Wireless Connection

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Basic help please for an ageing, but willing to learn, non-techo!

I have a laptop with Windows XP Home and wireless capability. If I open the
wireless key do I need a wireless modem or router or whatever they are called
(!) to access the Internet or is this only if there are no wireless networks
within range? We live in a rural area of Turkey with no close neighbours
with internet access so I can't test it out.

If I take my laptop with me to the UK or elsewhere can I use the wireless
capability to access the internet if there are networks within range -
airports, cafes, hotels, homes, etc?

I am afraid I just do not understand even the basics of wireless connections.

Help, please, jargon-free and preferably in words of not much more than one
syllable!!!

Many thanks
 
dande said:
Basic help please for an ageing, but willing to learn, non-techo!

I have a laptop with Windows XP Home and wireless capability. If I open the
wireless key do I need a wireless modem or router or whatever they are called
(!) to access the Internet or is this only if there are no wireless networks
within range? We live in a rural area of Turkey with no close neighbours
with internet access so I can't test it out.

If I take my laptop with me to the UK or elsewhere can I use the wireless
capability to access the internet if there are networks within range -
airports, cafes, hotels, homes, etc?

I am afraid I just do not understand even the basics of wireless connections.
Click to expand...

I'll give you some links with good information but basically:

1. You need a wireless router which will connect to your cable/dsl
modem. Installing the router is easy and during installation you will
set the wireless network name (SSID) and the encryption passphrase (use
WPA2 at least). Once you have set up the router, your laptop's wireless
adapter will see it and prompt you to join the new wireless network. It
will ask you for the key and you will enter the passphrase you set up in
the router.

2. When you travel with the laptop, you can use the wireless adapter to
join other wireless networks - hotels, hotspots, Internet cafes, etc. In
most cases the hotel (or whatever) will charge you for network access
for a set amount of time. You pay and they give you the encryption
key/passphrase.

Linksys Learning Center (good basic information written for end users) -
http://tinyurl.com/8ka4w
Wireless - Basic Configuration - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Config.html
Wireless - Basic Security - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Security.html


Malke
 
Hello Malke,

Very many thanks for really helpful response and the links which I'll study.
Just one more query from this 'Dumbo'!

You say I need a wireless router. Fine. At the momet I use a 'standard'
modem (not a wireless one) to connect with ADSL. When I move around to
hotels, hotspots, etc., presumably I just need my laptop with the installed
router and nothing else?

Thanks again for your help and advice
 
dande said:
Hello Malke,

Very many thanks for really helpful response and the links which I'll study.
Just one more query from this 'Dumbo'!

You say I need a wireless router. Fine. At the momet I use a 'standard'
modem (not a wireless one) to connect with ADSL. When I move around to
hotels, hotspots, etc., presumably I just need my laptop with the installed
router and nothing else?
Click to expand...

Please do not call yourself a "Dumbo". Just because you don't know this
stuff doesn't mean you're stupid. It just means you don't know this
stuff. :-)

Yes, at home you would purchase a wireless router. Check with your ISP
for ones that work well with their service. Or upgrade to a combination
DSL modem/wireless router. I used to not like those but the ones being
offered here in California (US) by AT&T are so easy to set up that I've
changed my mind. Also if I have my clients buy one from AT&T and
something goes wrong with it, then AT&T will deal with it instead of
leaving it to the client. So do a little research first. Since you're in
Turkey, obviously you have a different ISP so I can't give you specific
advice about them.

The laptop doesn't have an "installed router". The router is a small
"box" that connects to the DSL modem. Most consumer-level routers are
fairly inexpensive, running around $50-60 USD. The laptop has a physical
piece of hardware inside it that is a wireless network adapter. The
wireless network adapter, when turned on, will "see" any wireless
networks available in the area. Wireless works "through the air" (so to
speak) so when you are in a more populated area with people running
numerous wireless networks, your laptop's wireless adapter will see all
of them. You should only connect to wireless networks where you are
allowed to have access of course.

Take a look at the Linksys Learning Center link I gave you. I believe
the information there will make things easier for you to visualize.


Malke
 
Hi again Malke,

Thank you so much for your detailed replies which are a great help.

I do appreciate the time you have taken to respond to my queries in
jargon-free language.

Can't promise I won't be posting a message here again soon!!

With good wishes.
 
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