Wireless internet?!?

shredder · 01-04-2005, 16:08

Hello!,
I'm about to buy a new laptop next week which has a built in wireless modem/router thingy?! Only problem is, I understand computers fine but this wireless internet has got me confused, how does it work do I still need a phone line? I'm on broadband at the moment but I'm due to move house and was wanting to go wireless seeing as I will no longer have a pc, just a laptop.
Can anyone give me an explanation of how it works and some recommendations for a good isp? I'm on bt yahoo at the moment.

Thank you

ian@huth · 01-04-2005, 16:14

You will still need an ISP, either cable or ADSL, as you do now with a wireless router attached to it. You then connect wirelessly to the router.
__________________

There are wireless ISPs about, usually in remote rural areas, but they are another thing altogether and nothing to do with the wireless connection on your laptop.

shredder · 01-04-2005, 16:18

Ahhh I see thanks Ian, I was in PC world today and the boy who was helping me seemed somewhat confused, so I stopped asking him questions. Me being stupid asked him where what was connected and how it was actually 'wireless' to which he said to me for me to have wireless on my laptop I would need to connect a modem to my PC?! that got me a little confused! Does wireless cost more, and is it available on all broadband enabled exchanges?
__________________

So which would be the best option if I will only have a laptop? My existing isp, or a specifically wireless isp? Sorry for the dumb questions!

Halcyon · 01-04-2005, 16:22

Wireless Internet is all about being able to use the Internet with computers without the computer having to be physically linked to the Phoneline socket. The modem itself is however, plugged into the wall socket.

Lets take NTL broadband as an example.

You have your NTL cable modem. This device is plugged in at the wall and this is your link with the outside world.

You then have to buy a Wireless router which will plug into the cable modem. A wireless router costs about ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£45
So we have the internet cable modem going into the Wireless router.
The router acts as a broadcasting hub to handle all your computers using it and sending the data wirelessly to the computers attached to it.

So your laptop that you intend to buy would need to be wireless ready.
A lot of laptops will have Centrino technology which will have built in Wireless capabilitites.

It is then a simple task of enabling networking on your laptop and the router picking up the signal. Using a router means that you can also add other computers to the network too, both wired or wirelessly.

There is no additional cost to your ISP, using wireless or wired, it doesnt change a thing.

ian@huth · 01-04-2005, 16:24

It's got nothing at all to do with wireless ISPs. You just use any ISP, cable or ADSL as you would if you had a normal desktop PC. You would need a wireless router attached to the modem which then enables you to connect to the internet with the laptop from anywhere in the house. The wiresless connection just replaces the cable you would use to connect your PC to the modem/router.

shredder · 01-04-2005, 16:26

Halcyon - You have a gift for explaining things, it makes sense now! I wonder why couln't the boy at PC World have said that...he seemed as lost as me! The laptop I am buying says it has an internal wireless modem. So assuming that I understood what you said correctly I will also need to purchase a router?

Halcyon · 01-04-2005, 16:35

Coool, I'm glad that helped.

Yeah, a router would be best. Many people have a router of choice, but anything by Linksys or netgear should be quite easy to setup.

If you ever get other computers or PC's, you will also be able to hook them up too and share your internet connection.

Your router handles all your data being sent from all the computers connected to it and the information being accessed from the cable modem.
check out the routers here:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatal...s_Routers.html

If you are going to be with NTL and have broadband through a cable modem, you will want a broadband router or cable router.
If you are going with a broadband ISP that uses an ADSL modem, then you will need a router that has ADSL.

shredder · 01-04-2005, 16:46

oooh those cost a lot less than the others I looked at, you may well have saved me a penny or two! Thanks!

SMHarman · 01-04-2005, 16:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by shredder

Halcyon - You have a gift for explaining things, it makes sense now! I wonder why couln't the boy at PC World have said that...he seemed as lost as me! The laptop I am buying says it has an internal wireless modem. So assuming that I understood what you said correctly I will also need to purchase a router?

Yep - the other thing it allows you to do is use the internet without finding a phone socket etc in wireless hotspots such as coffee shops.
And for the router thing I would recommend the Linksys WRT54G.

shredder · 01-04-2005, 17:08

I want my laptop now! At the moment I've decided my best option is one I have seen in PC world. Do any of you guys have any reputable sites you could recommend for the purchase of a laptop?
__________________

I've just found this on Dell, I only need the laptop for personal use for university and internet access is something like this worth the money?
http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/pr...hs1&l=en&s=dhs

Shaun · 01-04-2005, 17:38

www.dell.co.uk They always have some offers on

shredder · 01-04-2005, 17:46

Thanks Shaun, that's where the last link I posted was for! All the technical specs are confusing me though! For the laptop I have given the link to as standard without insurance it costs ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£599, is this laptop any good and is it wireless enabled? Thought I had it figured but there's to many specs on there....
__________________

http://configure.euro.dell.com/dells...sbc=inspn_510m or maybe this one?

Shaun · 01-04-2005, 17:46

Sorry, must have missed that!!!!

Am I being thick or does it not tell you how much memory it has?

As its a centrino then yes it does have a built in wireless card/chip set.

ian@huth · 01-04-2005, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shaun

Sorry, must have missed that!!!!

Am I being thick or does it not tell you how much memory it has?

As its a centrino then yes it does have a built in wireless card/chip set.

Click the Dell recommends link on the page you missed and it tells you 256MB 400MHz DDR2 SDRAM.

shredder · 01-04-2005, 17:55

Errm is that good or bad? sorry!