Need help connecting laptop wirelessly at a friend's

scheming_gypsy

you'll be ok doing that as all you're doing is viewing the routers settings. As long as you don't change anything and then click 'save', you'll be safe.

Dollardog

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

you'll be ok doing that as all you're doing is viewing the routers settings. As long as you don't change anything and then click 'save', you'll be safe.

Thank you very much,

I'll try it when I get the chance,

Im_just_careful

In the original post the final statement is:-

"I bought an O2 dongle thinking that I would be able to connect using that, but it says that it is not a good area for O2 and it doesn't show at all on the list of available networks."

This may be stating the obvious but the O2 dongle will use the O2 phone network not the WiFi and hence doesn't appear in "available networks".

I take it that you have made the O2 dongle work on your laptop at home but O2 don't have coverage at the other location.

Dollardog

Im_just_careful wrote: »

In the original post the final statement is:-

"I bought an O2 dongle thinking that I would be able to connect using that, but it says that it is not a good area for O2 and it doesn't show at all on the list of available networks."

This may be stating the obvious but the O2 dongle will use the O2 phone network not the WiFi and hence doesn't appear in "available networks".

I take it that you have made the O2 dongle work on your laptop at home but O2 don't have coverage at the other location.

I have the O2 manager installed on the laptop and if I am in a free wifi area, such as McDonalds etc, BTcloud or whatever it is, comes up as available. I've never bothered putting any money on the dongle as I've not needed to yet. I've always linked into my own home broadband. I don't often take the laptop out of the house so have had no real need to use the dongle and wouldn't want to have to pay the £15 for a months usage only to find it couldn't pick up the signal in the area anyway. I'm going to Kingston on Thames which last time I looked said it was not a good area for the signal.
I took my laptop to Kelso recently and was able to link into the wireless broadband of the centre on the showground quite easily.
I understand what you are saying, but as far as I can remember, the option doesn't even come up when I am there to be able to put money on the dongle account. Which makes me think that I wouldn't be able to use it.
I have to admit though that I am a total newbie when it comes to mobile broadband because I don't use it much, so any advice is very welcome and much appreciated.

4Fingus

Dollardog wrote: »

Thanks, might have to try that when they are not looking ha ha.
They get worried that it might do something to lock them out or upset their system!! Mind you, I get worried I might upset it too!!

If they are already that nervous about the system you really do have your work cut out! Do they want you to fix it or not?

When diagnosing any network connectivity the 'ping' tool cannot be beaten. Besides, it will make you look like a real 'tech'

Dollardog

4Fingus wrote: »

If they are already that nervous about the system you really do have your work cut out! Do they want you to fix it or not?

When diagnosing any network connectivity the 'ping' tool cannot be beaten. Besides, it will make you look like a real 'tech'

Yes, they do want me to be able to fix it as it would mean I didn't have to borrow their pc if I want to check emails or if I am working whilst down there.
Its just that they are not very technically minded - neither am I if it comes to that - they already think I'm cleverer than them at computer stuff - ha ha.

4Fingus

Dollardog wrote: »

I have the O2 manager installed on the laptop and if I am in a free wifi area, such as McDonalds etc, BTcloud or whatever it is, comes up as available. I've never bothered putting any money on the dongle as I've not needed to yet. I've always linked into my own home broadband. I don't often take the laptop out of the house so have had no real need to use the dongle and wouldn't want to have to pay the £15 for a months usage only to find it couldn't pick up the signal in the area anyway. I'm going to Kingston on Thames which last time I looked said it was not a good area for the signal.
I took my laptop to Kelso recently and was able to link into the wireless broadband of the centre on the showground quite easily.
I understand what you are saying, but as far as I can remember, the option doesn't even come up when I am there to be able to put money on the dongle account. Which makes me think that I wouldn't be able to use it.
I have to admit though that I am a total newbie when it comes to mobile broadband because I don't use it much, so any advice is very welcome and much appreciated.

I think you are getting the 2 types of connecting confused. O2 would be through a 3G signal for when you do not have an access point available. This is what the dongle does. Connecting to the linksys would be through normal wireless ethernet for which you need the WEP key.

The 2 will work independently.

O2 are not known for have the best of 3G coverage and I wouls alsways suggest using the wireless ethernet over the 3G connection if you have a choice.

Dollardog

4Fingus wrote: »

I think you are getting the 2 types of connecting confused. O2 would be through a 3G signal for when you do not have an access point available. This is what the dongle does. Connecting to the linksys would be through normal wireless ethernet for which you need the WEP key.

The 2 will work independently.

O2 are not known for have the best of 3G coverage and I wouls alsways suggest using the wireless ethernet over the 3G connection if you have a choice.

Yes I would much rather connect to the wireless connection rather than the phone network, paticularly as they have a thatched roof which tends to block mobile signals sometimes.
As I say, I have never used the paid for dongle service as I have never had any reason to and only connected once to the free McDonalds once, just to see if I could!!
My only other experience up to now of connecting to any other service whist not at home was when I was in Kelso and was able to connect there whist on the showground and I only found that purely by chance, I had taken my laptop with me as I knew I would have some spare time and had already downloaded some tv programmes onto it, I took it with the intention of catching up with those, then found I could actually get on the Internet too - bonus!!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Dollardog wrote: »

As I say, I have never used the paid for dongle service as I have never had any reason to and only connected once to the free McDonalds once, just to see if I could!!

yes, but that would be your lappy, not the dongle.

Dollardog

[Deleted User] wrote:

Hi,



yes, but that would be your lappy, not the dongle.

Yes, I know it was and its the lappy I want to connect to their wi fi when I get there next time.