Going wireless..

[cyclones]

Helloo.. I am looking at buying a dell laptop. I was wonderring if there is anyway to have wireless internet like while traveling. Lets say We are going on vacation. I want to take the laptop with and surf the web while in the car. Is is possible? Or if i wanted to take the laptop to a family members house but they didnt have a router or internet. What special things would i need to buy for wireless internet like that?

Thanks!

[M/Q]

The simplest method would be to look at getting a 3G wireless plan from one of the cell phone service providers. Sprint has a good plan, albeit somewhat expensive that should provide you with Internet access anywhere you can get cell phone coverage.

http://www.sprint.com/business/products/products/pcsVisionPlan_tabA.html

Other providers offer similar plans, and if your cell phone is technically adequate it could even be used as a modem.

[cyclones]

Ok.. Thanks for the info! If i bought a linksys wireless router and got a notebook card with it, How far can i go b4 the internet disconnects? We have this computer in our basement and around with walls and im afraid if i buy the router, i wont have any signal because we are in the basement. Is there anyway we can move the router to a better remote location without having to move the computer???? Thanks!

[umdivx]

Ok.. Thanks for the info! If i bought a linksys wireless router and got a notebook card with it, How far can i go b4 the internet disconnects? We have this computer in our basement and around with walls and im afraid if i buy the router, i wont have any signal because we are in the basement. Is there anyway we can move the router to a better remote location without having to move the computer???? Thanks!

Probably your front door :)

Seriously though, wifi isn't ment for providing coverage for miles. A home wireless router will only get you a couple hundred feet of coverage before it drops out.

But in terms of moving the router, you can move it to where ever you want to in your home as long as it is still connected to your DSL or Cable modem (or whatever modem you use for your ISP)

You'd be suprised at how penatrable wifi is, if your home is newer and is just made of wood and drywall you shouldnt have any isses with connectivity.

The only down side is, if your PC in the basement is connected to the router via a ethernet cable then you might have to get a wireless card for the PC if you plan on moving the router away from the PC.

- Josh

[M/Q]

How do you get Internet access now? If you have a device/switch already in place and are using it for the wired computers, all you need to do is get an access point or use a wireless router as just an access point. You can locate that where it will serve you the best and just run an Ethernet cable back to the device/switch you are using for the computers already.

[umdivx]

As I said before if you move the router, you'd probably need to either run cable or get a wireless client card for the pc.

As far as internet access most ppl have either cable or DSL, and I don't know about you but most of the homes I have seen have several coax points within the home as well as phone line jacks, you just move the AP and Cable/DSL modem where it suits your needs and then just feed all the pc's, laptop's wirelessly.

Not saying its the best option but it will allow for better wifi coverage as the OP wanted.

- Josh

[cyclones]

THanks!! :) If im buying a linksys router and it broadcast's on a 2.4GHz.. and my cordless phone is 2.4GHz also... Will that interfere? What happens when it interfears?

[umdivx]

THanks!! :) If im buying a linksys router and it broadcast's on a 2.4GHz.. and my cordless phone is 2.4GHz also... Will that interfere? What happens when it interfears?

yes it will interfear, by how much that is really unknown, each situation is different. What happens is either noise while talking on the phone. or the phone will cuase the wifi connection to drop out.

- Josh

[cyclones]

Ok... Just Wondering... But in our basement.. We have like sheetrock on the walls and wood inside of them.. and we have like a concrete block around the basement.. Would that affect the signal?