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just had my internet pc breath its last so bought a laptop for internet use now its got wireless lan, what can i do with it, do i have to buy any thing else to be able to use it,

if it meens i can use the internet at loacations that support it does that cost money when i do.

please explain by using words with not too many letters in them

many thanks mike

ps i would like to take it camping to watch tv in the cold dark winter nights whats the  best adapter to buy

I second everything Paul has said and I love my lappy. Hubby swears blind that it's superglued to my lap! I'm never off it, (mainly on ukcs apart from when I'm doing me email or diving stuff).

We run no less than four lappy's from our router but recently had to buy a new one coz the other one had had it! Can't think why?

Btw, I used one of ours while were staying in Holland and bought a card for the internet access on a secure site, (only cost me 5,90 Euro for an hour and worth it coz it let me do a couple of email plus a bit of trans-channel posting for ukcs).

But....you can actually access anybody's internet connection if they've got a router that isn't blocked by a password, (our one is).

When I was recently using my lappy at the local swimming pool to input the results of a diving competition, I'd inadvertantly left the LAN open and there were no less than THREE connections available and accessible had I wanted to be cheeky! I'm not, so switched off my LAN thingy.

But just a word to the wise that you will need to secure your access so that passers by can't just park down the road and log onto yours!

Hi Mike,

Your wireless internet will allow you to connect anywhere that has a wireless access point without a cable. Companies like BT and T-Mobile in the UK all have a number of WAP's (Wireless Access Points) http://www.btopenzone.com/   http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=phones_wb_mahs   Fees for access vary and time can be purchased in advance or on a Pay as you Go type system. 

If you happen to be in an area where there is insecure internet access you can often get access without charge . This is not illegal , and I have used this access parked up outside hotels when abroad etc.

It is surprising how many companies as well as individuals fail to secure their networks. As these days many cafes/bars etc have wireless access it is much more convenent to pick up your emails over coffee without feeling you have to look over your shoulder.

I would always encourage people to secure their access points for one simple reason. If any illegal activity takes place  the access point can be traced back to an individual IP (Internet Protocol) address. If it is yours and is insecure you can still be helpd liable. This is at the moment more of an issue in the US but Computer Crime is increasing here as well.

Nick 

Isn't it odd that the Spanish government wants to encourage wi-fi - by giving modem/routers away, provided they will be left 'open' for other wi-fi users to connect ..... and South Korea will have all residents able to access wi-fi by 2010 ........ but the good old UK etc still wants to lock wi-fi away and charge people for using a simple, cheap connection, or make it difficult by only having 'hot spots'?

Come on UK and other EU countries ...... stop lagging behind these other places and start to wake up to reality!   I, for one, am fully prepared to leave my wi-fi open for other people to piggy back off if they want to, as long as my own systems are secure.  So, what about the rest of the UK?  Let's wake up to 2006!

Oozat  ;-)

You're missing one important point Oozat. If I connect to the internet using your wi-fi connection this will register with YOUR IP address regardless of whether it's on my laptop or not.If I then attempt any illegal activity.. eg. hacking into US Defence Computer next thing is that FBI will be dragging you off with our Tony lifting a finger to help you.

All joking aside, what about the pwervert who logs onto child porn sites which are being monitored and then trace dback to your IP.

It's not a risk I'm prepared to take.

Nick

Hi,

Your lucky day my partner is a IT Techinan. He said that you can use wireless Lan only in hotspots where they are avaiable E.G BT OpenZone etc... And most of them you have to pay for either by credit card which buys you credit for so many minutes/hours (which is the rip-off way) or he said you can buy a 3G Connect Card and put ur pay as you go sim card in it and you can use it (which takes the credit off your simcard) He recommends this way as its cheaper and safer (uk only or abroad which is dearer)

Hope that helps you

Many Thanks LeicesterCouple xx