Wireless network questions

Just some wireless questions from a newbie, after I set up my computer, it detected some wireless network (probably my neighbor's computer I guess). When I attempted to connect to the wireless network, it prompted me for a password...so if I go to a cafe (like Starbucks Coffee) where there is wireless internet access available, do I ask them for the password in order to access the internet? Will I be charged a fee? How fast is the wireless connection speed? Is it fast enough for online gaming?

One other thing, I have an old Pentum 4 desktop, if I want to connect my laptop to my desktop wirelessly and share the internet access, do I have to install a wireless card in my PC first? besides that do I also need to install a wireless router?

Thanks.

 

the password you are being prompted for is the encryption key. local spots like starbucks will not have a key and will most likely be free. the limiting factor on whether or not you can game on the network is how fast their internet connection is. Generally it will be regular internet and you could probably get away with it. If you want your desktop to go wireless you need to get a Wi-fi PCI card from your local bestbuy etc

 

Thanks for the reply. So all I need is to install a Wi-fi PCI card in my PC so I can connect my laptop to my desktop computer and share internet access?

 

The best way is to get a wireless router. Most wireless routers also have 4 ports for wired Ethernet connections. Connect your Ethernet cord from your desk top to your wireless router. Your laptops wi-fi card will then also connect to the wireless router. Then set up your Home network in XP (my network places).
This set up will also be more secure because of the built in NAT firewall the router supplies to your home network. And will support WPA encryption to keep unwanted visitors out.

 

Come on people, there has to be at least 100 people who regularly read here and could easily answer this question accurately for this person. Maybe you all can't answer the in depth technical questions but I know many of you are capable of answering this question.

I'll do what I can to answer the hardest of questions around here, but there's no reason why any one of you can't help out and answer questions like this.

Your right, you probably seen a neighbors wireless connection.

No there are many even other than Starbucks who have free connections avaialable, you can connect from in your car or down the street with no need for a password.

The connection is going to be darn near dial up slow, good luck playing any games on them, just opening a simple web page will be slow and annoying enough for you.

As far as sharing your internet connection between your laptop and your PC no you don't need a wireless anything to do so. Just buy a "router", wireless or otherwise. Make it simple and buy a WiFi router just because there are so many available out there right now for cheap, but if you have a choice and want to just connect you laptop to the intrnet through it then don't use the WiFi feature to do so or you'll retard your connection speed, instead use the Cat5 cable connection and plug in directly with a wire.

 

Let me see if I can answer your questions (correctly).

1. Depending on where you go, internet access is either free via an unsecured wireless point or there is a charge. Generally, either one will be obvious based on where you are. Here, the Starbucks use TMobile Hotspots and there is a charge. There is a local coffee shop w/ free internet access as well as IHOPs and McDonalds

2. I'm not sure exactly what you're asking about wireless connection speed. Will it be fast enough at home for gaming. The answer is certainly yes. I game wirelessly and get 20-40ms ping times and 0 lag (CSS, DODS, BF2). Wireless speeds are much faster than ordinary home internet access speeds (wireless speed varies from 11-54mbps, wired is usually 10/100/1000 with 1000 being very rare in home use). Your cable/dsl connection is between 128kbps (or .12 mbps) to 8mbps (fastest I've seen in the USA for a reasonable price).

However, if you are gaming from a hotspot, your speed will depend on a lot of things. Saturation of the network, how it's configured, and the availability of network bandwidth.

As far as setting it up goes, I used to recommend Linksys routers. I don't anymore as I've been having problems with them. Purchase price is usually under 100 bucks. I've been hearing good things about netgear and I've set one up that seems to work ok. There is a huge thread about this in the hardware section, I think.

 

A little different question but around the same topic.
My E1505 with Intel Pro Wireless card picks up 5-6 different wireless networks in my home (depending on the location). One of them is unsecured. I am only able to get a decent signal in one room (close to the window on a second floor). I have dial-up at home and this might be a better solution. I did a little research online to try to boost this signal, and read about "repeaters" and "range extenders". Putting aside ethical issues, what are my chances of doing something to use this connection in my other room. Anyone tested any specific models that would serve the purpose? I am not a hacker or anything of that type, I only use internet at home to browse and check e-mail (no heavy downloading or gaming). Will my PC be vulnerable because I do not have a router? I do have a ZoneAlarm Pro and Antivirus.
Any advise is appreciated. Thanks.

