wireless internet connection

beckie

Hi Im posting this for my sister, can anyone help please?

"I'm confused, please help with a question i have.

I need to be able to connect to the internet wirelessly when out and about eg on the train/bus etc. my laptop is wireless enabled but exactly what other equipment do i need to do/buy?
also I don't have a landline.
what options are there? do i just go to a normal isp or are there ones that do this sort of thing specifically?"

sorry about all the questions and thanks in advance xx

beckie

can anyone help pls xx

saver_sam

I think vodaphone do something that you plug into the PC (a card) that accesses there system.

mhendo

At a static site, you may find a local Wi-Fi "hotspot" which is on the 802.11x standard, and therefore can use your integrated wireless adapter. Do a search here for hotspots.

On the move, you may find some bus/coach/train services now have Wi-Fi access, again allowing you to just use the integrated wireless adapter. An example being the London-Cambridge National Express service - I think Virgin Trains were doing this too.

If the two options above are not available, then you'd want to consider with using GPRS or 3G via a mobile phone (connecting the laptop to the mobile). Alternatively, as saver_sam suggests, look into 3G data cards - the mobile networks do these (Three, Vodafone, etc).

beckie

thanks very much to both of you. I will pass the information on.

sockospice

mhendo wrote:

At a static site, you may find a local Wi-Fi "hotspot" which is on the 802.11x standard, and therefore can use your integrated wireless adapter. Do a search here for hotspots.

On the move, you may find some bus/coach/train services now have Wi-Fi access, again allowing you to just use the integrated wireless adapter. An example being the London-Cambridge National Express service - I think Virgin Trains were doing this too.

If the two options above are not available, then you'd want to consider with using GPRS or 3G via a mobile phone (connecting the laptop to the mobile). Alternatively, as saver_sam suggests, look into 3G data cards - the mobile networks do these (Three, Vodafone, etc).

Virgin are trialing Wifi at the moment, but it is available in some of their 1st class lounges. GNER offer wifi on their trains, I believe.

ADC_3

It's available for free in first class on most of their trains. It costs about £4 an hour in standard class. Simplest way if you're planning well in advance is to buy a first class ticket. I know it sounds a lot but you can get them for £20 from London to Leeds if you choose an off peak train. You get £15 worth of wifi access for free plus unlimited coffee & biscuits and at seat service for cheese toasties and bacon sandwiches. The seats are quite nice as well. The other benefit is that first class coaches are nearer the exits of stations. Buy advance singles at gner.co.uk.

However the wifi is variable and I would say slow. I like to play poker online on the long train journeys but I find the line drops regularly and just when you're slow playing a couple of aces hoping to draw in the money you suddenly find you lose the line and sit out of the hand. The server is in america so mustn't grumble too much.

You should connect automatically. If you don't reset all your default internet settings and that should do it.