Wireless Internet

[Cindy]

I have a Dell PC and have dial-up and 56k modem. Does anyone know where I can find out how to maybe convert to wirelss internet?

[seguidordejesus]

I have a Dell PC and have dial-up and 56k modem. Does anyone know where I can find out how to maybe convert to wirelss internet?

Google came up with a simple solution to this a couple years back. Click here (http://www.google.com/tisp)

[Cindy]

Google came up with a simple solution to this a couple years back. Click here (http://www.google.com/tisp)

:toofunny :toofunny

[Praxeas]

I have a Dell PC and have dial-up and 56k modem. Does anyone know where I can find out how to maybe convert to wirelss internet?
call your provider and sign up for broadband via cable or DSL or FIOS. I don't know about cable, but if DSL or FIOS they will probably give you a modem with a wireless router built in.

Then all you need is a wireless adapter which you can get at a lot of places like Best Buy, Fries and even Walmart. Install it as per the instructions and you should be good to go

[Cindy]

Cable isn't available for me, neither is DSL, what is FIOS?

[Praxeas]

Cable isn't available for me, neither is DSL, what is FIOS?
Fiber Optics...

If you don't have these then your only option is wi-fi through the cell phone network (not cheap) or satellite

[Cindy]

Fiber Optics...

If you don't have these then your only option is wi-fi through the cell phone network (not cheap) or satellite

My SIL works for Verizon and said I can buy a card of some kind for $60 a month. I didn't know you could do that on a desktop. Well I talked to some satellite people and the satellites are expensive. Will kind of wait and see I guess.

[Praxeas]

My SIL works for Verizon and said I can buy a card of some kind for $60 a month. I didn't know you could do that on a desktop. Well I talked to some satellite people and the satellites are expensive. Will kind of wait and see I guess.
That is what I was talking about. It uses the Cell network I believe. The card I think is made for laptops

[Bro-Larry]

My SIL works for Verizon and said I can buy a card of some kind for $60 a month. I didn't know you could do that on a desktop. Well I talked to some satellite people and the satellites are expensive. Will kind of wait and see I guess.

Cindy, We had satellite out there and after buying all that equipment it still didn't work well, we spent lots on service calls to readjust, readjust, and readjust. The company went out of business.

[seguidordejesus]

My SIL works for Verizon and said I can buy a card of some kind for $60 a month. I didn't know you could do that on a desktop. Well I talked to some satellite people and the satellites are expensive. Will kind of wait and see I guess.

We have Wildblue and we pay about $50/mo. The startup costs are about $2-300 but we don't have the problems Larry was talking about.

[Cindy]

That is what I was talking about. It uses the Cell network I believe. The card I think is made for laptops

Thanks Prax, I talked to my cell phone company and they said it is available for desktops too. And it is way cheaper than satellite and with less problems. I have no problems with my cell phone reception at home so she said it will work just as well as my cellphone.

[Praxeas]

We have Wildblue and we pay about $50/mo. The startup costs are about $2-300 but we don't have the problems Larry was talking about.
WB seems to be most popular as far as internet goes.

It still amazes me that we have so many areas, rural or not, that there is not a better solution from the big guys

[Praxeas]

Thanks Prax, I talked to my cell phone company and they said it is available for desktops too. And it is way cheaper than satellite and with less problems. I have no problems with my cell phone reception at home so she said it will work just as well as my cellphone.
And if you have a laptop you can take you internet on the road

[Cindy]

Thanks for all the help y'all.

[Cindy]

Hey guys, I got my wireless internet up and running today. It is great. Now I just have to get rid of AOL......yahoooooooooooooo!!!!! :)

[Joie]

Cindy....what do you have available out there? Do you have Verizon yet?

It should not cost anything except the monthly bill. Right now where we are located, Verizon Fios is the best price. Also, amazing service... not like the old days at the farm. You are closer in so you should have options.

I am sitting here on a wireless laptop which would get a signal whether I had paid internet or not. In fact, taking it to Louisiana to use it catching a signal here and there. Of course, my mother is 5 miles out so ????...maybe no signal???? Her neighbor within a mile has Wildblue.

Love ya Sis

[Cindy]

Cindy....what do you have available out there? Do you have Verizon yet?

It should not cost anything except the monthly bill. Right now where we are located, Verizon Fios is the best price. Also, amazing service... not like the old days at the farm. You are closer in so you should have options.

I am sitting here on a wireless laptop which would get a signal whether I had paid internet or not. In fact, taking it to Louisiana to use it catching a signal here and there. Of course, my mother is 5 miles out so ????...maybe no signal???? Her neighbor within a mile has Wildblue.

Love ya Sis

Joie, I just got my wireless internet through my cell phone co. which is Alltel.
No satellite and is so much less expensive than paying ATT&T and AOL every month for dial-up. My SIL works for Verizon and he says they will be buying out Alltel next year, so I am good either way. A 2 year contract and is just added to my bill. I really like it so far. Direct TV did try to set me up with Wildblue, but Mike wouldn't go for the prices they offered and some of the problems that might come up.
Love ya much, sending hugs to you and Lar.

[DanielR]

Cindy,

I've got my internet through Alltel as you do know. In most places it works quite well. When I first got my card I had some issues of getting disconnected alot, but with use that is seldom a problem anymore. Of course I'm in a different place all the time, so you may not have that issue at all since your staying put. (And not someplace different every day like myself)

[clgustaveson]

Sprints mobile broadband card has proven best for me. I have had Verizon, AT&T, and now sprint. Sprints is the fastest and seems to have the most coverage out of the bunch.

