Resolved Beginner's Advice on Wireless for Travel

I am a complete beginner in wireless, having only used DSL and Dial-up previously.

I have "SmartWi connection" and Bluetooth.

I would like to know if I need a router for this laptop. If so what type would be most useful for international use.

What sort of service would be best for personal use? I do not need to pump a lot of data through my system. I will be doing average surfing and email.

My Sony Vaio Laptop specs:

US-VPCF1390X-LBOM
Component: LED Backlit Keyboard
Component: No Fresh Start
Component: Adobe Bundle
Component: Blu-ray Discâ„¢ Player / Burner
Component: Microsoft® Office 2010 Starter
Component: High capacity battery
Component: NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 425M GPU (1GB VRAM)
Component: No Engraving
Component: Intel® Coreâ„¢ i7-740QM quad-core processor (1.73GHz) with Turbo Boost up to 2.93GHz
Component: 16.4" VAIO Full HD Premium Display (1920x1080)
Component: 500GB (7200rpm) hard drive
Component: Genuine Windows® 7 Professional 64-bit
Component: 6GB (4GBx1 + 2GBx1) DDR3-SDRAM-1333

 

Verizon's "Fivespot" is a global mobile hotspot.

Here's the Verizon.com page

Note that this can get expensive. I've seen monthly 'data' charges totaling between $1,000 to $1500 . . . and that's just for one, single internationally traveling salesperson.

 

spyware dr:

thanks for responding. I think this would be for a business account.

I plan to get local accounts overseas, so what I basically need is more generic info about how to maximize my wireless potential.

many hotels have free wireless, so I just need to know my way around things like "hotspots" security, parasites, etc.

 

I use my laptop all the time at hotels/motels and other WIFI hotspots and have only what is in my signature below to do this with. Never been caught with any nasties. Knock on wood. I have done things with the Credit Union in an emergency, but I usually call them and get them to transfer $$$ or whatever I need done.

 

Mr. Bill:

thanks for the message. I need some clarification from you, however.

I don't see any internet connection utility in your signature. I am guessing you mean you just get the password from the hotel desk and connect with your laptop directly.

But you use the utilities below for security?

"For my security: ALL FREE
MSE, Spybot Search & Destroy, SpywareBlaster, MBAM and CCleaner. Keyscrambler personal. "

 

I have DSL at the house. That is what you get at most of the FREE places. Most don't require a password and if you do need one, they will give it to you. Just ask them. It wouldn't matter what kind of internet connection I had at the house to use (dial-up, DSL, Cable or Satellite) as long as you have a wireless card in your PC, it will pick up the place you are at.


Yes, that is all the security that I have. Other than the Firewall that is in the Router at the house.

 

I have read that one ought to buy some sort of router.

it would be good to get the definitive word on this.

 

You don't need a router unless you want one at home for some reason. The places that have FREE WIFI have a router already that you connect to.

 

I am not sure I can get away with this but this is what I found.

Point #2 looks interesting.

Point #6 looks interesting unless the poster was joking.

http://news.yahoo.com/4-ways-avoid-paying-hotel-wi-fi-125814935.html

1. Tether Your Mobile Device
It's possible to tether your 3G or 4G connection from your smartphone to your computer, but many carriers charge fees to do so. Once you have added the service to your data plan, turn on your phone's personal hotspot option, located in settings. By setting a password, you will be able to prevent other guests in nearby rooms from connecting to your hotspot.

2. Buy a Wireless Router
Although many hotels charge for Wi-Fi, some provide ethernet cables for you to use free. You can then connect your Apple AirPort Express or similar portable Wi-Fi hotspot device to send connectivity to your laptop and mobile devices.

3. Check the Lobby
It might cost you more to access the web in your hotel room, but some places offer free Wi-Fi in the lobby. To prevent guests from using valuable bandwidth to stream media on sites such as Netflix -- which also takes money away from in-room pay-per-view -- hotels often restrict free Wi-Fi in rooms, but open it up to guests at no extra charge on the main floor.

