Wireless Broadband

[El Pirata]

I am thinking about getting wireless broadband for my laptop. Any pros and cons that I need to be made aware of before I get this? Hackers getting into my PC? People stealing my signal? Whatever else I might not be thinking of?

I am using zonealarm pro as a personal firewall (the paid version which has way more buzzers and whistles than the free version). I am not saying security is not going to be an issue but I was thinking in case that was not enough security.

[*I*A*]

the bigest thing is people stealing your signal and hacking in. its very easy to do. and with the wireless i had the signal wasnt to good and it would cut out alot (but thats the router you have) but i wouldnt get it because of people hacking into your comp

[El Pirata]

I was refering to getting a nationwide wireless plan like a cell phone. No router. I have been using a home wireless card but I want one I can take anywhere and be connected to the Internet and not need a router.

[Sparco]

Pirata are you referring to the wireless cards from carriers like Verizon?

At my job, we support that card for some of our customer's and its proven to be real hassle. First off, it's pretty expensive with the unlimited plan. Secondly, transfer rate is marginal at best. Most palces will only offer RTT versus EVDO. In other words... RTT is like mobile dial-up.

Nice idea but I still think the network needs refinement on a national level.

[*I*A*]

o sorry i miss understood.

[Klassy Guy]

After the post by sparco if you're now thinking about a LAN, get a linksys, they are great, and easy to set up. I had some trouble on my computer, but on our other computer it was up and running. Get G speed instead of B or T(i think T is one of them). If you set it up right, then you are fine. If you are still considering cellphone internet, try a friends phone that has internet on it ( I have sprint) even is a 4 bar area (signal bars) 56k is faster.

[El Pirata]

Pirata are you referring to the wireless cards from carriers like Verizon?

At my job, we support that card for some of our customer's and its proven to be real hassle. First off, it's pretty expensive with the unlimited plan. Secondly, transfer rate is marginal at best. Most palces will only offer RTT versus EVDO. In other words... RTT is like mobile dial-up.

Nice idea but I still think the network needs refinement on a national level.Ok, here's my motivation, I am stuck working nights with absolutely nothing to do and no internet. Watching tv for 12 hours a shift will get old rather fast.

No, I am not thrilled about blowing $70 a month for wireless internet. I thought about getting a dail up server however your tax dollars have put secirity on the lines so that there is no telephone signal unless using a government phone. Either that or I am royally messing up something and can't get a phone signal on my laptop. I am willing to try anything to get me wired to the net off my laptop.

I mean I can't even get a dail tone on my laptop when I plug it into the phone lines at work. Maybe there is something I have not setup on my computer to accept a dail up signal but I don't know what. My laptop has been using wireless g router since I bought it this past summer. I never did anything to configure it for a phone line so that might be where the problem lies.

Everyone else I had mentioned the wireless g router which was what I am currently using however this thread for the most part is about upgrading to the wireless dialup like Sparco called it.

[Klassy Guy]

You need to download something like the at and t phone line browzer, this means you pay them for every minute you use, which sucks. Talk to your employer, although, they may not like you using up the phone line. If not, the expensive way to go is to call up geek squad, but someone on these forums must know. At my dad's office he is connected to the net through the phone line and he uses the at and t thing. It is worldnet software or something, try googling it.

[El Pirata]

Dude, US Army is the employer. They do have access to the internet if I want to go to www.ako.army.mil or www.goarmy.com but aside from those everything else is pretty much blocked. I can't check my e-mail through yahoo (or any other mail server because they are afraid of viruses), no message boards, no fleabay, very little google. Believe me they are really cracking down on government computers having access to the net.

[El Pirata]

Ok I got the 401 from Sparco over IM. Thanks a heap. Now I see the light. ***I hope it's not an oncoming train***

[sharps990]

Ok I got the 401 from Sparco over IM. Thanks a heap. Now I see the light. ***I hope it's not an oncoming train***

dont you mean 411 or is that some super top -secret military lingo that i havnt had the pleasure of being enlightened of

sharps

[El Pirata]

No, the 401 like the error 401.

[El Pirata]

I got it and I am using it right now. The only thing I am finding I don't like thus far is the fact that jpg images come in distorted in view only from web pages. If I save them they are flawless but the view is distorted from the web. Not sure exactly why this is happening but I'll probably call verizon this evening and ask them about it. The speed is way better than I expected after talking to Sparco. It's not as fast as cable but about as fast as the wireless card I wAS using through a router. The best part thus far is I am able to surf forums from work, which I am at right now. I'll keep you guys posted as I use thismore and more.