gateway ne56r41u laptop wifi atheros AR9485 ath9k

Hopefully this summary version of the previously opened question will be easier for y'all,
since thanks to actionparsnip there has been some improvement.
However the wifi still does not work.
The wifi connects and all, but its like the internet cant get thru from the card to the pc to the ubuntu to the firefox.

If you ping 8.8.8.8 do you get a reply?

a qualified yes. after next action, this became a yes.

if you run:

echo "nameserver 8.8.8.8" | sudo tee /etc/resolve.conf > /dev/null

Do you get Web access?

No.
but with the wire in and the wireless on, it now prefers the wire, but only if there's just one page in the browser.
after reboot, still no web access, but additional improvements noticed:
one, it doesn't put up all kinda chatter about how its struggling with the network
tryna boot. (that's with the wire connected).
two, it starts the wireless automatically (but only with the wire plugged in).
three, the ping returns nicer looking stuff, now, even with both gmail and this forum up.

really appreciate all this assistance. hope the shorter update makes it easier to reply. please any more help? thanks.