How to connect to wireless network

CuppaCocoa

Excuse my ignorance! I've just bought my first laptop and it comes with a wireless card. I use dial-up on my desktop pc and would like to use wireless when away with my laptop. Do I have to pay for a seperate connection? I'll only be using the laptop occasionally and don't want to have two payments per month. Is it possible to have a dial-up and a wireless in the same package? I don't really want to put a wireless card into the pc and I'm quite happy with the dial-up as I have broadband in work!

Idleater

lilybarlean wrote:

Excuse my ignorance!

Done and done...

now to explain:

the wireless that you have in the laptop is 99.99% certain to be a wireless LAN card - ie so you can connect to a wireless network which is different to connecting via dialup or broadband to the internet.

If you had a wireless card in another computer, or another computer connected to a wireless Access point (or Router) then you could connect to that via the wireless network from the laptop.

You could also potentially share the internet connection from the main computer to allow a wireless connected computer to dial up - this would be basically be the laptop telling the desktop to ring the number rather than a second connection (and a second phone call).

Let us know if you need any further information on any of this...

L.

tbh

just in case nereid's excellent explanation went slightly over your head:

the card you are talking about only allows you to connect to a network, wirelessly, like wireless headphones or speakers. You have to have a wireless router within about 60 feet of your laptop. You use the same connection details you are using with your pc - if you are at home and have broadband, then that's what your laptop will use. As you are on dial-up, the card isn't any good in your house (assuming you don't want to get too technical), as you won't have a wireless router.

It doesn't allow you to connect to the internet from anywhere in the country, although many areas like cafes and airports now have access point that allow you to connect for free or for a charge. You buy a voucher, open your browser and enter the code.

CuppaCocoa

Thanks. I was wondering about the wireless areas in airports and cafe's and how you would connect to them. If they were free how would the laptop connect? Do you just switch the card on and it automatically picks up the signal and connects you or do you have to have a code pre-assigned and if so, where do you get one?

irlrobins

Depends on the hot spot. At some places, all you will need to do is switch on wireless card and it should detect and connect to the network automatically. Other hotspots might require you to enter a coupon code before allowing you access. But normally the provider of the hotspot will have a instruction sheet detailing the steps needed to connect.

tbh

yeah and some of the airports i've been in, you just open your browser. it automatically displays the airports homepage. if you want airport information it's free, and if you want to surf the web, it prompts you for a number, which you buy on a scratch card from any of the airport shops.