I'm Wifi ignorant please help my neice?

Question

Bought my niece a laptop(used). Came with a wificard. Please list step by step how to make this thing work.Do I need to enter info like you do for a dialup internet connection or something? Her mom cannot afford high speed, and right now they don't even have a phone (got turned off - parents getting divorced, yada, yada) so I can't get her dialup even. What exactly do I have to do? It said something about Odessey. There's no instructions really even on the cd. She can't wait to use her computer.
It's a Compaq Armada M700 PIII. I had 325 or 350 memory(ram?) installed because it only had 128 in it originally. Nero? dvd-cdrw.
Thanks. Really appreciate some help. Sure is disappointing to have something new you can't use.

Answer 1

Wifi can only be used at "wifi hot spots" normally motels, some restaurants or Internet cafe. Only way to do this at home is with high speed and a wireless router

Answer 2

Sorry to tell you that you still need an internet connection even with wifi, unless your computer is within range of some other wifi internet connection (like you would find at some cafes, office buildings, etc.) All the wifi card does is make it so you do not have to be attached to a cable. The wifi card sends a wireless signal to a base unit that is plugged in and has a regular high speed internet connection, such as with a cable modem. Anyway, to install the card there should be instructions, or the thing should walk you through it on its own, and once installed, it will try to seek an internet connection within range, and will let you know whether it finds one or not.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Having a wifi card means that the computer can connect to the internet without a cord going from it to a modem. But you still need a modem. You need to have access to an internet connection just like you would need without wireless (wifi).

A wireless modem is called a wireless router. It's like a regular modem, but it has an antenna on top that broadcasts the signal to your computer. If you don't have one of those, the wifi won't work. You can go to a place where they are broadcasting the internet signal themselves, like a school or library. Some places, like starbucks, have wifi access available, but you have to pay for it, and that's too complicated to explain right now.

Answer 4

The card only allows access to a service. It's like the phones that are turned off, it's just a piece of hardware. She could go to a Panera Bread to access the internet, they have WiFi. Many libraries have WiFi as well. Consier WiFi a very short range internet signal. It doesn't sound like she's anywhere near being able to use it at home as she needs to pay for an internet service provider.

Best answer, you can't get it to work at home based on what you have said. She can take it to WiFi hotspots like I described above. In that situation, go to start menu, go to something that looks like it is the card and activate it, it will start searching for a signal. Good luck.

Answer 5

Most WiFi appliances provide a rough indication of signal strength. However, you may find it helpful to use Ping to measure the "time" (latency) across your wireless link and orientate the Flatenna for the smallest time on average. Your computer help will tell you how to launch command prompt. You'll need the IP address of the device immediately at the other end of the WiFi link from which you are running Ping.

To open command prompt on XP, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, and then click Command Prompt.

Once you have C: prompt you can type the following command line to run ping indefinitely. Note that you must use CNTRL C to terminate the ping. I have assumed IP address of the device at the other end of the link in this example is 192.168.1.1 but you will need to find out the right IP address to use. The command line in this example is as follows :-

ping 192.168.1.1 -t

You will then see ping responses on the screen. Look across to the time field and move your flatenna to get the smallest time.

Answer 6

connecting to internet using wifi at home without a wireless router or an access point, seems to be impossible. But you can still get it connected at places with the sign "hot spot" like library, or coffee shop like mentioned above.

If the wireless network is not a secure network, All you have to do is to open the wireless connection setting(usually placed on the taskbar, on the bottom right corner of the screen), scan for wireless connection, and press the connect button. But if it is locked with password, then you need to confirm the password with the author of the network.

Answer 7

As between the legion of used-computing device proprietors this tale is familiar 2 me. No practise books, & no help from shops - even ones that sell the comparable variety ( Apple used greater often than not). ok, can U get any help on line from pal or library / cyber cafe? lookup the make / variety & variety. additionally look for computing device person communities for it and information on Wifi. U could get get entry to 2 information superhighway if no longer @ homestead then library or places like e book shops, cyber cafe. It only could paintings out of the container.

Answer 8

I can give you a link that deals with the internet connection Many of the problems can be solved by making software changes or small hardware corrections. Detailed instructions at http://tinyurl.com/yl62gz Try here if you can get what you wanted

Answer 9

without a router in your house thier is no access--- someone on your street may have it or a local coffee house. but you cant just plug it in and go persay

Answer 10

go and find your nearest wi-fi hotspot in your area!! you can go and find all locations on the Interent!!