How do I connect my desktop to the nearby wireless internet WiFi hotspot?

Also worth noting, if the WiFi network isn't public (i.e. it's just a neighbor who didn't secure it), it may be illegal for you to tap into it.

Is it possible to purchase, in addition to the Add-In Card or USB Plug-In, something that will allow one to access the internet if you don't live a couple of houses down from a public or private WiFi hotspot? Or is it possible for cell phone providers (Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.) to offer this type of service (not free, of course!)?

Options are few. You can quite probably do something using a cellular data plan. Check with your cell phone provider.

i have DSL in the next room...how do i pick up DSL signal in an adjacent room without the mess of cables? i need to know what hardware and/or software that is required for that.

This article would be a start: http://ask-leo.com/how_should_i_set_up_my_home_network.html

I am in a similar situation to the original poster, with a twist. I was connected to an ISP who had installed a directional antenna on my home and an Avaya Wireless USB card (802.11b) back in 2002. Well they went out of business this year and left the equipment, but even though I can see 10+ unsecured networks in the area, I can't seem to get data through most of them. The strange thing is friends with laptops work just fine sitting in my home on the networks my epuipment doesn't work with. Is the Avaya 802.11b too old to work with new providers, or is there some software setting that would fix the problem?

After some effort to solve my problem posted above, I learned the following:
Many of the unsecured networks were service providers(not public hot spots), and in order to connect to their site they needed to have your MAC address registered. The other thing of importance is that laptops put out a much stronger signal than desktops, so even though laptops connected right up, the wireless desktop adapters I bought (I tried external usb adapters and internal cards) could not get much of a signal and were unable to connect.

My son's laptop picks up a wifi signal from a hotel next door. What i would like to know if i use just a linksys wrt54g router and my desk top pc would i be able to pickup the signal. I live about 20 yards away.

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First, I'm going to assume that you have the hotel's
permission. NOT having permission would potentially make
what you are suggesting illegal.

Short answer" no. You need to get a wireless card or other
wireless adapter for your desktop.

The best way to think of it is that your router "sends" the
signal, it cannot "receive" the signal from the hotel. There
are devices that receive, and those would be the wireless
adapters for your PC.

Leo

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Hello, I have a wireless router (Dlink) and my desktop used to be conected directly to a modem and the router was for the other laptops in my apartment. At my new place I am not connected to a modem anymore and have to connect to my landlord's internet. Can I use this Dlink router or would I have to get a wireless adaptor? I'm not sure if these are the same things, that's why I am asking. I noticed another post had a similar question but my friend said I should be fine with the router..although we don't know much about this, haha. Hope you can help me.