+The Wobbly Club Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Hi, Could some of you good people explain to us just what we need and also how does it work, to enable us to get online with a laptop with wireless technology? What is the minimum spec? Do we need a special ISP to enable this? We have a small palm M505 PDA now thinking about 802.11b. There is a Womble cache we would like to try and get but it involves 802.11b which we are assuming is the type of internet link. Many thanks Daphne & Colin Quote Link to comment
+Birders Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 (edited) OK.. if you are on broadband, probably the best method would be to buy a combined wireless modem/ router. We use the Netgear WG834. That connects to your phone line and provides wireless access for any suitably equipped computer in your house. By "suitably equipped" we mean any PC equipped with a WiFi card of some sort. If you instal the router near your main PC you can connect direct with an ethernet cable. Our notebooks and PDA are wireless equipped so we can connect to the internet with all of them simultaneously. All our PCs can connect to each other too. Alternatively - and you'd have to get someone to confirm this - if you are on "dial-up" (nor broadband) then have your main PC connected to the phone line.... then equip the main PC and other PCs/PDAs with wireless cards and you should then be able to access the internet through the main PC. Problem with this is that the main PC must be switched on all the time. With the first method outlined above only the router stays on.. Hope that helps. There can be one or two minor problems setting it all up, but it doesn't need a specialist. Edited February 20, 2005 by Birders Quote Link to comment
+dysdera Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Having done this cache, what you will need is any wireless network device. You need to be able to read the SSID which is effectively the name of the network. In the case of this cache it is the co-ordinates of the container. I have also done a cache of the same type at my house which takes you to a container a few miles away. 80211 b is just the name for the standard of the wireless network, and is the most common (and cheapest) type around. Novatech near portsmouth are selling USB 80211.b dongles for about £18 which if you have a laptop is all you need. The solution for a PDA is a little more expensive but still not too costly, and will be very useful after you have done the caches. Incidentally there is another wireless network cache just North of the forth bridge, so that is 3 more caches (£6 each) Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment
Leoness Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 Alternatively, if you like, you can come and do it with us and use our equipment! Quote Link to comment
Ben Pid Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 OK.. if you are on broadband, probably the best method would be to buy a combined wireless modem/ router. We use the Netgear WG834. That connects to your phone line and provides wireless access for any suitably equipped computer in your house. By "suitably equipped" we mean any PC equipped with a WiFi card of some sort. If you instal the router near your main PC you can connect direct with an ethernet cable. Our notebooks and PDA are wireless equipped so we can connect to the internet with all of them simultaneously. All our PCs can connect to each other too. Alternatively - and you'd have to get someone to confirm this - if you are on "dial-up" (nor broadband) then have your main PC connected to the phone line.... then equip the main PC and other PCs/PDAs with wireless cards and you should then be able to access the internet through the main PC. Problem with this is that the main PC must be switched on all the time. With the first method outlined above only the router stays on.. Hope that helps. There can be one or two minor problems setting it all up, but it doesn't need a specialist. Arrrrrrgh you completly forogt one vital word in all of that... Security! Make sure you lock it down. Too many people dont! Its shocking. Quote Link to comment
Documentally Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 I spotted a site the other day that gave you gps co-ords of where unprotected wifi spots were should you want to check your mail on the hop. I thought this was quite clever... (Especially as a wirless mac user.) I understand it is most likely against some law but loads of my mates leave their wlan unprotected saying it's just as neighbourly as giving someone a stamp to post a letter... 3rdeye Quote Link to comment
+Birders Posted February 20, 2005 Share Posted February 20, 2005 <<Make sure you lock it down.>> No, don't do that or ratbags like us won't be able to get in!! (Good tip though). Quote Link to comment
+The Wobbly Club Posted February 23, 2005 Author Share Posted February 23, 2005 Many thanks for your replies and offers of help. Since emailing Dave of the Wombles we have decided and ordered an iPAQ Pocket PC, downloaded GpxSonar. All we have to do now is learn how to use it. Once again many thanks. Daphne & Colin Quote Link to comment
+The Wobbly Club Posted March 3, 2005 Author Share Posted March 3, 2005 Thanks for everyones help with this topic. We have now completed the wombles cache 802.11b. The PDA worked very well. Daphne & Colin Quote Link to comment
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