 

@coolmen777: Routers are most commonly used to share high-speed internet connections and for ad-hoc networks (or true networks). If you have only one computer, you definitely don't need a router since you only have dial-up. If you have a few computers and want to share files and printers, you should invest in a router and some NICs for your PCs (either wireless or wired, depending on the transfer speeds you are looking for or if you want to lay CAT-5E/6 cable). Under no circumstances should you "borrow" this unsecured connection without getting permission first.

@esoterica: Thanks for being so generous to provide a reply even though you prefer to "answer the hardest of questions around here". Geez.

 

Thanks for answering my questions, guys. I have 3 more questions.

1. If I read it correctly, I could actually access the wireless internet in the parking lot of a McDonnald's or Starbucks without even going in there? That sounds pretty cool. If so what's the average range of such hotspot's wireless network?

2. Vcdechagn mentioned that there are certain Hotspots charge a fee for their internet access. How do I know that? I assume for such Hotspots I'd have to ask them for a password and then be informed there is a fee?

3. If I detect any neighbors' wireless networks around my area that are insecure (no password required to login), if I connect my laptop to those computers, does that mean I'll have access to internet too providing if those computers are already connected to internet?

Thanks again.

 

1. you can only access free hotspots. starbucks isn't free. it's a grind and dietrich's are free. starbucks you have to pay.

2. you will know because when you connect and launch your browser it will redirect you to a page to pay or you will not be able to connect at all.

3. don't be a jerk and steal wifi. subscribe to broadband and pay for it like you should.

 

You CAN use your neighbor's wireless, but it is a felony if you get caught. It happens rarely but it happens.

"Unauthorized access to a computer network"

You lose many rights if you are convicted of a felony, the most important of which is gun ownership (followed by voting).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8489534/

Not that it will happen, just that it can happen.

I personally recommend a router for everyone because you will get what is called a private ip address (an address that routers on the internet refuse to route). This means no one can route TO your computer without you creating a port to foward to your computer.

They are cheap insurance for a home network.

 

Ok, I just bought a wireless router as everyone recommended. I already set it up and connected my desktop to the router, desktop/router/internet all worked fine. BTW, during router setup I was asked whether to have security enabled or not, I went with the default setting "disable", was that not a good idea?

The next part got me confused, I was supposed to connect my laptop to the wireless router, I clicked the radio icon and it found the network, I double clicked it and connected to the network, and I was able to share internet access...then as you mentioned I should set up my Home Network via My Network Place, it offered me two choices: "Set up a home or small office network", or "Set up a wilress network for a home or small office", I figured it must be the 2nd choice and went with it, then it gave me another two options "Use a USB flash drive" or "Set up a network manually"...at that point I was getting really confused, I thought the wizard would just do everything for me and network the two computers, but it seems I have to go through a complicated process, is this the normal procedure for setting up a network? I'm at the point where my laptop is able to share internet access with my desktop but can't share/transfer files between the two computers. Just want to verify if I didn't do anything wrong before moving forward.

Is there a guide for such wireless setup for newbies? Thanks.

 

If your only going to be splitting your internet and not sharing a printer or files/folders just enable your security WPA or whatever and your done. No need to enable file/print sharing if your not going to use it and with XPhome it can suck setting it up sometimes. Also I like to use mac filtering as a backup to whatever security your router or older computer uses.

One more thing, change your user name and password to your router as soon as you can most people forget to do this.

 

I called Linksys and was able to get the problem fixed. Now I'm able to share internet access and file transfer between my desktop and laptop.

There is one remaining issue. Surfing the net from either the desktop and laptop seems to be ok without any lag, but accessing one computer from another is pretty slow. For instance, it takes about 2-3 seconds to access the wireless laptop from my desktop, if I try to access the desktop from wireless laptop, it takes even longer - usually 5 to 7 seconds to browse the content. My two computers are only 2 feet away from one another. Is this normal with a Wireless B router? Do you guys experience any lag at all for file sharing/transfering among the computers in a wireless network?