| Author |
Message |
Don/TX
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 9:30 pm: | |
OK, leaving Monday for Florida, wanting to use a WiFi card in my notebook and find hotspots on the way, never done that before. There are dozens of cards to choose from, what the heck do I need? |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 10:15 pm: | |
Don, I'd get an 802.11g card. You can use these on high and low speed networks (11MB & 54MB). The make isn't terribly important... Linksys, D-Link, Microsoft.
If you use Win XP, the wireless setup is very simple. Win 2000 or lower is a bit more of a pain. If you're a non-WinDoze user, I can't help much.
We use wireless in our laptops all over the house, but have only used it in a couple of hotel rooms otherwise. So, I don't have much experience with hotspots, but I'm told they're easy to use. Set up the card for DHCP (auto IP address) and a screen comes up when you open the browser to log on to the service, pay the fees (if not free), etc.
Good luck!
bb |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2005 - 11:07 pm: | |
I use the "Linksys Wireless G" model WUSB54g (802.11g)
and love the thing. I have a 15' USB cable for it, so I can put
it in a decent location when necessary.
I would strongly advise buying only the type of WiFi receiver
that is totally separate from the PC or laptop and uses a USB
cable to connect to the computer.
Line of site to the WiFi broadcaster is needed, and you simply
do not have the flexibility to move the WiFi receiver if it is part
of the PC or Laptop.
WiFi locations abound, and at the most unusual places! A few
weeks ago, I was up in Valdosta, Ga looking at property in a
back roads area. I picked up an Internet connection from
someplace... I stayed connected for over an hour, and drove
about a mile in all directions. I don't know where the server
was, but it amazed me that it was that far reaching!
You do want to be careful using the WiFi systems though, the
security is non-existent, for the most part. I wait until I have a
dial-up or Cellphone connection before getting email, doing
bank transfers, or anything that requires a using a password.
And you'd want to make sure you use Window XP's security
updates and firewall. With WiFi, it's as easy for someone to
connect to your computer, as it is to connect to theirs.
Have fun! |
airless in Jacksonville
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 12:48 am: | |
http://www.radiolabs.com/products/wireless/wireless-cards.php
Has everything a traveler would need. |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 12:55 am: | |
I paid $39.00 for the Linksys usb54g at Walmart.. |
airless in Jacksonville
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 1:15 am: | |
The link I provided are not in the league with a linksys. These are cards with range. Some of these cards will transmit and receive up to 8 miles not 80 feet. Yes the price is somewhat different. Frys has a cheap card for 9.99 with the range that the linksys has and is a really good card for most users. |
JOhn MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 1:25 am: | |
Gad! I wish I wuz rich! |
Don/TX
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 8:40 pm: | |
Hey, thanks to all of you, that was very helpful information. Just what I wanted. |
dug
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 9:20 pm: | |
Don,
you may want to think about an Orinico wireless card. You plug it into your PCMCIA slot (like other suggestions above), but also you can plug in an external antenna. Makes it nice if you're in your car/bus.
You'll also want to download netstumbler (http://www.netstumbler.com). It will show you all the wireless connections within range.
Remember some places charge for wireless, and some give it free (Panera Bread).
Good luck!
Dug
75 MC8
Arcadia, FL |
Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 11:08 pm: | |
I am going to pass on some input from my son on wifi. He is very knowedgable.
He says the cheaper WiFi cards with external antennas do not perform well. (There may be some more expensive ones that do, but not the cheap external antenna models.)
Re: Security: Email is NEVER secure, on WiFi, Cable, DSL, Dial up, Satellite. Your Email provider encrypts your password to and from your computer, but the Emails can be read by anyone who wants to.
If you are signing on to a service that brings up the box that says you are entering a secure site your password and transactions are safe with 128 bit encryption that the FBI can crack only with difficulty. For instance, my banking is encrypted from the time the password is sent. Someone on a WiFi network can only read teh encrypted messages, not decode them. |
Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005 - 11:26 pm: | |
Just like busses,
There are entire users groups dedicated to this stuff. Theses are the same guys/gals who invented the term "war driving" - where one takes a computer with one of these cards, GPS, and that netstumbler app - and finds the building (and sometimes the floor or corner of the building) the access point is in. This being said, I'll want to throw out the obligitory industry warning. I used to work at a law firm, and when they started allowing attourneys to connect with 802.11b (11Mbps) we were using the same software to "snif" hackers - and have no illusions, if you are using someone elses access point - you are hacking (aka. "stealing internet access"). So choose the circumstances which you use the internet access carefully (don't drive up to a major corporation and start logging in). If you notice that you are capable of getting a corporate access point in your "available networks" box, avoid them (I know they are tempting), and stick with public APs or at the very worst - residential APs. As always, mind your manners in someone else's back yard.
Just my two cents.
Cheers!
-Tim |
Mike Eades (Mike4905)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 09, 2005 - 9:35 pm: | |
WE use a linksys with FlyingJ Truck stops every where. It works and it very cheap for a good service and I alwways need fuel and food and a lot of times I need aplace to sleep while I am traveling. I would sujest that you buy for the year if you are going to travel a lot. If you need a short term, buy the monthly access. We use it all the time. Mike4905 |
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