| Wireless networking has been in the mainstream | | | | we have the PCMCIA wireless network card, |
| for the last few years, it's appeal is the flexibility it | | | | although PCMCIA ports are becoming somewhat |
| offers in terms of no wires, being able to connect | | | | redundant just about every laptop has one of |
| to the internet from literally anywhere in your | | | | two of these long horizontal ports and if your |
| house or garden. | | | | short of USB ports this could be just what your |
| Just how do we go about connecting to the | | | | looking for, perhaps not as obtrusive as the USB |
| internet wirelessly? A wireless network needs to | | | | type, it still needs to be removed when travelling |
| have two components A Wireless Router/Modem | | | | with your laptop though. Due to the amount of |
| to share the internet connection A suitable | | | | wireless network cards on the market the prices |
| Wireless card in your laptop or desktop Just | | | | have come down a lot over the past year and |
| about every new laptop has a wireless card built | | | | now decent wifi cards can be purchased for as |
| in, (the actual type is the mini PCI) | | | | little as £15, by decent I mean either a 54g |
| But what if you have an older laptop that does | | | | or 54mpbs type of card, rather than the much |
| not have a wireless network card built in? don't | | | | slower 802.11b type of cards. |
| despair there are a number of options available to | | | | Installing |
| make most laptops wireless. The best choice is | | | | When installing a wireless network card, ensure |
| the mini pci or internal wireless card, the biggest | | | | that you read the documentation prior to installing, |
| advantage about this type of card is that it is | | | | most cards need to have the software installed |
| installed internally, no obtrusive aerial or anything | | | | before the card is connected or plugged in, |
| else sticking out, check online or contact us to | | | | otherwise the software drivers may fail to load |
| find out if you laptop will take one of these type | | | | properly, giving configuration issues. Now your |
| of card. | | | | ready to connect, you should see a popup on the |
| Next we have the USB wifi card known as a | | | | bottom of the screen when a wireless network is |
| dongle, it looks the same as a pen drive or | | | | in range of the card, click on the popup and you'll |
| memory stick, and out of all network cards is | | | | be able enter your pass code (if you have one) |
| perhaps the easiest to install, just install the | | | | to connect to your wireless network. |
| software plug in the USB wifi card and your ready | | | | Notes |
| to connect to your network, the downsides of | | | | Only use wireless networks your familiar with, |
| this type of network card are, it sticks out and | | | | especially if you need to disclose credit card |
| can be easy to knock, it also has to be removed | | | | details for any reason. |
| when you want to travel with the laptop. Lastly | | | | |