http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ How-To Geek Forums Topic: Wireless Services en Fri, 09 Jan 2009 08:57:28 +0000 http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22602 Sun, 04 May 2008 09:51:59 +0000 sparky7415 22602@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>@SCOTTW, thanks for straightening out the confusion,you hit the nail right on the head. I'm not about to change my isp so she can play pogo games online at work. I gave in to her whims last year for a cheaper DSL connection(Qwest),their technical support and equipment almost caused World War 3. I went days offline until we received the correct modem,and only 1 machine was capable of being online,guess who was able to play pogo? </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22576 Sun, 04 May 2008 03:32:52 +0000 ScottW 22576@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>I think there's some confusion in this thread. Sparky's roommate is getting a laptop with a 802.11(a, b, or g) wireless NIC, in other words wi-fi. When at work, her employer will provide the WAP. When at home, she will connect to the Comcast cable ISP with an ethernet cable. It's when she's out on the town that she will need to find a WAP to provide a wi-fi connection to the Internet -- we call these hotspots.</p> <p>Here in the US, you can find wi-fi hotspots in restaurants, book stores, hotels, and so on. Some places have free hotspots, others charge a fee. Why pay when others have it free? The commercial solutions are better -- faster and more reliable. For business users, that's a must. For home/casual users it's an extravagance.</p> <p>Any questions? </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22558 Sun, 04 May 2008 00:14:48 +0000 jd2066 22558@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>My guess for wi-fi services would be an ISP that instead of providing Internet Service via a cable provides it over wireless.<br /> So instead of the path for wireless being "Wired ISP -&gt; Wireless Router at home -&gt; Wireless Signal -&gt; Your laptop" it would be "Wireless ISP -&gt; Wireless Signal -&gt; Your laptop".<br /> Though I'm not sure how that would work considering the small distance wi-fi covers. Unless maybe they have really big antanas. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22491 Sat, 03 May 2008 14:18:26 +0000 sparky7415 22491@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>For my roomies soon to receive laptop,she wants to go online when she's at work,no problem using it at home. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22489 Sat, 03 May 2008 14:14:20 +0000 Lighthouse 22489@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Excuse my ignorance. What are wi-fi services, that you have to pay for? </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22488 Sat, 03 May 2008 14:10:09 +0000 sparky7415 22488@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>@SCOTTW,thanks for the extra info. We're using Comcast cable broadband which was formerly AT&#38;T,and I would think they'd have wi-fi services,they're big here in Colorado. And the cell phone provider I use is T-Mobile and they provide an excellent range imo, that thought entered my mind about them. Thanks again you guys. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22399 Fri, 02 May 2008 19:22:43 +0000 ScottW 22399@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>sparky, all of the 802.11x standards relate to wi-fi. As for finding a provider for wi-fi hotspots here in the US, start with services she may already have. For example, her cell phone provider, if she has one, may have hotspot locations available for free or a nominal charge. Also, an ISP may provide hotspot service free or discounted.</p> <p>For example, I have AT&#38;T Yahoo for my ISP and the DSL service that I'm already paying for gives me access to AT&#38;T hotspots at McDonald's, Starbucks, Barne's &#38; Noble, and others. That's at no additional charge. My cell provider is also AT&#38;T, so it's not like they give me extra choices. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22331 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:46:57 +0000 sparky7415 22331@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Thanks for the input, I think I'll let her do the shopping around. A while back I let her change the isp,(because it was cheaper),what a nightmare. I'm keeping Comcast and that's that.LOL. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22329 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:37:14 +0000 Lighthouse 22329@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>If she's just looking for a provider, then, like everywhere, it's look at all of them, and see which one offers the package that suits you best.<br /> Not living in the states, I can offer no suggestions as to what is good or bad. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22328 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:32:56 +0000 sparky7415 22328@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Not really,we already have an ethernet router that would do the job,this is for when she's not at home. I tried a wireless router a few years back in the house and it sucked. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22327 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:23:11 +0000 Lighthouse 22327@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>You already have a provider. What you need is a wireless router<br /> Edit. It's in a different house, with no ISP? </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22326 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:19:58 +0000 sparky7415 22326@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>@Lighthouse,thanks,that's what I thought.So I suppose the next step is finding a provider,any suggestions on a decent affordable one? We have Comcast here in the States, she'll have to see if they provide services. </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22325 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:10:04 +0000 Lighthouse 22325@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>Yes its WiFi, b/g (standard stuff on most laptops) </p> http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/topic/wireless-services#post-22324 Fri, 02 May 2008 11:04:12 +0000 sparky7415 22324@http://www.howtogeek.com/forum/ <p>I'm not familiar with wireless internet services,as I have cable broadband at home.My roomie won a bid on an Acer Aspire AS5520-5912 laptop model.It shows 802. something wireless lan,is that something like a WIFI card? She got this little booger for use at work,and know she'll want to play her games on Pogo,any suggestions?</p> <p>P.S. Wish I had a job where I could goof off on a computer. </p>