I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (Full Version)

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YourhandMyAss -> I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 8:19:58 AM)

and by completely I mean I want my home pc to be wireless and I wanna be able to be wireless on my lap top and to go use wireless hotspots like at the library and book stores. I guess they're called wireless internet service providers.



LaTigresse -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 8:38:51 AM)

Depends on where you live and what is available. What is available and works best, varies greatly. Do some investigating and ask people in your area.

I went with Verizon's wireless for my laptop. It was the best for ME. That does not mean it will be the best option for you.



sub4hire -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 10:56:39 AM)

We just dumped our wireless service because it was too unreliable.  When I use the internet for work..you need something that will have a connection when you need it.
LAT is right though.  Our wireless is a local company.  It would not be local to you so it would be worthless.

We just went to DSL...works much better.  There is also nothing saying you cannot use a wired connection of some sort and also have a wireless card for WIFI as well. 



faerytattoodgirl -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 11:03:24 AM)

wireless sucks...just buy a laptop.



LaTigresse -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 12:57:44 PM)

Uhmmm, what good would it be to buy a laptop if you still have to stay hooked up via a wire?



Musicmystery -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 2:52:31 PM)

All I have to do is buy a $100 router from MacMall, plug it into the electrical outlet, plug in the DSL, and bingo.

Simple.



LaTigresse -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 3:21:53 PM)

Works wonders if you have DSL.



Musicmystery -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 3:25:33 PM)

Well, wireless period would be silly on anything other than broadband.

You'd be wireless, but very slow.

The question was about wireless. If it's about high speed Internet service, that's another story---depends on cable and phone service.

Pretty much ya gotta take what they offer there.



LaTigresse -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 3:38:58 PM)

Where I live we have three options. Dial-up, dish, and broadband. The dial-up SUCKS! The dish, no one in our area has been happy with, their customer service sucks, and you have to have a two year contract. That left broadband as the only option. Slower than DSL for sure but much much faster than the dial-up was.



DesFIP -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 4:53:22 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Well, wireless period would be silly on anything other than broadband.

You'd be wireless, but very slow.



Wireless and DSL here. There are four to six computers on here depending on who is home from college. Plus Xbox Live. XBox Live we can't seem to get to work wireless but the laptops wander around the house without being plugged in.

Speed depends on who is downloading what, and whether the DSL is working fine, both my end and theirs.

Blackberry's can have broadband capabilities but not cheaply. You could do that for your laptop also.



pahunkboy -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 7:38:27 PM)

the past few days my computers drive me crazy.

I would not pay for wireless service.

at the moment I picked up $4 dial up....so
i can use my laptop.   the other modem must be bad... I spilled water on the other laptop.

Laptops are good even with the 2 wires.  it is easier to go to other rooms., lay down, ect.



faerytattoodgirl -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 7:39:41 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

Uhmmm, what good would it be to buy a laptop if you still have to stay hooked up via a wire?


no you dont...you get cards that you put into the side of the laptop...no wires needed.



SilverMark -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recommend? (9/30/2008 7:44:27 PM)

I have wireless in my home and business from AT&T as well as their 3G wireless aircard....works pretty much everywhere and with little interruption.



Musicmystery -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (9/30/2008 7:45:45 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

the past few days my computers drive me crazy.

I would not pay for wireless service.

at the moment I picked up $4 dial up....so
i can use my laptop.   the other modem must be bad... I spilled water on the other laptop.

Laptops are good even with the 2 wires.  it is easier to go to other rooms., lay down, ect.



You don't pay for wireless service---only for the ISP.

Wireless is a network you set up yourself, independently.



YourhandMyAss -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (10/1/2008 8:55:27 PM)

I'm on DSL now.

And fairy we have a lap top, but you still have to have some system set up in place to access the net with it, and DAddy can't figure out how to make his new wireless modem work with my earthlink.



NuevaVida -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (10/1/2008 9:38:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: faerytattoodgirl

quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

Uhmmm, what good would it be to buy a laptop if you still have to stay hooked up via a wire?


no you dont...you get cards that you put into the side of the laptop...no wires needed.



Those things have a monthly billing rate of about $70.

YHMA - I have wireless Earthlink.  You need a wireless router.  Linksis (sp?) is good.  Mines a 2Wire but it's temperamental.  As I recall, the only configuration you'd need to do is if you want to secure your network.

