the best thing to do would be to read the forums, probably the best place for information, if you want to try linux without having to install it on your laptop or desktop try knoppix STD, its a bootable linux distro. download it burn it to cd pop it in and it boots to linux.
http://www.knoppix-std.org/ ,
check out kismet, linux wireless tool,
http://www.kismetwireless.net/ ,
good info Michagan wireless
http://www.michiganwireless.org/
wired and wireless tools, not free but you can demo them
http://www.wildpackets.com/,
portlan wireless loaded with lots of usefull info
http://sdots.com/wireless/
that should be enough to get you started