dell b130 notebook wireless service

[mrclean]

I just purchased the above laptop computer. It has installed in addition to the internal 56K modem and integrated network card, a dell 1370 internal wireless (802.11b/g, 54mbps).
I am using windows xp home edition.

The question that i have is I am unclear about wireless internet service.
could anyone offer the names few good internet providers(wireless,highspeed) as well as what to look for as far as how does the wireless modem connect with the internet service.
what are wireless hot spots identified on a local map have in connection to the use of a wireless modem?
any help on this issue will make my daughter more comfortable in ussing the laptop we got her for christmas.

 

[TUMMYPONY86]

Verizon DSL is a very good deal if it is offered in your area. You will configure your Wireless card to connect to the Modem of the Wireless Service Provider. You can use hotspots to connect your wireless card to their service. You can do a "GOOGLE" search for Wireless Providers.

 

[Geoff]

Are you referring to regular cable/dsl connections that can be used over a wireless network, or the wireless internet that uses cell phone infrastructure?

And google for "hotspot finder", type in where you live, and it will show you the places nearby that offer either paid or free wi-fi services.

 

[mrclean]

I am referring to cable/dsl service for a wireless card that was installed in the dell laptop, i just purchased. Thank you for helping

 

[vortmax]

good news! It's free!

All you need is standard highspeed internet (cable or DSL) and a wireless router.

There is no wireless ISP besides what cell phone companies offer which is limited to cities and would be wireless anywhere. It's also pretty expensive.

 

[mrclean]

I am sorry but I am new in the wireless world. please explain what you typed in the last message. I am not being a pain,I appreciate the responses, but It's more like wanting to know how these hardware devices fit together and what is the purpose of the end result. I want to relate this to my daughter so that when she is on her own, she can determine what's best for her. We live in Trenton New jersey, between new york and Philadelphia. I am sure that there are hot spots in between those two cities. What/ who creates them and what is their purpose in respect to my setting up a wireless connection to access an internet service? thank you much for your time in this matter!

 

[vortmax]

okay. All that a wireless network is, is a standard network broadcast over the air. The range of this broadcast is limited to a few hundred feet.

To have wireless access in your home, you first need to subscribe to normal high speed internet, either cable or DSL. Instead of just plugging the high speed modem into your computer and having traditional internet, you plug the modem into a wireless router, which will broadcast the connection. Your laptop can then connect to the router wirelessly and you have wireless internet.

Hot spots are buissnesses that have an internet connection and share it in that same fashion. Usually they are coffee shops or book stores, so one can sit down and use the internet on their laptop in the buissness.

So what you will do is get highspeed internet (if you don't already have it). The first device in the string is the modem. Cable internet comes in over coax cable (like cable TV), DSL comes in over a phone line cable. Depending on which one you have, one of thse two will plug into the modem.

From the modem you will run network cable (known as cat 5) that will plug into a wireless router.

This will broadcast the signal and act as a "hot spot."

Here's a diagram of it all together

A router will allow you to share the internet connection with other computers in your house. The router will let you run standard network cable from it to a computer, or let the computer connect wirelessly (if it has a wireless card).

Is it starting to make sense now?

this is another good article that will help a lot
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network.htm