wireless internet

  • Thread starter Thread starter ian
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I

ian

does anyone know what u need to connect a laptop with a
built in modem to the internet without connecting to a
telephone line. i.e wireless internet.
i also have a network slot & a card to go with it if thats
any help.

Thanx.
Ian
 
For home use, you will need to get a wireless network card and a wireless
router. It's fairly simple to set up. The instructions with each piece of
equipment should explain it clearly enough. Just remember to match network
types...I.E. 802.11B with 802.11B, or 802.11G with 802.11G, etc. Generally,
you should be able to find the equipment on special somewhere, so it should
cost you less than $100 for both pieces.

Keep in mind that your usable range will only be about 100 feet indoors and
300 feet outdoors. In other words, if you leave home, your laptop won't
stay connected.
 
You need a wireless router or WAP in the area where you want
to connect. The WiFi PCMCIA card is a radio transceiver
that "talks" to the WAP (wireless access point).

You will need a telephone or preferably broadband connection
to the router/WAP


| does anyone know what u need to connect a laptop with a
| built in modem to the internet without connecting to a
| telephone line. i.e wireless internet.
| i also have a network slot & a card to go with it if thats
| any help.
|
| Thanx.
| Ian
 
Keep in mind that "usable" is the operative word. The speed of the
connection will drop the farther you go. Range is also dependent on the
quality of equipment you get. The better the equipment - the longer the
range. But...the better the equipment - the greater the price. Generally,
if all you are doing is surfing the net, you can probably get a farther
range out of your equipment (slower speed) but you run the risk of the
connection dropping altogether if you are too far away.

However, the good news is that even if you go with 802.11b (the slowest
version) and are connecting at the slowest speed (1Mbps), your connection
will still be faster than a typical home DSL or Cable internet connection
(768Kbps). ANd since your speed will only be as fast as your slowest
connection, you won't notice the slower wireless connection speed since it's
still faster than your DSL or Cable connection. The slower speed would only
be noticed if you are transferring files from one computer to another.

Keep in mind, like Jim mentioned in his response, that you still need a
connection from the router to the internet. Whether that's a dial up
connection on another computer that is also plugged into the router or a
straight line to a DSL or Cable modem from the router.
 
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