Using laptop away from home

Serida

I have a Dell Inspiron 17R Laptop which I use on a desk connected to the mains with the AC adaptor supplied when I bought it. From time to time I disconnect the adaptor and use the laptop elsewhere in the house, no problem. I took my laptop over to my daughter's house as we wanted to use her laptop and mine to research some things together but separately if you know what I mean. Hers was fine, as usual, but I couldn't get onto the Internet, with or without the adaptor. I've never taken the laptop anywhere other than my own house and am wondering why I couldn't use it. I've seen people in cafes and all over the place using their laptops and can't understand why I can't do the same. Is there something I need that I'm unaware of or something I need to press in order to use it other than at home? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

kwikbreaks

You need to connect it to her router either with an ethernet cable or by logging in to her WiFi. How you connect by WiFi depends on your operating system and possibly her router.

unsure

If it's a standard set up her wifi network will almost certainly have a password or network key which you will have to enter on your laptop before it is given permission to access the signal (stops others pinching your bandwidth!).

If you click on the internet icon to the bottom right of your screen it will list the networks within range. Click on your daughter's network and you'll be prompted for a network key or password (same thing) which your daughter should be able to provide. Enter that and you should be able to access internet. You should also be given the option to "connect automatically to this network" which means your laptiop will store the key and connect automatically when you are in range.

It would be the same for most wifi networks, even in a coffee shop you'll usually have to enter a key.

Serida

Thank you 'kwikbreaks' and 'unsure'. When we tried to connect my laptop it did give a prompt to 'use ethernet cable or log in to WiFi'. My daughter didn't have an ethernet cable available at the time (I have one at my house though) so we tried entering her network WiFi password but it still didn't work. Next time I go over there I'll take my yellow ethernet cable and try that. I still don't understand though how I would connect if I did want to use it in a coffee shop - not that I intend to do so, but just in case.

Frogletina

If you want to use it in a coffee shop or anywhere that has public wifi all you need to do is is to search for the networks in range and you will either be able to connect automatically or if a password is needed the cafe/hotel etc will provide you with it.

Some people use a broadband dongle, a piece of equipment that they pay for which gives them internet access anywhere via 3G

googler

Serida wrote: »

Thank you 'kwikbreaks' and 'unsure'. When we tried to connect my laptop it did give a prompt to 'use ethernet cable or log in to WiFi'. My daughter didn't have an ethernet cable available at the time (I have one at my house though) so we tried entering her network WiFi password but it still didn't work. Next time I go over there I'll take my yellow ethernet cable and try that. I still don't understand though how I would connect if I did want to use it in a coffee shop - not that I intend to do so, but just in case.

DO you normally connect to your own router with this yellow ethernet cable?

Serida

Thank you. No I don't use the ethernet cable. Have just kept it from when I had a desktop computer. I use the laptop wirelessly.

McKneff

When you first set your laptop up, it would have prompted you to enter your set up key number which is on your router.

That's the only way yu would be using your laptop wirelessly.

Try again wirelessly when you go to your daughters and remember, the key number will be on her router and it will also be case sensitive.

Good luck with it.

securityguy

McKneff wrote: »

Try again wirelessly when you go to your daughters and remember, the key number will be on her router and it will also be case sensitive.

That's assuming there's only one network visible. In an urban location in 2013, that simply won't be true: it's routine there there to be ten or more networks available. It's not just a matter of entering the key correctly, it's a matter of connecting to the right network.

J_B

Serida wrote: »

I'll take my yellow ethernet cable and try that

I reckon the black ones are the best :rotfl::p

Mr_Toad

Serida wrote: »

Thank you 'kwikbreaks' and 'unsure'. When we tried to connect my laptop it did give a prompt to 'use ethernet cable or log in to WiFi'. My daughter didn't have an ethernet cable available at the time (I have one at my house though) so we tried entering her network WiFi password but it still didn't work. Next time I go over there I'll take my yellow ethernet cable and try that. I still don't understand though how I would connect if I did want to use it in a coffee shop - not that I intend to do so, but just in case.

I use mine all over the place.

I get my internet via BT and get a free BT Openzone/FON account with it.

Once you connect to a wireless network, like your daughters, it asks for the network key. Once entered it will remember it and next time you go there it will detect that you don't have an ethernet cable connected and connect to her, or any other, wireless network it has the key for automatically.

When I'm out and about mine automatically connects to Openzone or FON in the same way it connect to any other wireless network it knows about. Many pubs and cafes have free WiFi these days and once signed up, as I am at my local, the laptop connects every time I take it with me.