If your laptop has wireless card ,it should detect the wireless network automatically .However if that wireless network is made secure with some encryption(like wep or something) ,you may need to input the encryption key or password in your laptop also. But in that case also, if you go to 'control panel- network connections', right click on 'wireless connection' icon-' properties -wireless networks' tab ,you will see the network name(ssid) under 'available networks' .You can configure it .
So far from what I have discovered is that a lot of these wireless connections are not really free.
So far there are 2 services that I have looked into in my local area. The first is at Starbucks Coffee which is offered by T-Mobile. The second is with Verizon Wireless through another provider.
Both of these offerings require that you sign up for a service and then you pay to play. I will let you look up those costs. I have yet to try them, but will be in the near future. I am considering hitting the road for a while and these offer a convenient means to get on the Internet.
When you sign up you in essence get a user name and password that allows you to connect to their network.
What they require in the form of hardware is a wireless capable device be it laptop/ notebook/pda etc. None of them are OS specififc. So whwat you need is a usb device or PCMCIA form factor card that provides 802.11b support.
I have just gotten into this as well. I am going to set up an ad hock network with my 2 computers as well. Once I am comfortatble at that then it is off to Starbucks for some coffee and e-mail.
I have tmobile account and have been to Starbucks. Although I access the hotspot; I cannot get access to the Internet. Do I need to change my settings. Currently I have Adelphia cable during regular use in my office. I have a notebook, Windows 98 and have a Linksys Wireless notebook adapter B.
Start - Run - winipcfg and Enter. Make sure the wireless card is in the resulting windows pulldown menu, then hit Release. After a short time hit Renew. You should get a valid IP address for Starbucks and show their gateway IP address.
vinueappen
4 Posts
0
November 6th, 2003 06:00
Hi,
If your laptop has wireless card ,it should detect the wireless network automatically .However if that wireless network is made secure with some encryption(like wep or something) ,you may need to input the encryption key or password in your laptop also. But in that case also, if you go to 'control panel- network connections', right click on 'wireless connection' icon-' properties -wireless networks' tab ,you will see the network name(ssid) under 'available networks' .You can configure it .
Happy networking
Vinu
dagrizz
34 Posts
0
November 8th, 2003 02:00
So far there are 2 services that I have looked into in my local area. The first is at Starbucks Coffee which is offered by T-Mobile. The second is with Verizon Wireless through another provider.
Both of these offerings require that you sign up for a service and then you pay to play. I will let you look up those costs. I have yet to try them, but will be in the near future. I am considering hitting the road for a while and these offer a convenient means to get on the Internet.
When you sign up you in essence get a user name and password that allows you to connect to their network.
What they require in the form of hardware is a wireless capable device be it laptop/ notebook/pda etc. None of them are OS specififc. So whwat you need is a usb device or PCMCIA form factor card that provides 802.11b support.
I have just gotten into this as well. I am going to set up an ad hock network with my 2 computers as well. Once I am comfortatble at that then it is off to Starbucks for some coffee and e-mail.
chamberwiz
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
November 12th, 2003 02:00
johnallg
2 Intern
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7.3K Posts
0
November 12th, 2003 04:00