Laptop and broadband internet.

[groucho]

What kind of laptop would I need to get wireless broadband? I already have a tiscali broadband package at home; could I use this broadband package, wirelessly, on a laptop by just logging on with my username and password?

[J1mmyD]

You will need a wireless router. This connects to your broadband modem and transmits/receives the signal.

As far as your laptop goes, you simply need one that is Wi-Fi enabled. Many new laptops have this facility and all laptops can be connected using a PCI card.

Here's the things you want (but shop around and you can find them cheaper):

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=46564&criteria=wireless%20router&doy=13m4

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=43780&criteria=SITECOM&doy=13m4

(There are two types of wi-fi. There's Wireless B and Wireless G. G is much faster than B and is the new 'standard'. Don't go buying a cheap router only to find that it's the slower speed.)

[groucho]

Cheers J1mmyD. So, do you have to take the router with you on your travels if you want to connect to the internet.

[mattley]

groucho said:

Cheers J1mmyD. So, do you have to take the router with you on your travels if you want to connect to the internet.

Sorry, but I had to laugh.



Broadband isn't provided like dial up. An account is linked to a phone or cable line, and can't be carried around with you. Once you're out of range of your router you're at the mercy of external providors. Most hotels now have wireless internet, you just turn your laptop on and you'll get a login screen and you pay .... ohhh too much.... Starbucks too.....


Fortunatly loads of independent cafe's and bars have sussed that they can share their bandwidth for next to nothing, so do. Otherwise it's a 3G card or something.

[TVR MAN]

So has intel centrino technology got anything to do with this?

[victormeldrew]

TVR MAN said:

So has intel centrino technology got anything to do with this?

Centrino is an integrated group of chipsets, of which the notebooks wireless "card" is one. You can have other wireless cards that will work just as well. Centrino is more or less a marketing trick by Intel to sell their own wireless hardware to notebook manufacturers (cynic, me?). A Centrino noetbook will have a wireless card guaranteed, other notebooks might or might not have a wireless card. If they don't you can add one as a PC card or as a USB device.

[groucho]

mattley said:

groucho said: Cheers J1mmyD. So, do you have to take the router with you on your travels if you want to connect to the internet. Sorry, but I had to laugh. Broadband isn't provided like dial up. An account is linked to a phone or cable line, and can't be carried around with you. Once you're out of range of your router you're at the mercy of external providors. Most hotels now have wireless internet, you just turn your laptop on and you'll get a login screen and you pay .... ohhh too much.... Starbucks too..... Fortunatly loads of independent cafe's and bars have sussed that they can share their bandwidth for next to nothing, so do. Otherwise it's a 3G card or something.

It's rubbish then.

[chris.mapey]

groucho said:

It's rubbish then.

Not in theory, but being charged a fortune per minute to use someone's bandwith sticks in my throat though...

It's always worth having a check to see if there are any unsecured networks around though - not that you would ever connect to them.

As mentioned the other alternative is a 3G card. I picked up mine off ebay for £20. An Orange PAYG SIM card was £1, and when I registered, I got a bundle of data for free. Ideal if you just want to chek on email & post on PH...

Chris