Dongle/USB modem

[Crackle]

Instincts say not. Put the make and model in here (should be on a sticker on the back) and see if it mentions WiFI or wireless in the specs that come up.

 

[yenrod]

Fujitsu Siemens Amilo, with a sticker that says "Celeron M" inside - probably a couple of years old.

Heh ive 1 of them !!!!!!!

3GB RAM 160GB MEM. 2GH Processor.

 

[another_dave_b]

Okay, I think that makes some sense to me.

I do not think I have a WiFi card, but how could I check?

I think you probably do, to be certain, you will have to give us the model number of your "Fujitsu Siemens Amilo" laptop. They'll be a sticker somewhere, you might have to remove the battery to find it.

The USB adaptor I was referring to was something like this

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sweex-LW053...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1232056792&sr=1-1

but you almost certainly won't need one.

You will need a 'wireless router', for that you'll need to talk to AOL.

 

[Noodley]

Instincts say not. Put the make and model in here (should be on a sticker on the back) and see if it mentions WiFI or wireless in the specs that come up.

No

 

[Carwash]

Sorry

I'll try to explain better...

At present I have a laptop and have an AOL broadband connection which links from the BT box by means of a wire into the back of my laptop (USB connection?).

Mrs Noodley has suggested this is not the best method and that there is the option of having a wireless broadband box and a dongle thingy. Why she's bothered I do not know as she never uses the bloody computer! - I reckon someone at work must have mentioned it. So from what I have read so far if I want to do this I shall have to get a wireless broadband contract and a dogle thingy contract (is this WiFi as mentioned earlier?) and then cancel my AOL contract (which will not be a 'contract' since it is so old)...

...if this still does not make sense let me know what you need to know and I'll try to answer.

Gotcha. Yes, this is indeed the WiFi thing mentioned earlier. Listen to the other posters. If your laptop does not already have WiFi capability (sounds unlikely) you can indeed get a USB adaptor to remedy that.

WiFi is not the 3G thing you mentioned, so coverage is not an issue. 3G is a mobile phone thing; switching to your computer to WiFi is more like switching to a cordless phone in your house.

 

[Crackle]

You need one of these then. But first you need nice AOL to supply you with a wireless router, as per Dave's advice and talk you through setting it up. You will then be free to keep Mrs. Noodley company in any room in the house and still talk to us.

 

[Noodley]

No

Or Yes.

WLAN - is that a wireless thingy? If so, it has it.

 

[Crackle]

Ooooh, could be. Any numbers next to it 802.11b/g or a card name like Broadcom. Should be

wireless card name 802.11b/g WLAN or summat.

 

[Noodley]

Ooooh, could be. Any numbers next to it 802.11b/g or a card name like Broadcom. Should be

wireless card name 802.11b/g WLAN or summat.

I managed to find some more details:

WLAN - LiteOn Atheros WN2302A-F4 802.11 b/g

so does that sound like it maybe does then?

 

[Crackle]

Yes it's got one then. Just to be sure, hit Start, Contol Panel, System, select the Hardware tab, choose Device Manager, Expand the Network adaptors + by clicking it and it should be listed under there. Don't worry you can't break anything by doing that.

 

[Noodley]

Yes it's got one then. Just to be sure, hit Start, Contol Panel, System, select the Hardware tab, choose Device Manager, Expand the Network adaptors + by clicking it and it should be listed under there. Don't worry you can't break anything by doing that.

Yes it is

So does that mean all I need to do is contact AOL and ask them for a wireless thingy?

 

[Carwash]

Yes it is

So does that mean all I need to do is contact AOL and ask them for a wireless thingy?

Router. Yes, pretty much.

 

[Crackle]

Yup!

A wireless router but I reckon "thingy" would do.

 

[Noodley]

Thanks guys. I'll give them a call.