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suitcase · 06-18-2006, 06:19 PM

I hope this is the correct forum for my question. I have a Sony laptop with wireless and it is activated. I've never used the funtion because I always use dialup and con to my phone line. I would like to use it around town while the wife shops (lol) but don't really know how to go about connecting. Alot of places have service, Barne's and Noble coffee houses and the like. Also I saw an add in a mag for a device similar to a key fob, that will find "hot spots". It's available at Radio Shack will something like that work and if so how do I connect when it finds the so called hot spot?

**thefultonhow** · 06-18-2006, 06:58 PM

You can just use the laptop to find the wireless. Are you running XP SP2?

suitcase · 06-18-2006, 08:22 PM

Yes I am. And when you say let the laptop find it, what do you mean? The pc has a switch on the edge for the wireless function to turn on. If I turn on the switch and hit the internet icon will it connect? Is that all in the software?

**thefultonhow** · 06-18-2006, 08:30 PM

after you turn on the switch there's a short procedure you have to go through. Find this icon:

Double-click on it and click "Refresh network list." Any wireless networks that are in range will pop up in the box on the right. Double-click on one and it will connect you.

suitcase · 06-19-2006, 09:28 PM

That's cool and easy. Just shows up in the tray. Thanks alot.

trulad · 06-30-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefultonhow

after you turn on the switch there's a short procedure you have to go through. Find this icon:

Double-click on it and click "Refresh network list." Any wireless networks that are in range will pop up in the box on the right. Double-click on one and it will connect you.

When on the road, you can get on the internet without an ISP ? If you have Hot-Mail will it work?
We plan to do a lot of traveling and I need to find out how I can stay connected with my family and do on-line banking & bill paying. Sorry to horn in on sonebody else's thread.
trulad

**Alaron** · 06-30-2006, 08:53 PM

If you are in a populated area, most places like Starbucks have WiFi hotspots that you are free to connect to.

You could also look into mobile broadband from a cellular provider. http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/m...band/index.jsp

***glc*** · 07-01-2006, 03:16 PM

Starbucks wifi is not free. Panera Bread has free wifi. You do not need an ISP to use "public" wifi - just hook up, log in if necessary, and surf. Last time I was through Iowa, the rest areas on I-80 had free wifi - 30 minute limit. I'm assuming a lot of truck stops have wifi, as do a lot of hotels. Some hotels have wired Ethernet too, the last Residence Inn I stayed in did - each room had its own Time-Warner cable modem. I've even found free wifi in airport bars - just buy drinks and/or food and use it.

**thefultonhow** · 07-01-2006, 03:53 PM

Flying J truck stops have WiFi -- not sure if it's free though.

Interestingly enough, I'm seeing many campgrounds have free WiFi too.

06-18-2006, 06:19 PM	#1
suitcase Member (10 bit) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 780	I have a wireless laptop question I hope this is the correct forum for my question. I have a Sony laptop with wireless and it is activated. I've never used the funtion because I always use dialup and con to my phone line. I would like to use it around town while the wife shops (lol) but don't really know how to go about connecting. Alot of places have service, Barne's and Noble coffee houses and the like. Also I saw an add in a mag for a device similar to a key fob, that will find "hot spots". It's available at Radio Shack will something like that work and if so how do I connect when it finds the so called hot spot? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Intel i5 2500 Quad core 3.3, ASUS P8P67, ASUS EAH 6850 GPU, corsair XMS 4GB 1333, Corsair 750W PSU, WD Caviar 500 7200 RPM, Windows 7 Home Premium, Lite-on 24X DVD SATA, Cooler Master 690 2 case

06-18-2006, 06:58 PM	#2
thefultonhow Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,918	You can just use the laptop to find the wireless. Are you running XP SP2? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter __________________ Computer: Intel Core i5-750 2.66 GHz quad-core processor @ 3.71 GHz \| Asus P7P55D-E motherboard \| Crucial 4 GB DDR3-1333 RAM \| nVidia GeForce 8600GT \| 2x WD Caviar Black WD1501FASS 1.5TB hard drives in RAID 1 \| Antec Sonata III case with Antec EarthWatts 500-watt PSU \| Dual Dell UltraSharp 2408WFP 24" widescreens \| Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit Other: 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.5GT sedan 5MT \| Samsung Epic 4G Smartphone \| Mamiya M645 1000S medium-format SLR with 55mm f/2.8, 70mm f/2.8, 210mm f/4, teleconverter, 120 and 220 film backs \| Olympus E-PL1 Micro-4/3s DSLR with 14-42mm and 40-150mm lenses

06-18-2006, 08:22 PM	#3
suitcase Member (10 bit) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 780	Yes I am. And when you say let the laptop find it, what do you mean? The pc has a switch on the edge for the wireless function to turn on. If I turn on the switch and hit the internet icon will it connect? Is that all in the software? Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

06-18-2006, 08:30 PM	#4
thefultonhow Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,918	after you turn on the switch there's a short procedure you have to go through. Find this icon: Double-click on it and click "Refresh network list." Any wireless networks that are in range will pop up in the box on the right. Double-click on one and it will connect you. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

06-19-2006, 09:28 PM	#5
suitcase Member (10 bit) Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Central Virginia Posts: 780	That's cool and easy. Just shows up in the tray. Thanks alot. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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06-30-2006, 08:53 PM	#7
Alaron Kickin' it Staff Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: USA Posts: 7,723	If you are in a populated area, most places like Starbucks have WiFi hotspots that you are free to connect to. You could also look into mobile broadband from a cellular provider. http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/m...band/index.jsp Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-01-2006, 03:16 PM	#8
*glc* Forum Administrator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Joplin MO Posts: 37,786	Starbucks wifi is not free. Panera Bread has free wifi. You do not need an ISP to use "public" wifi - just hook up, log in if necessary, and surf. Last time I was through Iowa, the rest areas on I-80 had free wifi - 30 minute limit. I'm assuming a lot of truck stops have wifi, as do a lot of hotels. Some hotels have wired Ethernet too, the last Residence Inn I stayed in did - each room had its own Time-Warner cable modem. I've even found free wifi in airport bars - just buy drinks and/or food and use it. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

07-01-2006, 03:53 PM	#9
thefultonhow Moderator Staff Premium Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 2,918	Flying J truck stops have WiFi -- not sure if it's free though. Interestingly enough, I'm seeing many campgrounds have free WiFi too. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter

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