I want to make my laptop wireless?

Question

I have a broadband modem connected to my laptop(dont have a desktop) and I would like my laptop to be wireless to work were there is a hot spot or when I'm not home. Do I just need to purchase a pc card and if so what type?

Answer 1

You want to check which kind of wireless card your laptop accepts.
There are three major kinds... PCMCIA, ExpressCard 34, and ExpressCard 54.
Then look for a 802.1x card of that type (if you want to tap into Starbucks and McDonalds -type internet connections)
Or look for an EVDO card or the right type (for tapping into cellphone networks... this usually requires a contract with a provider like Sprint)

Alternately, you can get USB devices that receive 802.1x or EVDO... but they stick out of your USB port a bit, like a flash drive.

Answer 2

If your laptop comes equipped with a wireless setup you don't need anything else. Just enable it. Most laptops that are less than 2 years have them as standard.
If you don't have it then you can purchase a card that slots into your laptop and you are set to go. Ask you favorite comp shop.

Answer 3

theyre no longer soliciting for "on the spot computers" - they'd ask for "on the spot information superhighway connection" - referred to as wireless, w-lan ... meaning: you dont choose for a sim card to browse the information superhighway or skype, yet you need to use loose (no password required) wireless (eating places and bars regularly grant this!) or some locked (with a pincode or password) community. So on the spot laptops have some chip interior, that lets you seek for that "on the spot networks" and hook up with it - to grant get entry to to the information superhighway.

Answer 4

http://about.pricegrabber.com/search_getprod.php/masterid=44638401/search=wi%20fi%20detective
Something like this should do the trick, not too expensive...
Or any of these:http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/laptopaccessories/tp/laptopcards.htm