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

Comment from Crockhamtown on 2009-11-01

2009-11-01T07:16:42Z

If you have a Wifi card installed in a desktop, won't the steel case affect its performance?

Perhaps, but most have an external antenna outside the case in the back of the machine, and some even have a connection for an antenna you can place away from the machine.

01-Nov-2009

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Comment from Derrick on 2009-10-28

2009-10-28T16:51:16Z

My neighbors have offered to let me use there Ver..n internet service and I am paying for half the bill so it's all good. However, can they monitor or in anyway see what I am doing? Is there any possible way for them to request from Ver..n a report as to what sites I visit? If not 100% discreet please let me know.

I'd be shocked if the ISP saved or made available that information. However they may not need to contact the ISP - if they provide the physical connection (i.e. you eventually end up connecting throught their modem) then they could be watching it all, yes.

29-Oct-2009

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Comment from yasirahamed on 2009-10-27

2009-10-27T12:53:08Z

my brother has a loptop he had connected to internet with modom near by room i have a desktop computer how can i connect to wireless internet

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Comment from Trae on 2009-10-12

2009-10-13T01:32:28Z

My home computer is a desktop with a Broadband Modem thru Verizon. I also have a new laptop that has Wi Fi and I want to know what I need to buy so that I can share the connection that I already have with my home computer. Can I just buy a Wirless Router? Also my home computer has Windows XP and my laptop has Windows Vista. Will these be compatible, and can I make the 2 of them share the same connection? Any help you can provide me with would be most appreciated.

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Comment from derek on 2009-10-05

2009-10-05T19:11:02Z

i have a desktop computer and was wondering how do i get it to have wireless internet the same way as laptops do. i have a wireless adapter installed and still cant get internet. do i need a wifi wireless adapater or something. i tryin overall not to have to spend money on internet service.

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Comment from Taylor Rhea on 2009-09-28

2009-09-28T18:55:41Z

I'll buy you 2 LATTE's if you help me out.

I have a 2-wire modem with AT&T 6 mb connection, i have a windows xp desktop connected hardwired to my modem, i have a macbook pro, connected wirelessly to the modem, however, whenever i am on, both at the same time, my internet gets disconnected, I play online games and i hate it when this happens. they have sent me (3) modems' so I know its not the modem. do you know if they might be limiting my bandwidth?

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Comment from rachel on 2009-09-07

2009-09-07T10:34:26Z

that comment was for all of the people afraid to use free internet wireless service

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Comment from H. O'Neill on 2009-06-06

2009-06-06T16:40:04Z

I want to take my laptop on vacation with me. The hotel offers free internet access. What do I need for my computer to make this work ??

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Comment from Phil Cranny on 2009-06-01

2009-06-01T19:01:52Z

Hi, i was wondering if a Xbox 360 Wireless Adaptor would work instead of buying a usb port, because it does have a usb plug on it?

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Comment from Jackie on 2009-04-20

2009-04-21T03:41:04Z

I have a airlink wirless usb adapter 802.11n I still cannot get connected to wifi do I need a router or an atenna I am not trying to connect other computers I am just trying to connect to wifi. Do i need any other equipment

You probably want to look at this article: How do I get wireless internet?

- Leo
21-Apr-2009

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Comment from ramon on 2009-04-16

2009-04-16T20:18:53Z

I just bought a new laptop. My neighboors have a wireless network and my laptop can access it. Will I be charged any money if I connect to my neighboor's internet network and use it?

Only if you're doing it without their permission, and they try some kind of legal action against you.

- Leo
17-Apr-2009

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Comment from lalit on 2009-01-11

2009-01-11T09:12:34Z

i have a desktop and near a wi-fi modem .
i want connect wifi with bluetooth .
can i do?

No. They're two different, unrelated technologies.

- Leo
11-Jan-2009

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A comment on: How do I connect my desktop to the nearby wireless internet WiFi hotspot?

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Comment from Ken on 2008-12-30

2008-12-30T18:35:37Z

This for those who use others "wi-fi" hotspots. Here where I live in Florida it is totally ILLEGAL to use someone elses hot spot. I personally do not have WiFi myself, but my laptop tries to connect ( and sometimes does ) to my neighbors. Recently they arrested a number of people who were doing this. It can be traced, and at least here. It can land you in the pokey!

Wow. I'd not heard of arrests (or jail time, for that matter) before, but I suppose it was only a matter of time. Illegal or not, depending on where you are, it's at least unethical.

- Leo
31-Dec-2008

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Comment from Kay on 2008-12-08

2008-12-09T05:35:37Z

My son was able to pick up a wireless internet connection on his new lap top in my house. I have tried for years to get wireless and am told constantly by all the local providers it is not available. I then bought the ad in card adaptor to make my desktop wireless and POOF.. I am online with internet explorer at huge speed. I have no idea who's signal I am catching, and I want to "pay" for the connection. How do I figure out where it is coming from to see if I can order it or what? I can get all of the information from the connection, meaning addresses that are like IP addresses. But it means nothing to me! Is there a place where I can find out WHO actually provides service by their internet address? I really want something other than my old dial up that gets me connected at 33bps. Thanks so much
K

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Comment from Tara on 2008-07-25

2008-07-25T19:54:58Z

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.

Your router should be fine.

-Leo

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Comment from Leo on 2008-05-20

2008-05-21T02:31:28Z

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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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Comment from Brock on 2008-05-19

2008-05-20T05:20:03Z

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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Comment from SmallBee on 2007-03-21

2007-03-21T14:02:20Z

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.

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Comment from SmallBee on 2007-01-03

2007-01-03T23:11:56Z

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?

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Comment from Leo Notenboom on 2006-11-28

2006-11-29T01:15:17Z

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

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Comment from PSingh on 2006-10-30

2006-10-31T03:43:17Z

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.

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Comment from Leo on 2006-06-23

2006-06-24T06:07:12Z

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

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Comment from Fred B on 2006-06-23

2006-06-23T22:25:35Z

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!)?

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Comment from Greg Bulmash on 2006-06-16

2006-06-17T00:13:29Z

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.

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A comment on: How do I connect my desktop to the nearby wireless internet WiFi hotspot?

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