As for speed, for me it always depended on the laptop I had and how strong the wireless connection is.  A Core2Duo processer will be quick and zippy for you.  I just picked up an HP laptop on sale at Best Buy for $800, with a 4 gig processor and it's amazingly fast.  Fastest computer I've ever had.  I'm thrilled with it.  You can get a Linksis router these days for...hmm...about $50-70, I think.  I'd recommend you call Earthlink so they can walk you through the configuration.



JumpingJax -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (10/1/2008 9:51:28 PM)


First broadband is actually faster then DSL under best working conditions. Problem is that broadband shares bandwidth with your neighbors so it can drag sometimes. Overall though I stick to broadband and have had no problem running 4 computers and 1 voip line.

I strongly recommend going wire on your laptops especially if you have plans to download heavy graphics or watch videos. Although wireless can handle video (mine does really well) you still get better preformance with a wire.

Next buy a Linksys wireless router - Expect to pay between 100 - 150 for it. It would be smart to buy the best one on the market as technology changes and you want to be able to use it for as long as possible.
(If you want more help on the router message me and I'll look up what I have)

Finally unlike what someone said you do not just plug in and go. Make sure you lock down your network with a very complex and hard to remember encrypted password. Failure to do so allows anyone the ability to sniff in to your network and on to your computers. Do you really want just anyone seeing what is sitting your computer?


As for your laptop on the go, there are several places that you can buy memberships to use your computer at specific hotspots. McDonalds and Starbucks are the two largest that come to mind. You can also instead buy a wireless card through your current cell phone provider, this will allow you to get internet access from any where. I don't know prices everywhere but I have AT&T and I believe the quote was around 80 per month. Remember network will only work through the specific card - so only 1 computer at a time and I don't think it is super fast. You won't want this as your primary network connection.





BossyShoeBitch -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (10/1/2008 10:06:15 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: YourhandMyAss

I'm on DSL now.

And fairy we have a lap top, but you still have to have some system set up in place to access the net with it, and DAddy can't figure out how to make his new wireless modem work with my earthlink.


Here's the thing. For you to set up a wireless network in your house (which is what you are aiming for), you can have a modem AND a wireless router, or you can have a modem/wireless router combo but you must have the wireless router. The wireless router is the part that "talks" to the internal or external wireless adapter on your laptop/desktop.

You don't HAVE to have a wireless modem set up in your house in order to use your laptop in public wi-fi hotspots.  Your laptop either came with a wireless adapter built in, or you can buy a wireless adapter that plugs in either to a special slot in the laptop or into a usb port.  To use the laptop at home without wireless you can just plug into the modem directly with an ethernet cable.

I don't think you are interested in buying an aircard from your cell phone provider which uses the GSM network to connect you wirelessly but will cost you about $70 a month extra.

Another alternative for your laptop is that if you have a smartphone or pda (not sure if this works with regular cell phones) and an unlimited data plan, you can connect by firewire to your laptop and use your cell phone as a modem.

I suggest you call the customer support dept of the wireless modem manufacturer for help installing it.  Seriously.

edited:  Just to add to what Jumpingjax said, if someone chooses to buy a wireless card through AT&T then they get free use of the WiFi hotspots that AT&T services.
Among the fastest routers available now are Wireless N gigabit routers..

Programming a security code into your router isnt all that hard.  It's sort of self explanatory during setup.



faerytattoodgirl -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (10/1/2008 10:46:01 PM)

quote:



Uhmmm, what good would it be to buy a laptop if you still have to stay hooked up via a wire?
no you dont...you get cards that you put into the side of the laptop...no wires needed.

Those things have a monthly billing rate of about $70.


but my point was you dont need wires....and she wants something that doesnt have wires and is easy to lug around.  expensive yes...but a solution.  conveinence regardless of what it is, has a price.



Musicmystery -> RE: I'm looking to go completely wireless, what services do you recomend? (10/2/2008 3:07:41 AM)

quote:

I'm on DSL now.

And fairy we have a lap top, but you still have to have some system set up in place to access the net with it, and DAddy can't figure out how to make his new wireless modem work with my earthlink.


Plug the router into the electric socket. Plug the DSL cable in the router. Turn on the computer. That's it.

Or call earthlink support for assistance.



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