Help with WIFI internet connection to PC

ryanyboy

ryanyboy

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Ryan
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Hello all,

I'm hoping an IT expert can help with probably the most basic thing ever!!

I'm just wondering what I need to make my PC ready to receive WIFI. If I take the PC into an area with "Free WiFi" what do I need to make my desktop PC receive it??

AND - is the connection likely to be any good??

Thanks for any help.

Ryan
 
You will need either an internal wifi card (for desktop) or an external wifi dongle.

How new is your computer? Most these days come with it all built in. When you say take your PC into an area, do you mean a desktop?

Connection speed depends on the provider - is it in a public place?
 
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Are you intending to carry a desktop PC and monitor, mouse and keyboard into a shop and plug in all the power leads?
 
Well the first thing you need is either a WiFi card or USB WiFi dongle. The software that comes with the card or dongle should then set the device up for you.

Usually what then happens is you launch your browser or email programe which then looks for a network. Once it's found the WiFi it will ask you to log on somehow. Normally asking for your email address. ( Handy for marketing) . Then if my experience is anything to go by, you are logged onto the slowest network ever. The old iPhone on the 2G network is quicker. It's because they have limited bandwidth and there are a lot of people using it and the coverage may not be so great. Having said that it does vary from location to location. but I've found most to be fairly slow. OK for email whilst having a coffee but very slow for normal surfing

If you need remote access to the internet you might want to Look at the various roaming services from Vodafone . Orange and O2. There are various tariffs available and some don't need a 12 month contract. But you do need to make sure that you have suitable signal quality where you intend to use your PC
 
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Once you have the tech in the computer you will be able to view available WiFi connections. Some connections may have a password, some may not. Anything which doesn't have a password you should be able to connect to. You will also get a bar meter showing the strength of the WiFi signals detected. If you have a choice, connect to the strongest signal.

Even if somewhere says free WiFi, you may need to get a password from whoever is providing it, as they may not want people outside of their establishment using their connection/bandwidth. ;)
 
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Thanks a lot fellas. Mark, I'm not intending to take all those gubbins into a shop - a bed & breakfast/hotel maybe for a couple of weeks but not a shop :)

Cheers for the link Matt - I thought that a dongle like that was what I was after but I have little in the way of confidence with these things!! And yes it is a desktop I have (as opposed to a laptop).

John - I have an ipod touch and that'll be fine for basic email stuff but I'll need the PC for when I need to do uploads to album suppliers etc! And I need the PC with me for image editing, album design etc. If it wasn't for the work related stuff I'd put the desktop in the shed for a couple of weeks and would just the ipod for the short term :(

Redhead - good point - I guess the b&b/hotel will provide the password.
 
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ryanyboy said:
Thanks a lot fellas. Mark, I'm not intending to take all those gubbins into a shop - a bed & breakfast maybe for a couple of weeks but not a shop :)
Click to expand...

Ah ok:thumbs:
 
ryanyboy said:
Thanks a lot fellas. Mark, I'm not intending to take all those gubbins into a shop - a bed & breakfast maybe for a couple of weeks but not a shop :)
Click to expand...
In that situation the B&B will probably give you a password. I know that is the way it has worked when I've been away will my laptop. ;)
 
As it's a B&B you may get a better quality service than say McDonalds or Starbucks.

I still have an image of you sitting in the corner of McD's with a Tower, Screen and keyboard. :lol:
 
Chappers said:
As it's a B&B you may get a better quality service than say McDonalds or Starbucks.

I still have an image of you sitting in the corner of McD's with a Tower, Screen and keyboard. :lol:
Click to expand...

You may well laugh but the way things are going it could well happen :D

If it does I'll let you know which McDonald's I'm in and you come take a picture for the "Spotted a Togger" thread :lol:
 
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