OK, another mystery.  I added the patch from the CD, added DKMS from the CD, added the bcmwl-kernel-source package, which crashed the system.  Backed out the bcmwl-kernel package.  Then, recompiled the STA driver downloaded from Broadcom, cleaned up the /etc/init.d/wifi.sh script, dropped and reloaded the newly compiled wl module, restarted networking, and voila! , the blue light blinks red and blue and the wireless interface is now working.  But, wifi-radar still can’t connect.

Browsing around for a different approach, I find that Ubuntu 9.10 comes with the latest and greatest version of Gnome Network Manager.  Hey, maybe that’s what that little antenna symbol in the top toolbar is…  Click, I can see the network offered; click, and I’m connected!  Whoof.  Almost an entire week since we started this upgrade, and five days of fighting with drivers and configurations, and we are back mobile-prepared again, just hours  before starting on our week-long road trip.  Now, if it will only survive a reboot…