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General discussion

Wireless access to internet

Jan 9, 2005 8:52AM PST

Daughter in law has a new Dell Notebook with a wireless card (not installed), once card is installed what else will she need to have access to internet? Will she need a router?

Discussion is locked

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yes
Jan 9, 2005 9:17AM PST

Do you have a cable/DSL service in mind? They should supply the modem and provide the installation. The wireless router will be your responsibility.

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confusing
Jan 9, 2005 9:33AM PST

Thanks for the help...I am not familiar with wireless or notebooks at all. Does wireless require DSL or cable? She will be using AOL at first until she learns more about the computer. She does not have a computer at home but can use one at her parents and mine. We thought the notebook would be the solution for college. Do you know of a site that she could use for "basis lessons" on the use of a notebook?

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wireless access
Jan 9, 2005 7:28PM PST

"Does wireless require DSL or cable?"

Yes, it requires some type of access. At home, you will need either DSL or cable and a wireless router. As far as I know, this is not available with AOL dialup service.

Have her call the school she is planning to attend and find out what they offer. Some schools do offer wireless access within their campus. Others, it is a wired setup.

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Sharon, A Router Is Not Required..
Jan 10, 2005 4:44AM PST

...although it might be necessary if more than one computer is trying to access the net through one connection. And in many of the newer products, the modem and router are combined..There are really only a couple of things required for a single computer to connect wirelessly to the internet. First, you must have a hardware device which connects you through a cable to the internet. Then you'll need the Internet Service Provider which provides the network service. Whether you use an Internet Service Provider which uses a "cable" connection (basically it's the same thing as cable television) or one which uses a DSL connection, this device is a "modem" which connects to the appropriate wall jack in your house. There are wireless modems, "wired" modems, or combo modems, which will receive the signal from your daughter's computer. ...If there is going to be more than one computer connecting through the modem, then a router will be necessary so that all the various computers can connect easily. Although a router and modem are frequently separate devices, there are some new combo modem/router devices such as the "Gateway" device at: THIS LINK

Although they are not used much, there are also "dial-up" wireless routers..This device plugs in to the telephone jack, then allows the wireless computer to move about the house and still connect wirelessly. Here's a link to one such example:

WiFlyer
http://www.wiflyer.com/

So, you pays your money and takes your choice...

Hope this helps.

Grif