internet in a hotspot

Hi guys, ok I've looked at some of the posts here re: using internet when in a hotspot but a guy like me who just got his centrino laptop last week how does it actually work when I arrive at a hotspot?

Do I just turn on my laptop and it will pick up a signal and connect me to the net or do I have to do some setting up with my machine? What about security? I believe I have file sharing disabled and am running a firewall with AV program so is that enough?

I'm going to check out a couple places tomorrow, AFAIK these places offer free public internet. Other places offer wireless internet but for a fee, how would that work if I need to pay to access the net with my LT? TIA.

Tony

T. Chan

Ultinet desktop P3 450Mhz

Acer 1681WLMi

 

Some Access Points are 'Open' and your laptop should just connect to these automatically. Some are 'Secured' and may require a WEP key or other password to access. The pay ones usually have a 'Barker' page that will tell you how to pay and how to connect. For more info, and to locate hotspots try: http://www.jiwire.com/

First PC = Vic-20, 8" 128KB Home-Brew Floppy Drive ... Current Rig = eMachines m6805 ... Quantum Leap?

 

Hello Cman.......cute[ ].

Free is great...If you can find it!
I finally broke down and got an service provider. T-Mobile HotSpot.
I pay about $40(US) a month for UNLIMITED Internet and data transfer useage. And I Use IT![} ]
Basically they provide a 'T1' wireless 'gateway'. "What the hell do you mean?"...you ask? Well, I can go to any place that displays that they have T-Mobile HotSpot sit down crank up my 'labby' anywhere in said establishment and get high speed INTERNET on demand. The places so far: Starbucks coffee houses, Borders book & music stores, Kinko's office and copy centers and most major airports hotels and strip clu[:0]......uh, yes...well there are over 5,000 locations in the US. I'm not sure If you have any of these places in Canada...well except for the evil that is Starbucks![} ]
They have 4 different plans plus a FREE oneday pass try out(24hr).
If you can find place with free WI-FI and an AC outlet and coffee...you the man![8D]

So, In general how does one get it all to work?
Go to a place that advertises 'WI-fI' OR 'Hotspot'.
Well, first you turn on your computer...that things gotta have about 12 fans? To cool down that FISSION REACTOR you got in that thing! So that might take a while. Go get a fresh pot of coffee.

Note: Alienware Area 51m + Battery = find an ac outlet! (...That's If the
local nuclear power station can handle it!![:0])

There should be a 'WI-FI' button either on the top, front or side. Once turned on XP should take over with a balloon tip that says something like: "Wireless network available". Click on it to open a window asking stupid questions. Just click 'yes' and 'connect'.
after a few seconds a balloon should pop up saying your connected.
Now, If every things cool your on-line but, just don't know it yet.
Now, you just have to open up a browser and lucky you... XP comes with one! Called 'Internet Explorer'. It Should be in you start bar or right on your desktop. Click on it and...you should be cool.

Just have your firewall 'ON' and You should be fine (It shoul ask you If you want to allow a internet connection and 'YES' is your answer) Go to to 'Windows Update Site' and start downloading stuff... If you haven't already.

Links:
https://selfcare.hotspot.t-mobile.com/services_about.do

http://intel.jiwire.com/browse-hotspot-canada-ca.htm

- May your luck be good

 

AdvidG, I tried it out on Monday and it worked pretty well the way you described. I didn't have to do too much for my LT to connect at the hotspot I went to so that was pretty cool, smurfing wirelessly.

BTW that Alienware LT avatar isn't what I have, I'm using an Acer Aspire 1681 Wlmi. I just like the look of the Alienware LT so that's what I have as my pic.

[ ]

Tony



T. Chan

Ultinet desktop P3 450Mhz

Acer 1681WLMi

 

COOL! I'm glad things worked out.[ ]

I will now shut up and let you drift is CYBER SPACE.[ ]
About your laptop...It's BEAUTIFUL! Way better video card then mine:
"ATI MOBILITY™ RADEON™ 9700, with 64 MB of external DDR VRAM featuring ATI POWERPLAY™ support." and looks very "business professional" too. But,I am Sorry that you don't own the 'Alienware Avatar' though. I had a lot more jokes coming!![ ] Damm! Oh well....

For those of you who are curious:
http://www.laptopshop.co.uk/acer-aspire_1681_wlmi_v1-laptop-1-n2.htm#

Cman: Enjoy Sir!

 

You can also type in "free hotspots" in your favorite search engine.

 

I tried Centrino-ing again today at another free wifi hotspot. My LT showed that I was connected and was getting an excellent signal but when I tried to click on my browser my home page would not connect up. It gave me "this page is not available" or something like that. I took a look at all my settings but they all seemed ok. What could be wrong here?

The last time my Centrino-ing worked was before I reformatted my HD, this was the first time I took it to a wifi hotspot to try it out now that I have the computer setup the way I want it to be.

Tony



T. Chan

Ultinet desktop P3 450Mhz

Acer 1681WLMi

 

1) you're sure the hotspot is a free hotspot?
2) in XP, if a network in insecure (no WEP or other protection) then you'll need to click the wireless network icon in the taskbar. when the box pops up, make sure to check the box stating that the network is insecure and you're saying that you want to connect.

if it's not either one of those two, then i'm not sure of what else to do. those are just two of my experiences.