Connecting to Wi-Fi, alternatives to network manager

Hello All, Having a Telstra supplied Netgear Mobile modem, nominally a Telstra4GA device, I am not happy with the way that Network Manager connects, or fails, silently. What software and procedures do you use to connect to Wi-Fi networks? I am looking for something I can largely script, but also adapt to coping with connecting to other devices elsewhere now and then. I am also wanting something a little more informative and verbose, I may not initially understand all the returned information, but I can work on that. Regards, Mark Trickett