quit working.

I can take SWMBO's laptop (an old Toshiba Tecra, about four or five years old) and turn it on, and it immediately sees the wireless router. If I click on the little wireless icon in the system tray, it brings up a window that says:

Status: Connected
Network: Doug-and-Jean
Duration: 12:08 [and incrementing upwards]
Speed: 54.0 Mbps
Signal Strength: [5 bars - Excellent]

Activity:
Packets sent: 677
Packets received: 0

If I look at "Properties" it says Atheros AR5006EG Wireless Network Adapter
and that "This device is working properly"

But, I cannot connect to the internet.

Obviously I am doing something wrong, and I know so little about wireless connectivity I don't even know what questions to ask.

Am I overlooking something [hopefully] simple enough that even I can understand it?

tanstaafl.