Basic question about laptop & internet access from a total computer illiterate?
Question:
I am totally computer illiterate, so please don't laugh just because you think you know it all. Thank you in advance ... I appreciate your answers.
I am taking some online college classes. I am going camping and know that they have the wireless thing set up at some of the campsites. The laptop I have has a wireless card installed in it already.
My questions:
What else do I need to do in order to get internet access?
Do I just go into a wireless "space" and I automatically have internet?
What type browser do I get?
Is there ANY kind of connection to my laptop while in wireless mode to my home internet service?
Answer:
If the campground you are going to has wireless, you just need to go within range. If you have Windows XP SP2 (doesn't matter if it is Home or Professional edition) or later it should detect that there is a wireless network within range. If it doesn't do the following
start-control panel-network connections
on the left hand panel, there should be something that says view available wireless connections. Once you find that, click on it. It will bring up a list and you can connect to the wireless network from there.
When you are at home, you cannot connect to wireless unless you have one of two things:
-a public wireless network within range of your home
-you set up your home to be wireless with the ISP you currently have if you have cable or DSL service (you would need to purchase a router; most are not that difficult to set up)
Hope this is helpful.
as you enter in any wireless area u hav to activte ur connection by going in my connection in contro panal as u r connected u can use normal in ternet browser.and see that ur wireless card is activated
If the laptop already has the wifi card installed and configured, all you have to do is open up the wireless connection utlilty and search for the campsite's wifi signal. Then connect. If it needs an encryption key, you'll have to contact the owner of the wifi hotspot. Your browser will be the browser you have on your computer(Interent Explorer, Firefox). Also, if you are connected to someone elses wifi, you are not connected to your home internet service.
In order to surf, first you need get a subscription with internet service provider (ISP). After you got the account, you need to configure your operating system (OS) to set up the connection. Ask the gateway from ISP if they do provide one.
When you have done with the configuration, just click the connection icon to hook up the internet. You may use internet explorer (if you are using windows) or download mozilla firefox at www.mozilla.org as you browser. That's it!
Enjoy surfing!
1. You don't need much else to get internet access.
2. Yes, as soon you go into a wireless "space" :-) ...IF the wireless space has internet AND is you have permission to connect to this wireless then you will have internet automatically. (some wireless nets have a password requirement).
3. You can use the same browser that you normally use.
4. I would think that the campsite probably is at a distance from your home, and so there won't be any connection to your home internet service.
You don't need to sign up for an ISP account to access the internet if you are using existing wireless access points provided by others as they have ISP accounts already for them to have that internet access for you.
You probably already have a browser loaded into your computer (Internet Explorer is the most common) that you can open to browse the internet once the wireless connection is made.
As for your home internet access, you would need a wireless router connected to a DSL or Cable modem or access to someone elses wireless router to have service. If you have your own internet service at home already, I would need more info on what you know you have and how you've been connecting to it to give you the right info.
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