Wi-Fi what the hell is it? Forums

flyboy

Can anyone in simple terms explain to me wi-fi and internet connections.
How does it all work and what else is needed to get connected. and whats all this hot spots about? I am on broadband at home is it the same when on the move? Idiots guide needed I think!

Anonymous

WiFi - in connection with broadband means that a box plugged into your telephone\broadband socket (normally with a splitter which seperates your phone from your broadband) will allow one to several PC's\Laptops access to the internet in the vicinity of your house\garden providing the PC\Laptops have either internal wifi or USB wifi adaptors installed.

A laptop e.g. would also be able to connect to the internet in the vicinity of "Hot spots", which can be found in some hotels, airports or indeed your neighbour if he has not configured security settings.

There's quite a few other things that can be done but the above is the basics.

Equipment probably needed....

Broadband connection i.e. BT - NTL Hell - Wanadoo etc.

Broadband router\adsl modem\switch which can come in individual parts but normally a combi for home use.

Splitters which need to be attached to every telephone socket where a device i.e. another telephone, fax, answer phone is plugged in.

Normally, the main PC is joined via a network cable to the Adsl Modem etc combi and has to have either a network card\port on board or you can get a USB to Network port dongle to attach the network cable.

Costs depending on quality of equipment are around £65 for adsl\router\4 port switch\wi fi - £3 for splitters - and if your laptop e.g. does not have wi fi onboard then £30 for usb\wifi adaptor.

.

flyboy

Thanks for that I appreciate you getting back to me.
I understand about the connections at home, I have had broadband for sometime. It is the Wi-Fi bit I could not get my head round.
Thanks for your help.
Sorry I cant buy your Riviera, I already have a 181!

Thanks
Bill

Anonymous

[quote:4d25cabda9="flyboy63"]Thanks for that I appreciate you getting back to me.
I understand about the connections at home, I have had broadband for sometime. It is the Wi-Fi bit I could not get my head round.
Thanks for your help.
Sorry I cant buy your Riviera, I already have a 181!

Thanks
Bill[/quote:4d25cabda9]

Wouldn't you like to have two...You then got a spare for emergencies. Cool

SidT

Hi Bill, This is quite a useful site, there is a link at the top"what is Hi-Fi"
I am NTL cable broadband and I have a Hi-fi enabled laptop to connect to the PC when I am in another room. haven't tried the hotspots yet, there are lots of them see the map on the site but you need to buy an encrytion "key" to access it at most sites.

see http://www.zdnet.co.uk/specials/wifimap

Cheers Sid

flyboy

Thanks for the link SidT I am learning all the time.
Bill

spykal · Moderator

Hi Flyboy

I don't use Wi-fi at home, I have a hard wired network, but I do have a US Robotics 802.11g Wi Fi card in the laptop for use in the van. With it I could hook into the web at any hotspot where public access is available. At the moment this is at Little Chefs, Macdonalds, railway stations, airports, various pubs, restaurants and some campsites. You do not need to go into any of these places ..just park outside in the car park.

In fact I rarely do use these pre pay type of hot spots, but if there was an urgent need to get on the web it can be done for around £5-6 for appx 4hrs usage in any one day. The connection is high speed too.

There is another way to use the card as Pusser hinted at....many folks who have Wi Fi on their home computers do not lock down the access. It is possible to gain access via these unsecured points. Whether this is legal has not been sorted out yet. There is software out there which will allow you to find and locate these access points whilst driving along, mine even logs them and displays them on my mapping system for future reference. In fact even if you are just using Windows XP it will notify you of ANY access point in range of your laptop and tell you whether it is open access or secured. The reason so many Wi Fi access point in folks homes are open is that, that is the way they come in the box, folks connect them up, switch them on....they work so thats it...no security ...open access to the internet for any passing laptop with a wi fi card and a savvy user. The more savvy the user of the laptop is; the more dangerous it is for the Wi fi enabled home computer. (hence my hard wired network Wink

)

If Wi Fi really takes off and gets installed in a few more campsites it could be the answer to email and the web on the move.

Mike

P.S. My wife who works in the industry has just come in and read this, she says that the BHHBA (caravan site owners) is recommending forward looking site owners to get in on the act and install Wi Fi access on their sites.

PamNPete

Wi Fi
Is as I understand it a means of connecting to the Broadband / Another computer ........

Using your wireless connection
yes it would be posssible to pick up & connect to someonelses broadband connection by this means
However you have to first find the wireless connection (the computer will do this for you)
Then you have to know the username for the persons connection to be able to use their system
however you coud find the connection and haveing accessed the modem & hence the broadband system you can use your own user name to access your own emails etc

As the transmission of data on my home system is free there is no gain or loss if my system was accessed in this way, but as our system is not always on Anybody wanting to join in would have to connect up when we are on line.
I normally turn the modem off if the computer is off or left for some time

Back to top

The wi Fi is your normal wireless connection some sites have Wi Fi connections available (mostly at a Cost) and a room where you can take the laptop to to carry out your work
Most Wireless conections have a limited range of about 500m in the open but this is cut down by walls
Sons built in connection cannot pick up my router from upstairs. So we have fitted him with a BT wireless thingy while I now have a Belkin plug in 54g thingy
It just saves on wires and we dont have to be in the room with the router
Most systems only allow up to 10 computers to be connected at once

Is this OK ?
If ot PM before weekend

flyboy

Thanks guys this is all good stuff, I am learning all the time. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?
PamnPete do I take it you live in Cumbria? if so we could be neighbours.

Bill

bsb2000 · Account Deactivated

Pete wrote...........

[quote:438d774157]Then you have to know the username for the persons connection to be able to use their system [/quote:438d774157]

This would be visible if the user had not 'hidden' their SSID.

Ian