I have a wireless enabled laptop with built in wifi, and I am considering using it in Germany on Thursday,
How does it work? I mean if I go to a "hotspot" and switch it on does it just connect and bill my aol account or are there other charges that I don't know about, and
it has to be easy for me to use it,
I mean it has to be easy to use it
Do i have to set up a new dial access number for it to connect to the net.
Sorry for being thick, but hey that's me

regards
Bryn

Bryn

I'll try and tell you slowly because although I use computers with my job...I'm a bit of a technophobe really ;-)

Go to your wireless hotspot..eg hotel, Starbucks, McDonald's or like me sit in your car and find a free one...

Turn on your wifi (The wireless is exactly that...it connects you to the internet without using wires...)

You connect using an internet browser on you laptop, eg. Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari, Mozilla, etc etc.

You don't need to connect usuing your AOL account.

A page will open saying you are about to use "XYZ" hotspot, login etc and pay by credit card for the time required.

Easy....

Good Luck.


Nick

Thanks PP
So I suppose that I had better download mozilla first
Then just follow the on screen prompts when i,m in Germany
And how do you find free one,

quote:

Go to your wireless hotspot..eg hotel, Starbucks,
McDonald's or like me sit in your car and find a free one...

regards

This is what you need then

http://www.gadgethub.co.uk/shop/detail.asp?ProductGroupID=13778

Basically like prioritypress says you can look for a wireless network. Now the legallity of this is hit and miss because basically you are using someones unsecured network to use the free internet because any greedy corporation such as starbucks etc charge nowadays.

However I personally think its better to pay starbucks or someone like that. Uusally then you get say a month of internet access which you can access by popping in.

Now a wireless network is like this. Imagine a house with a garden. This house has a wireless network which is very strong in the study. As you come away the signal gets weaker. Still accessable in the garden but it will be slower. Now out of the garden it will not work because signal is to week. So thats how they work.

You need to change a setting in your browser. In IE right click and click connectivity. Instead of AOL click LAN settings and automatically detecct a network option.

Hope this helps

Chocolate-eater

Bryn,

The tricvky bit is turning on your wifi. Most of the time you go to Control Panel, then Network Connections and with a bit of luck you should see wireless networks there. If you do, click on it and then click on "view Available Wireless Networks.

With lcuk, you will finfd a network, or maybe several. Most are private, but some are public. If you find a public one, click on it and the computer will try to connect to it. If you are lucky, it will be free of charge. Then, just open internet explorer and surf away.

If it is a pay site, when you open explorer a window will open asking you to log in, maybe by paying by credit card.

It gets really nasty if you do not have wireless networks showing in your "Control Panel / Network Neighbourhoods" stage right at the start. In that case you may have a wifi card, but it may not be installed properly. In my case, I had one, it was installed, but it was not switched on!

So its worth checking before you go: do you have a heading for wirelss networks when you go to Network Neighbourhoods?

It goes without saying, if you are using a wireless netowkr your are opening the door to the world - you need a decent firewall.

I currently have a wireless Netgear router, DG834GT this is used daily, When I pop to a hotspot then the PC should just find the hotspot and ask me to make a payment to get on line, is that about right?. Also whilst on the subject, if I took my PC and router to LOS , would it work if i bought some credit off a thai internet provider.
regards

Bryn

Have a look at the Stickman website for a list of free wi-fi spots in Thailand.


Nick

Bryn,

Yes, it will work on your laptop when you are near a hotspot.

As for the router working in Thailand, I have the same router, which is linked to my phone socket to give me ADSL. I suppose your phone line in Thailand would also need to offer ADSL. I don't know how common that is.

Only just got my router fro Christmas. Internet sharing was easy, file sharing between machines more difficult, all in all it took me a week or two to get it all set up properly. It shouldn't be so complicated!

Ian

Here is the Stickman link Free WiFi in Los

What roughly would the going rate be if you were to pay? Is there a minimum rate. If I went to Starbucks in London, say and went on for half an hour. Would I pay by credit card once the computer links up?

Cheers Andy,
Don't know the answer to your question though, Soz.

Went to mcdonalds today to try it out and it works
thanks everybody.

Another question.

I believe you can buy a type of phone sim card reader which allows me to connect to the net, If whilst in Germany or Thailand and I purchased a pay as you go sim card and plugged it in to the pc with the sim card reader thingy, would it work.
Yours thickly
Bryn

Bryn
I have wireless network at home unsecured with ADSL but it wont reach to your house Hehe. Also one at Shamrock bar pattayaland soi 2 free for any one with a laptop same thing at cheers bar next door but one.

Such a sim card turns your pc into a mobile phone (but don't try holding it to your ear .

If the card has GPRS, you can get reasonably good connection sppeds, but I think it would cost you a packet, and I think you would need a German ISP too?

Ian

OK thanks
But what I mean is I think vodaphone do a thing that gets you on the net by using your sim card'

Is this the same thing and would it have to be a special sim card that I bought or would any phone sim card work,
regards

quote:

If the card has GPRS, you can get reasonably good connection sppeds, but I think it would cost you a packet, and I think you would need a German ISP too?

I use Gprs from my mobile in thailand its expensive intermittent but you don't need a thai isp.

I remember holidays with no mobiles no internet and no hassle those were the days

ash

quote:

What roughly would the going rate be if you were to pay? Is there a minimum rate. If I went to Starbucks in London, say and went on for half an hour. Would I pay by credit card once the computer links up?