wireless on a lapotop

bakes0310 · 21 Mar 2008 at 20:35

How does it work, do i need to be anywhere near a router or is it built into the laptop. How do you buy it for the laptop, do you have to connect it to your pc first that already has broadband.
Cause if im going away for say a month with no broadband to connect to i thought a laptop with wireless broadband could do it for me?

steve258 · 21 Mar 2008 at 20:42

Yes you will need to be near a router which is connected to a internet service provider or a wireless "hotspot" in order to access the Interent. A lot of public places are now covered in hotspot zone and once you're connected you'll need to subscribe to the service and you either pay by the hour or pay for a daily or weekly pass.

But outside of the wireless covered area you'll need to consult your mobile network on how to connect to the internet via GPRS. All major mobile phone service providers have this now I think.

radderfire · 21 Mar 2008 at 22:11

If you want to be able to have broadband on your laptop anywhere you go in the UK you need to sign up for a mobile broadband package (subject to there being a signal where you need it).

Mobile broadband works by either inserting a data card into your laptop, or by using a small USB mobile broadband modem (USB sticks also now available).

Check who has the best mobile broadband for coverage where you are going. Mobile broadband is available from Vodafone, T-Mobile, 3 and Orange.

Alternatively, you might be able to use a free hotspot to get broadband over WiFi, if one is available where you are going, in which case your laptop needs a wireless network card in it (or you can buy a USB wireless network adapter), but this is not the same as true mobile broadband.

Rambaud · 22 Mar 2008 at 09:27

radderfire said:
Mobile broadband works by either inserting a data card into your laptop, or by using a small USB mobile broadband modem (USB sticks also now available).

Or your mobile phone, if it can be used as a modem.

I use my Nokia 6233 (my Nokia E65 should work too, although I have never tried it) via Bluetooth - but it can be a lot slower than using my USB dongle - but it's fine for e-mails and web browsing.