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Dell i9300 w/802.11 a/b/g: How do I connect to internet by WiFi?

post #1 of 7
8/31/08 at 8:01pm
Thread Starter 
I have a Dell i9300 Inspiron with 802.11 a/b/g card installed. I want to connect to the internet using Wi Fi. What do I do now? Do I need something called a router? Do I need an ISP account? As you can see I am a novice (clueless). Can someone help me? Camille
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post #2 of 7
9/1/08 at 1:10pm
What type of internet connection do you have? Cable modem, DSL, Dial-up? That would be the first answer I'd need to get you started.
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post #3 of 7
9/3/08 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 
All I have is the wireless card installed. I have neither cable modem, DSL, nor Dial up.
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post #4 of 7
9/4/08 at 2:59pm
First of all, Wi-Fi is not a direct connection to the internet, it is a Wireless LAN technology (LAN = Local Area Network) it only works about 300 feet at most, which should cover the average home.

First thing you're going to need is a high speed internet connection. This can be either DSL from the phone company, or Cable modem from the cable company. This is your internet connection. You'd need to contact one of the two to get set up with a connection.

Next thing you need is a wireless router. The Wireless router allows you to share your high speed internet connection with all the PCs in your home either with an Ethernet cable, or with Wi-Fi. Wireless routers are widely available in stores and online. AT&T does even offer a DSL modem that has a built in wireless router to their DSL customers.

Now the Wi-Fi card in your laptop is usable at other places that offer free Wi-Fi to patrons. Hotels, restaurants, coffee houses, oil change places. Many of these businesses offer free use of Wi-Fi to their customers while they wait.
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post #5 of 7
9/5/08 at 3:51pm
Thread Starter 
Which provides the faster internet speeds, DSL or Cable?
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post #6 of 7
9/6/08 at 1:21am
Traditionally Cable modem is quite a bit faster than DSL. Depending on your area they might be close to equal or cable might be significantly faster. As a result DSL is often less expensive. If you don't mind the price, and already have cable Television cable modem would be the fastest to setup. DSL can take up to one week whereas a cable TV customer can have cable modem service almost immediately.
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post #7 of 7
9/26/08 at 9:40pm
Thread Starter 
I did it! I signed up with at&t DSL. The instructions were fairly easy to follow, I only had to call Tech Support once. I got a free router/gateway, and they even threw in a $50 gift card.

Thanks for the information. You're not Mr. Evil, you're Mr. Wonderful.
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