spiralclimbing

This post would probably have been better tolerated in the "Wardriving" section, so forgive me if I crossed any "lines" here.
I have exhausted all research possibilities during many hours on google, yahoo, msn, etc.
I have an Orinoco Gold card pc24e-11-fc/r (imrwlpce2411r), with the original firmware. I originally attempted tests with this card many times on Windows 2000 Professional with many different drivers, and Netstumbler / Ethereal, with no luck. I finally had the idea that Netstumbler may be the problem, and decided to try Linux w/ Kismet. I seem to have a similar problem in Linux, so I wonder if my problem is the card / firmware / etc. This leads me to where I am now.

I am currently running the current version of Auditor. I cannot see normal data packets in Kismet. I see mostly management frames, and VERY few strange data frames, but I also notice many discarded packets that I cannot view.
I have tried monitor mode on both RH 7.2, 9.0 with patched orinoco_cs drivers, but I have NEVER been able to get this card to sniff properly in any mode, including orinoco_hopper.
Here is a bit of information that you may need:
cardctl ident = product info: "Lucent Technologies", "WaveLAN/IEEE". "Version 01.01"...

cardctl config = Vcc 5.0V...

iwconfig = IEEE 802.11-DS ESSID:"tony" Nickname:"HERMES I"

iwpriv = monitor (8BE8) : set 2 int & get 0

ifconfig = Link encap: Ethernet HW addr 00:02:2D:A9:E8:B8

lsmod = orinoco_cs, hermes, pcmcia, yenta_socket

(I have tried all variations of SSIDs.)

Can you give me some guidance, or point me in the right direction (without the flames)? Thanks in advance.

__________________
------------------------------------
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear--not absence of fear. Except
a creature be part coward, it is not a compliment to say he is brave; it is
merely a loose misapplication of the word."
Mark Twain