Basic Home Wi-Fi Questions

[Quirk]

My girlfriend's shopping for a new laptop after many years, so we're starting to research wi-fi internet access, about which I know nothing. I can pick up internet signals on my PDA in hotspots, but I'm confused about how home wi-fi works, so maybe someone can explain.

At first I imagined home wi-fi internet service worked like a cellular phone account, where you subscribe to a 'wi-fi' internet provider which allowed you to pick up a local signal to access the internet, completely independent of the need for a traditional DSL/cable internet account. But now as I'm starting to research it, it seems that wi-fi works more like a cordless phone, where you use an existing traditional cable or DSL account, and pick up the transmission from your own personal antenna that's connected into the phone/cable outlet in your home. Which is it? I'm completely confused.

Also, she doesn't travel with her laptop really at all. The only benefit to wi-fi would be on the rare occasion it would be convenient to take the laptop from her home office to another room and still be connected. Is wi-fi worthwhile for that?

Thanks.

 

[sam]

Originally Posted by Quirk

At first I imagined home wi-fi internet service worked like a cellular phone account, where you subscribe to a 'wi-fi' internet provider which allowed you to pick up a local signal to access the internet, completely independent of the need for a traditional DSL/cable internet account. But now as I'm starting to research it, it seems that wi-fi works more like a cordless phone, where you use an existing traditional cable or DSL account, and pick up the transmission from your own personal antenna that's connected into the phone/cable outlet in your home. Which is it? I'm completely confused.
It's the latter. Wi-fi allows clients (computers) to connect to one or more access points, usually a wireless router. These wireless routers must then be connected to the Internet through some means, usually cable or DSL in a home set up.

Also, she doesn't travel with her laptop really at all. The only benefit to wi-fi would be on the rare occasion it would be convenient to take the laptop from her home office to another room and still be connected. Is wi-fi worthwhile for that?

Mobility is the #1 virtue of a wireless network. Given that wireless routers are very cheap, and that virtually all new laptops come with a wireless card, I highly recommend a wireless network.

 

[Quirk]

Originally Posted by sam

It's the latter. Wi-fi allows clients (computers) to connect to one or more access points, usually a wireless router. These wireless routers must then be connected to the Internet through some means, usually cable or DSL in a home set up. Mobility is the #1 virtue of a wireless network. Given that wireless routers are very cheap, and that virtually all new laptops come with a wireless card, I highly recommend a wireless network.
Ah, thanks a lot for clarifying. I got confused when I read somewhere that earthlink only has wi-fi available in a few locations nationwide. So what does that mean? Given your explanation, as long as you have a router, can't you basically get wi-fi anwhere you can get a DSL/cable connection? Or maybe I misunderstood what I was reading...

 

[j]

Originally Posted by Quirk

Ah, thanks a lot for clarifying. I got confused when I read somewhere that earthlink only has wi-fi available in a few locations nationwide. So what does that mean? Given your explanation, as long as you have a router, can't you basically get wi-fi anwhere you can get a DSL/cable connection? Or maybe I misunderstood what I was reading...

There are some areas where you can subscribe to a wider wireless connection, which may be what you're thinking of. In this case you wouldn't need DSL or cable or a router of your own, just the wireless adapter (card, device) for your computer.

If this is not available, you would need to get DSL or cable, and have them set you up with a wireless router.

Another option would be a cellular modem. The service seems to hover around $50/month and it works basically anywhere your cel service works in your local area. The downside of this is that it would be difficult (though not impossible) to share the internet connection among multiple computers in your home.

 

[ratboycom]

Celular Service is also slow, just like Satilite Internet. Celular has to relay a signal to a local antenna which shoots up to the Satilite in space which shoots back to a base station which sends the signal to the various servers on the net then the whole process is reversed. Really Really slow.

When setting up your home Wi-Fi dont get suckered into anything more than Wireless G. MimoG, SuperG, RangeMasterG, Wireless N/Draft N are useless unless you need a huge range and/or are transfering files between multiple computers. Also dont forget to set a WEP Key on your router so no one can jack your net for free (not like I do that or anything, hehehehe)

 

[Flyer]

First, you'll need a router to connect to your modem. Normally, your modem will be connected directly to your computer via a wire, like the bunny id showing below.


What you need is a wireless router, which connects to the modem. The router will allow wired connections as well as wireless connections.


Once you have the router setup, you will want to keep people from accessing it. A good method is to enable both MAC filtering and WPA keys. This can be done via your router menu.