How Does Wireless Internet Work When Traveling?

[jrstephens]

We leave Sunday to go to NC. My husband has a laptop that has wireless internet on it with his school. Will it work anywhere that has wireless? I was thinking about taking it with us. We are chaperoning for an FCA camp, so, the rooms have NO tv and NO phone but we are told it has wireless internet on the campus. He just got it before school was out, so, we have not tried it anywhere other then the school. We do not have wireless at home.

 

[Chef Kearns]

Yes, it will work anywhere that has WiFi. Some places make you pay for the connection, but some places it is free. When you start the computer up you have to search for available networks (or connections). I am soooo not a techie so these are just laymens terms. I'm trying to explain something I barely understand.

I have taken my laptop with me before and it was pretty easy connecting to a WiFi network.

 

[yummybytes]

Yes -- if there is a free (or unsecured, but that's advised against doing...) wireless network in range you will be able to connect into it. Here is how I do it on my machine (which runs Windows XP)

To search for a signal, click your Start button, then there should be a "Connect To" option. Chose that and click Wireless Network Connection. That will pop up a window with a button on the bottom right that says "View Wireless Network Connections" and this will pull up a list of all the available signals in the area. FCA may require you to have an access key to log in, so ask them for that when you "check in".

Take a few DVD's as well if it has a DVD player and you can even watch some movies as well

 

[The_Kitchen_Guy]

I use it all the time when I'm not using my broadband card.Most hotels have free WiFi and if you have a WiFi card in your laptop (most laptops made after about 2005 hav WiFi built in) and they will typically auto-detect the network. If you're in a Marriott or Holiday Inn (Express) the connection is usually free. It may not even have a password unless there is another hotel within WiFi range. The front desk will give you a password. (I've been known to sit in the parking lot of Holiday Inn Express to steal some WiFi connect time.)The lower end hotels may have WiFi but charge a couple of bucks a day to use it. I've been in places that wanted 10 bucks a day to connect - so I went to a local coffee shop and used their free one.Some fast food joints (not all) also have WiFi - Ronald Clowndonald charges for his. Most coffee shops also have WiFi, locally owned ones tend to be free while Starschmucks charges for theirs in most locations.If you keep your laptop open in the car (you can get power converters to keep the battery up - I do that all the time so I can follow Streets & Trips) you'll be surprised at how often WiFi networks are found - The Home Cheapo usually has three or four WiFi nets (all secured, so you can't steal their bandwidth) as do many other businesses. Searching for WiFi can be kinda entertaining...in a geeky sort of way

 

[ChefBeckyD]

Searching for WiFi can be kinda entertaining...in a geeky sort of way

I must be a geek then! Since going wireless, I find myself searching everywhere.....even checking it out when I am at shows! I get a cheap thrill out of being able to log on while I am setting up my computer for check-out! (I'm easily amused!)

 

[BethCooks4U]

I was in nortern Wisconsin for 2 months a couple years ago and they not only had no wireless cafe's the only place I could even get on was at the library and that was limited. My laptop was useless there (my mother didn't have long distance service either so I couldn't even dial up.).

And not only the low end hotels charge for wireless. Many high end also charge. I know the Hiltons in Chicago charge!

 

[chefann]

The Chicago Hilton (conference hotel) charges $16 a day. But that's because they're a business hotel, and people just expense it.

 

[etteluap70PC]

$16 a day is rediculous!!! you know they are making money off that one!

There is a Carabou coffee arround the corner (caramel cooler here I come!!!) from the Hilton and most of them here in MN have free wireless.