I don't know what fixed it. I did add a trivial
/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
# The below line not be changed otherwise we refuse to work
ctrl_interface=/var/run/wpa_supplicant
network={
key_mgmt=NONE
priority=-9999999
}
But it might have been that I never went to the gui screen (gnome) and
selected the unencrypted access point.
Anyway, I just rebooted and wireless works fine.
Thanks for the help/encouragement.
allan