[Cindy]

Sprints mobile broadband card has proven best for me. I have had Verizon, AT&T, and now sprint. Sprints is the fastest and seems to have the most coverage out of the bunch.

Sprint is not available in my area, Alltel has it locked down. Next year Verizon is suppose to take over.

I was surprised to learn that weather does not affect wireless connections as much as it does satellite.

[Cindy]

Cindy,

I've got my internet through Alltel as you do know. In most places it works quite well. When I first got my card I had some issues of getting disconnected alot, but with use that is seldom a problem anymore. Of course I'm in a different place all the time, so you may not have that issue at all since your staying put. (And not someplace different every day like myself)

Hey Daniel,
Yes a lot of people were telling me about "hot spots". But as I found out I have great cell phone coverage and so my wireless internet is the same as that. I have had a few disconnections, when I called they were having technical difficulties.......lol

[Cindy]

Cindy....what do you have available out there? Do you have Verizon yet?

It should not cost anything except the monthly bill. Right now where we are located, Verizon Fios is the best price. Also, amazing service... not like the old days at the farm. You are closer in so you should have options.

I am sitting here on a wireless laptop which would get a signal whether I had paid internet or not. In fact, taking it to Louisiana to use it catching a signal here and there. Of course, my mother is 5 miles out so ????...maybe no signal???? Her neighbor within a mile has Wildblue.

Love ya Sis

I like the wireless, and sometimes satellite is dependent on the weather and location. I don't have a laptop yet, that is next on the list......lol
Well if cable isn't available like it is here, I think if your mom gets good cell phone signals wireless would work better than satellite.
Love to you and Lar.

[clgustaveson]

http://www.sprint.com/business/products/products/map.jsp?map=Dallas_TX&mrkt=Dallas,%20Tx

Your area is covered, you would just have to order it from the internet if they don't have a store. The only area that is not covered is the cream areas. The mobile broadband is not the same as their normal area coverage.

[clgustaveson]

BTW it doesn't matter to me, I have just noted that it is MUCH faster and seems to have better coverage. I use AT&T for my phone (iPhone).

[Cindy]

http://www.sprint.com/business/products/products/map.jsp?map=Dallas_TX&mrkt=Dallas,%20Tx

Your area is covered, you would just have to order it from the internet if they don't have a store. The only area that is not covered is the cream areas. The mobile broadband is not the same as their normal area coverage.

Well thanks, but I am happy with what I have, and glad I am not paying broadband prices. I was told by everyone I talked to I am not within range for broadband, even though the town of Mineola is covered, I am outside of town by 3 miles.

[DanielR]

Hey Daniel,
Yes a lot of people were telling me about "hot spots". But as I found out I have great cell phone coverage and so my wireless internet is the same as that. I have had a few disconnections, when I called they were having technical difficulties.......lol

Some of the locations where I have the most trouble with disconnections is where there is a very strong signal. In places where I have a moderate signal seems to work best (2 or 3 bars). I have had a good connection with 1 bar, and also had good connections with all bars. Then in a couple of places I couldn't even get online where I had all bars. Alot of it really depends on the tower your near rather than signal strength...IMO

[Cindy]

Some of the locations where I have the most trouble with disconnections is where there is a very strong signal. In places where I have a moderate signal seems to work best (2 or 3 bars). I have had a good connection with 1 bar, and also had good connections with all bars. Then in a couple of places I couldn't even get online where I had all bars. Alot of it really depends on the tower your near rather than signal strength...IMO

Isn't that weird? Now that you mention it I do get connected quicker with just the one bar. But if pages load slow I know I am going to be disconnected.....lol

It is still so much better than dial-up.

[DanielR]

By the way Cindy, I like your new avatar. My wife is a huge white tiger fan, our place looks like a white tiger museum with all the pictures and stuffed tigers. I even got her an actual sized (stuffed) tiger head to hang on the wall, now it looks like she went white tiger hunting and brought home a trophy.

[Cindy]

By the way Cindy, I like your new avatar. My wife is a huge white tiger fan, our place looks like a white tiger museum with all the pictures and stuffed tigers. I even got her an actual sized (stuffed) tiger head to hang on the wall, now it looks like she went white tiger hunting and brought home a trophy.

Thanks, I love tigers and butterfly's. There is a tiger rescue reserve not too far from here. I have driven by but you are not able to see them from the road. They have been featured on Animal Planet. Oh boy, I would love to have a stuffed trophy...lol I have some other tiger photos, but I really like this one the best. The white tiger is so mysterious to me.

[DanielR]

Thanks, I love tigers and butterfly's. There is a tiger rescue reserve not too far from here. I have driven by but you are not able to see them from the road. They have been featured on Animal Planet. Oh boy, I would love to have a stuffed trophy...lol I have some other tiger photos, but I really like this one the best. The white tiger is so mysterious to me.

I picked this one up at a Love's truckstop, which the closest one to you is at Van. You might swing in to see if they have one next time your down that way. (I wouldn't make a special trip though, they are not at every Love's truckstop)

[Cindy]

I picked this one up at a Love's truckstop, which the closest one to you is at Van. You might swing in to see if they have one next time your down that way. (I wouldn't make a special trip though, they are not at every Love's truckstop)

Yeah, I use to work in Van. Went to Love's once on my lunch hour. Didn't have time to shop.