Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 7

How do you connect to the internet on a laptop?

I've been reading a few articles on it but I'm a little confused on the different ways to connect to the internet on a laptop.

I've read you can connect using a cell phone. I've also read you can connect using something called a wi-fi. The other way I believe is something called an 802.11( I have the slightest idea what this is)

Could someone please explain this to me?
Does it come built-in the laptop?
Which is better?
How do you pay for internet service?
How do you connect to the internet?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I've read many post on Treo central and still don't understand. I know it's a darn shame.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location:
Posts: 1571

Re: How do you connect to the internet on a laptop?

Do you want to connect your laptop to the internet using the Treo as a modem? If so, you are out of luck. The Treo was not designed to work as an external modem fcor other devices.

You can connect your laptop to the internet using a wireless network card. Called your carrier and ask them if they carry cards for laptops.

quote:

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Originally posted by ronaldwright
I've been reading a few articles on it but I'm a little confused on the different ways to connect to the internet on a laptop.

I've read you can connect using a cell phone. I've also read you can connect using something called a wi-fi. The other way I believe is something called an 802.11( I have the slightest idea what this is)

Could someone please explain this to me?
Does it come built-in the laptop?
Which is better?
How do you pay for internet service?
How do you connect to the internet?

Any info would be greatly appreciated. I've read many post on Treo central and still don't understand. I know it's a darn shame.

---

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My life is in my Treo... Where is yours?

Registered: Aug 2002
Location: Vermont
Posts: 148

Some cell phones can act as a modem for your laptop, either by a cable or by InfraRed. This is something you would have to ask your cell phone carrier about.

Wi-Fi and 802.11b are the same thing. 802.11b, in a normal household setup, allows you to wirelessly share your broadband connection among many computers. The range for this technology is only around 300-600 ft. indoors.

In most computers, you must install an 802.11b card, but some of the newer laptops have it built in. Look at your documentation to find this.

If you want to connect to the Internet on the road, you have a couple options:

a) dial up. I woud recommend trying a prepaid Internet service if you do not travel with your laptop much, otherwise fork over $20 a month to a national Internet Service Provider.
This is the most cost-effective method, although you need to have access to a phone jack when you want to connect.

b) use your cell phone (as mentioned above).

c) contact a cell phone carrier about a PC card for your laptop.

Both B and C can get very expensive, $40-60 a month and require an area with digital cell phone coverage.

- cml

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Chandler, AZ
Posts: 289

If you want to be out and about, Sprint PCS has a card that hooks into your laptop and allows you to use their PCS Vision service ... price ranges from $40-$100 per month ($100 is unlimited use) .... not sure how fast it is, but from the little I've played with Sprint PCS Vision on a cell phone, it appears to allow full access to websites/etc, has an email account, etc...

if your looking for connectivity inside your house from a laptop, 802.11b is probably your best bet .. fairly inexpensive ($50-$75 for the card and around $100-$150 for an access point..) and should be easy to setup. Of course, if you want, you could always buy a really long ethernet cord (100' or 300'..) and just drag that around your house ..

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by Cerulean

Of course, if you want, you could always buy a really long ethernet cord (100' or 300'..) and just drag that around your house ..

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Thats what I do, I have connected 2 15 Meter UTP cables and I can get about anywhere in my house/garden.

Wireless is very nice but at the moment I dont haver the $$$

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 7

So if I understand you all correctly if I wanted to connect in my house without wires go with 802.11 or wifi

If I want to be connect anywhere anytime use a cell phone or talk to my cell phone carrier for a pc card.

Question: the pc card is not the same as the 802.11?

So 802.11 is a wireless ethernet card. Thank you all so much.

Let me know if I understood incorrectly.

Also the range of a pc card is it greater than that of a 802.11
I'm guessing it would be if setup by cell phone carrier.

Also if you were content with only connecting once in a house say you went from house to house are you able to connect to the internet each time and who pays the bill. Does the bill goes to the person who pays the home phone bill. So does that mean wherever there is a phone cable with 802.11 you could connect to the internet.

quote:

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Wi-Fi and 802.11b are the same thing. 802.11b, in a normal household setup, allows you to wirelessly share your broadband connection among many computers. The range for this technology is only around 300-600 ft. indoors.

---

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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

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Originally posted by ronaldwright
So if I understand you all correctly if I wanted to connect in my house without wires go with 802.11 or wifi.

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 7

So the 802.11 is better if you don't mind waiting to get to someones house to use it. And when you use it you get billed not the person who's house your at.

Also can it only be used at houses or any building that has a phone in it. Example: Restaraunt, Office, Hospital, Airport, ect...

Thanks.

__________________
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www.pdaphonehome.com

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

---

Originally posted by ronaldwright
So the 802.11 is better if you don't mind waiting to get to someones house to use it. And when you use it you get billed not the person who's house your at.

Also can it only be used at houses or any building that has a phone in it. Example: Restaraunt, Office, Hospital, Airport, ect...

Thanks.

---

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 7

So you can only use the wifi card wherever there is a base station.

Thank you. I want to make sure I get it 100%.

__________________
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Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

---

Originally posted by ronaldwright
So you can only use the wifi card wherever there is a base station.

Thank you. I want to make sure I get it 100%.

---

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Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 7

Thanks. I got it now.

In that case the pc card from your cell phone provider would be better until 802.11 base station is established everywhere.

__________________
May the lord bless you and Heaven smile upon you.
Check out this site also for great discussions on all pdaphones.
www.pdaphonehome.com

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Sydney Australia
Posts: 1883

quote:

---

Originally posted by ronaldwright
Thanks. I got it now.

In that case the pc card from your cell phone provider would be better until 802.11 base station is established everywhere.

---

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Do files get embarrassed when they get unzipped?

Registered: Jul 2002
Location:
Posts: 7

Understood. I'm keeping my Treo. I just wanted to know a little about internet on a laptop. I know curiousity killed the cat.

What I would like is the ability to add a monitor ,hard drive, cd/dvd drive, keyboard , mouse, speakers and a printer to my Treo.

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May the lord bless you and Heaven smile upon you.
Check out this site also for great discussions on all pdaphones.
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