4. Find Nearby Connectivity
WeFi has a database of more than 132 million Wi-Fi hotspots worldwide, from small towns to urban centers. The company also has apps for both iOS and Android, so it's easy to locate the closest Wi-Fi on the go.
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ok so dont pay 3 dollars a night for hotel wifi, but pay 100 for a month to tether or wireless router
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5. Aircrack-ng doesn't play well with Windows 7.


I cannot quite figure out if this is a hacker's tool or something value to download.

http://www.aircrack-ng.org/

"Aircrack-ng is an 802.11 WEP and WPA-PSK keys cracking program that can recover keys once enough data packets have been captured. It implements the standard FMS attack along with some optimizations like KoreK attacks, as well as the all-new PTW attack, thus making the attack much faster compared to other WEP cracking tools.

In fact, Aircrack-ng is a set of tools for auditing wireless networks. "


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6. buy a PWBA cable on Amazon for $10.99. Connect your device to the hotel's TV. Put it on Channel 3. On your device, look for the TV's brand name and the #3. Connect to it and enjoy free wifi that's incredibly fast. PWBA = People Will Believe Anything (n_n)

IS THIS A JOKE, OR WOULD IT REALLY WORK?

http://www.mpdpart.com/product.php?productid=107817&page=160
SONY HD PWBA CABLE
$31.50

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Because not all wireless routers have a built-in AC adapter. Airport Express is simply much more portable. There is only one other company that makes a close alternative to Airport Express as far as I know, search for TP-Link TL-WR700N.

HERE'S APPLE AIRPORT EXPRESS, @$100

"Apple - AirPort Express - A powerful little Wi-Fi base station.
www.apple.com/airportexpress/

AirPort Express is a Wi-Fi base station that's easy to set up, and it lets you stream music and print wirelessly from anywhere in your home. "

HERE'S TP LINK, $26

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=&sku=831234&Q=&is=REG&A=details

The TL-WR700N 150Mbps Wireless-N Mini Pocket Router is an excellent way to spread wireless Internet access to your nearby computers and devices. The TL-WR700N fits into a nearby power socket and features a built-in Fast Ethernet port for connecting it to your modem. Thereafter, it can transmit Wi-Fi signals to your nearby compatible computers, smartphones, tablets, and more. This router supports the 802.11N Wi-Fi standard, is widely compatible with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi devices, and can transmit data at a maximum speed of 150Mbps. It also is backwards compatible with devices that support the 802.11b/g Wi-Fi standards.

I am guessing that these devices hook into the hotel's wifi.

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any comments appreciated

 

On number 2, I have yet to be charged at a motel for this. If you go wired with them, some of them do charge you a flat fee for the 24 hour period but WIFI is FREE.

I am not sure on number 6 either. Seems like a joke to me. Maybe that would work in some third world country.

On number 1 this can get expensive as I believe most have a data cap for a fee then pay more after the cap in met.

 

Does anyone have any idea if this is a scam?

http://www.wyfyclub.com/index.php/77-wyfyclub/71-wyfyclub

"Free Grid adapter gets you free Wi-Fi access everyhwhere

Sign up as a club member and get a free wireless Grid adapter, a special Wi-Fi router. Plug in the Grid adapter to an Ethernet port in your network and you can get free Wi-Fi access everywhere there is a club member's network in your vicinity. As the number of members increases the coverage of the wireless grid expands. "

 

Bet that as soon as you start using data, the bill starts. This sounds like what AT&T and Verizon have with their wireless cards for laptops.

 

Here is what I'd recommend... Starbucks, McDonalds, Lowes.. are just a few business that allow to use their internet for free. Every hotel I have ever stayed at provided free wifi; if you're unsure ask the front desk person. They will tell you. Also some hotels just require you to accept their terms of use. One of the disneyland parks i stayed at recently basically put that they can't monitor what sites you visit, so if you happen on forbidden things then its on you or whom ever is using the connection.

Hope that kind of helps.

Also the beauty of wifi is that it is free... also long as you have a firewall and aren't click happpy.. good luck hope I've helped.