Remote broadband for laptop?

DavidNW

DavidNW

Big Geek
Hello, everyone.

I have a desktop PC, on which I use a router to connect to the Internet.

I'm thinking of buying a laptop, from which I would also like to have Internet access - but from virtually anywhere I might be.

I've contacted my ISP provider for advice as to how this might be achieved, but as far as they are concerned, it's not possible , as broadband needs a dedicated phone line (landline, I suppose).

Basically, I'm looking for a low-cost solution so that I can access the Internet from just about anywhere on the proposed laptop. I'm thinking that this should be easily achievable in such a technologically advanced age, but maybe I've got it wrong!

Any help/advice would be appreciated.

Cheers,

David.
 
has your router got any spare RJ45 (ethernet) connections, if so just plug the laptop into a vacant RJ45, if your router doesn't have any spare RJ45 connections just add a cheap ethernet switch (5 - 15 pounds ish, depending where you buy it)

like this


BTW: a hub ethernet and an ethernet switch essentially do the same thing

Edit: you would be better to stay on a wired network, as wireless are about half as fast as a wired network (i think)

Edit: BTW: this image show a wireless network
 
Right - yes, I do have spare RJ45 ports on the router that I could use. However, I guess what I was really asking is:

Is it possible to connect to the Internet on a laptop from virtually anywhere you may be with it?
 
David said:
Is it possible to connect to the Internet on a laptop from virtually anywhere you may be with it?
Click to expand...
yeah, you just need a wireless adaptor for
  • a system that has access to the broadband
  • the laptop (one will probably be built in to the laptop, and just needs enableing and configuring)

BTW: i'm not an expert in wireless, i've never even used it

with wireless i think the wireless coverage starts at 30 meters but can be extended be adding a bigger / better aerial or adding a wireless extender
 
You can purchase a wireless broadband adapter (usually a PC Card or PCMCIA card) that plugs into your notebook. From there, the card connects to a satellite giving you broadband freedom. It might in you best interests to look at what your ISP offers.

I'm not sure about what sort of wireless broadband service is available in the UK but I know it's available here in AUS. Most deals here are reasonably affordable but it's not really commonplace yet.
 
although i'm not sure, i think it is possible to use something like port forwarding to enable things like VoIP, port forwarding may be useful to you but i can't make sense of it[ot]i have tried[/ot]
 
I don't know what you've been smoking donkey, but what has port forwarding got to do with wireless broadband?
 
pelvis_3 said:
I don't know what you've been smoking donkey
Click to expand...
[ot]i wish i knew what i was smoking, then i could have some more[/ot]if i'm not mistaken, port forwarding can make broadband connections available anywhere on the broadband line[ot]we never get the good stuff to play with in the UK[/ot]i dont really know what port forwarding does, except forward ports, can you suggest anywhere i can learn about it ?
 
Okay, guys.

I think wer'e getting somewhere now. This is the laptop I'm thinking of buying - I assume it has a facility for wireless broadband?

ebuyer.com - Notebooks/Laptops » Notebooks/Laptops » AMD » Product details

I contacted my ISP (Virgin) and asked them if it was possible to have a wireless connection on a laptop that would left me connect to the Internet from anywhere, and they said, basically, that it could not be done (via them at any rate) as the broadband connection would require a standard phone line.

I just found this odd, as considering we live in such a technologically-advanced age - connecting to the Internet from a laptop from anywhere should present few, if any problems. I guess Virgin (Tech Support) were saying otherwise - which quiet surprised me!
 
If wireless broadband is not an option, the only thing left is roaming. Essentially using the notebook's wireless NIC to access wireless 'Hotspots' around the country. You log on to the hotspot, provide credit card details and hey presto, you have wireless internet until you leave the hotspot.
Some places allow free access, though.
 
David said:
I contacted my ISP (Virgin)
Click to expand...
i forgot you were on virgin
David said:
I assume it has a facility for wireless broadband?
Click to expand...
yes it does


David said:
I just found this odd, as considering we live in such a technologically-advanced age - connecting to the Internet from a laptop from anywhere should present few, if any problems. I guess Virgin (Tech Support) were saying otherwise - which quiet surprised me!
Click to expand...
no company in the UK will give advise, so you can't sue them for giving you wrorg advice
 
yeah, costs allot and doesn't give you allot... last time i saw one of thoose offers advertised it was something ridiculously expensive and capped you too 100 MB / Month
 
Thanks, guys.

Well, the cost seems to be so prohibitive that I think I'll shelve the idea for now. So I think it won't be Internet 'anywhere' for me for a long while!

I think I'll consider just settling for buying a laptop to use downstairs in my living room for more convienience. You see, my desktop PC is in my bedroom and it would be impractical for me to put that downstairs because of lack of space.

So, I think I might buy a laptop to use in the living room and run an RJ45 cable from my desktop PC's router (in the bedroom) to the downstairs living room and hook it up to the laptop for Internet access. I think I can get an RJ45 'socket' to take the cable, putting that downstairs, which should look much neater than a loose, trailing cable.
 
David said:
So, I think I might buy a laptop to use in the living room and run an RJ45 cable
Click to expand...
RJ45 cable is called CAT5 (catagory 5) cable

Edit: i think you can buy special tool for terminating CAT5 cables (putting RJ45 connectors on)
 
There called crimper's, just don't pay too much for them!

I got a very nice pair for £6 when PC World wanted £20 odd for them
 
Impotence said:
There called crimper's, just don't pay too much for them!

I got a very nice pair for £6 when PC World wanted £20 odd for them
Click to expand...

Yes, I know. I recently used 'crimpers' on a computer maintainance course - getting those 8 wires in the RJ45 correctly, so that the connection is correct, was a complete pain!

We had a machine to test the connection and most of the class got some of the 8 wires of the CAT5 cable in the wrong holes and thus it did not work - good job we had the circuit tester! :doh:
 
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