As an update after removing wicd and reinstalling NetworkManager-Gnome in my Karmic NBR installation on the Asus Eee 1101HA w/the above-mentioned linux-backports-modules-karmic my wireless connection is now stable.
As an update after removing wicd and reinstalling NetworkManager- Gnome in my Karmic NBR installation on the Asus Eee 1101HA w/the above-mentioned linux-backports -modules- karmic my wireless connection is now stable.