For those with cable internet...

[L A Woman]

How the hell do you get wireless access??? I thought it comes with it. And I know I have a wireless router in my laptop. Are there are any geeks in here??? :-)

[ikojo]

1. I have cable internet but you need a router like

Linksys. What you have in your laptop is an internal wireless card. I have a Linksys router and two laptops that connect to it.

The router is hooked to the cable as is my house mates desktop. One cable goes to his desktop and one to the router.

[L A Woman]

2. Oh...i still don't get it!

Because I can get wireless access sometimes from other people in my building. How am I doing that???

So you are saying I have to go buy this router and then that will be my connection alone?

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. You are getting it from their wireless router.

Your laptop is picking it up. No cable needed...hence the "wireless".

[Lex]

3. Same as with DSL highspeed, you have to have a router

like this (below) to send the signal to your laptop's wireless card.

[L A Woman]

6. well fuckity fuck

i have to BUY something. ptttth!

is it easy to set up once you get the router???

[Scooter24]

7. Just as simple as putting a disk in your drive...

:)

[L A Woman]

8. AWESOME

i will buy one today. thank you, everyone!

[Scooter24]

5. How mine is set up...

Is I have the cable from the wall to my modem. Then a Cat-6 cable from the modem to my wireless router.

You might be picking up a wireless signal from your neighbors.

[petronius]

9. Here's a basic picture of what your network needs:

http://www.cheap-computers-guide.com.nyud.net:8090/images/wireless-networking-tutorial.jpg

The phone line (or cable) connects to the modem, which connects to the router. (The modem and router may be combined into a single unit.) The router divides the signal between 1 or more computers that are connected (wired) to the router, and also broadcasts the signal (like a radio) into the surrounding area. The network card in your laptop receives the signal from the router, and communicates back to it.

In your case, your laptop is receiving the signal from your neighbors' wireless routers. I imagine that your cable is just hooked up to a modem, which is wired to a desktop computer? If that's the case, the only computer communicating with the internet is the one physically wired to the modem...

[bridgit]

10. there's lots of stuff out there, but you need no-less than these guys...

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Product_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1115416939789&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper