First Time Wireless User

I recently aquired my first lap-top, and with it a wireless card. I'll be
using this computer primarily for school, and my campus has a wireless
server. The sales rep thru Dell told me that my wireless card would
recognize whenever it was near a server, and be able to jump online when it
was accessable. I went to campus today, took my computer, and had no luck
getting online. I looked to see if I had any available networks, and did
not. Can anyone help me with finding wireless networks when I'm near a
server? Thanks so much in advance, Ryanne

"Ryanne&Chase" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ywhuf.46607$ih5.28391@dukeread11...
>I recently aquired my first lap-top, and with it a wireless card. I'll be
>using this computer primarily for school, and my campus has a wireless
>server. The sales rep thru Dell told me that my wireless card would
>recognize whenever it was near a server, and be able to jump online when it
>was accessable. I went to campus today, took my computer, and had no luck
>getting online. I looked to see if I had any available networks, and did
>not. Can anyone help me with finding wireless networks when I'm near a
>server? Thanks so much in advance, Ryanne

If you're using the Windows XP O/S, then it has Wireless Zero Configuration
that allows the O/S to roam with the card and make a connection to an open
wireless network. If the network is using WEP or WPA, you're not going to
able to connect to a wireless network while roaming as it's not open.

Duane

Ryanne&Chase wrote:
> I recently aquired my first laptop, and with it a wireless card. I'll be
> using this computer primarily for school, and my campus has a wireless
> server. The sales rep thru Dell told me that my wireless card would
> recognize whenever it was near a server, and be able to jump online when it
> was accessible. I went to campus today, took my computer, and had no luck
> getting online. I looked to see if I had any available networks, and did
> not. Can anyone help me with finding wireless networks when I'm near a
> server?

SInce you're admittedly a newbie, it wouldn't hurt to ask if you're sure
your wireless adapter was turned on. Check your documentation for the
procedure. Usually there's a key sequence, generally involving the
"function" key and one of the numbered F-keys along the top row of the
keyboard, that you have to throw to toggle the card on and off. Also,
some computers have an actual physical switch somewhere for the wireless
card. Again, your owner's manual will tell you for sure. By the way,
I'm assuming here that your machine has a built-in wireless card; if it
doesn't you simply need to insert the external card into your PC Card slot.

Now that we're sure we have the adapter up and running, let's check to
see if we're within range of an open access point. Were you in an area
where you *know* there should have been a signal? If you're not
familiar with your school's network, check with their IT department or
try looking on their website for infomation on the wireless network
there. Pay particular attention to where the signal is supposed to be
available, as well as any authentication or registration requirements
they may have, and the network name or SSID (service set identifier)
that you should look for when trying to connect. Sometimes it's more
than a matter of being able to simply "jump online"-especially if we're
talking about an educational institution. Access to their networks is
almost always restricted to students, staff and faculty members, and
they take various measures to enforce this.

Also, today's a holiday. Maybe they had the access points turned off
for the weekend.

Go somewhere where you know their is a public hotspot (Starbucks), and make
it work there. (Starbucks hot spots are not free, but the WI-FI is wide
open until you get to their logon screen; At that point you know that the
WI-FI is working). After that works, you should be able to go to your
campus and "View Available Networks". If no networks are visible, there
aren't any or they have the SSID broadcast turned off. If you don't get a
signal on campus try someplace else. In most residential neighborhoods
you'll see quite a few WI-FI connections, of which usually 1/4 are open,
either intentionally or because the owner didn't bother to read the manual.

Mike Schumann

"Jonathan L. Parker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:l3iuf.44470$(E-Mail Removed) om...
> Ryanne&Chase wrote:
>> I recently aquired my first laptop, and with it a wireless card. I'll be
>> using this computer primarily for school, and my campus has a wireless
>> server. The sales rep thru Dell told me that my wireless card would
>> recognize whenever it was near a server, and be able to jump online when
>> it was accessible. I went to campus today, took my computer, and had no
>> luck getting online. I looked to see if I had any available networks,
>> and did not. Can anyone help me with finding wireless networks when I'm
>> near a server?
>
> SInce you're admittedly a newbie, it wouldn't hurt to ask if you're sure
> your wireless adapter was turned on. Check your documentation for the
> procedure. Usually there's a key sequence, generally involving the
> "function" key and one of the numbered F-keys along the top row of the
> keyboard, that you have to throw to toggle the card on and off. Also,
> some computers have an actual physical switch somewhere for the wireless
> card. Again, your owner's manual will tell you for sure. By the way, I'm
> assuming here that your machine has a built-in wireless card; if it
> doesn't you simply need to insert the external card into your PC Card
> slot.
>
> Now that we're sure we have the adapter up and running, let's check to see
> if we're within range of an open access point. Were you in an area where
> you *know* there should have been a signal? If you're not familiar with
> your school's network, check with their IT department or try looking on
> their website for infomation on the wireless network there. Pay
> particular attention to where the signal is supposed to be available, as
> well as any authentication or registration requirements they may have, and
> the network name or SSID (service set identifier) that you should look for
> when trying to connect. Sometimes it's more than a matter of being able
> to simply "jump online"-especially if we're talking about an educational
> institution. Access to their networks is almost always restricted to
> students, staff and faculty members, and they take various measures to
> enforce this.
>
> Also, today's a holiday. Maybe they had the access points turned off for
> the weekend.

I received a new laptop for Christmas/birthday, a Toshiba m45-s169. It has
wireless installed on it, also has a switch to turn off or on. The other day
I tried to "see" if their were any "hotspots" in my neighborhood, nothing,
but today (earlier) when I was upstairs I had unplugged the Ethernet cord on
the cable modem.....a window came up & found 2 "hotspots" one secure, one
not. I was able to pull up Yahoo's home page, but when I went downstairs to
show my hubby ( I was so happy) it showed no "hotspots". I know nothing
about Wi Fi, but now am very interested now that I have a laptop that is Wi
Fi capable.

"Ryanne&Chase" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:ywhuf.46607$ih5.28391@dukeread11...
>I recently aquired my first lap-top, and with it a wireless card. I'll be
>using this computer primarily for school, and my campus has a wireless
>server. The sales rep thru Dell told me that my wireless card would
>recognize whenever it was near a server, and be able to jump online when it
>was accessable. I went to campus today, took my computer, and had no luck
>getting online. I looked to see if I had any available networks, and did
>not. Can anyone help me with finding wireless networks when I'm near a
>server? Thanks so much in advance, Ryanne
>

Tammy Fontenot wrote:
> .....a window came up & (I) found 2 "hotspots," one secure, one
> not. I was able to pull up Yahoo's home page, but when I went downstairs to
> show my hubby ( I was so happy) it showed no "hotspots". I know nothing
> about Wi Fi, but now am very interested now that I have a laptop that is Wi
> Fi capable.

Lesson number one: Stay off networks you haven't been invited onto, or
whose operators you don't know or trust. Not only might this save you a
rather unpleasant visit from someone flashing a badge, but it could keep
your identity from being stolen, among other things. Remember that
whoever administers any network you connect to can, if he or she wants
to, generally see all the traffic you generate, including passwords and
the like, unless you're employing special methods to prevent this. If
you don't know whose network you were using, what would you say to the
aforementioned badge-flasher when he asks whom you suspect used your
credit card number on that porn site in Moldova?

And in response to all the other posters who will undoubtedly weigh in
with the opinion that I'm all wet (or worse), let me say in advance:
Yes, your chances of getting caught or suffering other untoward
consequences are rather slim, but why risk it at all? There's no good
reason to these days, with so many legitimate free hotspots out there
run by entities unlikely to have any sinister designs on you, such as
reputable businesses and government agencies like public libraries.

If you want to play around with Wi-Fi, that's fine. Just make sure
you're doing so legally and safely. A good place to start is
www.wififreespot.com to find free access near you that's on the up and
up-and that you can access that way.

> credit card number on that porn site in Moldova?

Is it a specially good site? Got the URL handy?

Ryanne&Chase wrote:

> I recently aquired my first lap-top, and with it a wireless card. I'll be
> using this computer primarily for school, and my campus has a wireless
> server. The sales rep thru Dell told me that my wireless card would
> recognize whenever it was near a server, and be able to jump online when
> it
> was accessable. I went to campus today, took my computer, and had no luck
> getting online. I looked to see if I had any available networks, and did
> not. Can anyone help me with finding wireless networks when I'm near a
> server? Thanks so much in advance, Ryanne

At least a couple of campuses I know require registration to use their
wireless network, so you'd really be best off to talk to the network people
on-campus.
--
derek

When you came downstairs you probably lost the signal due to increased
interference from structures, trees, etc. Upstairs you had a much cleaner
line of site connection.

Now having explained that I also agree that it could easily compromise your
security by logging onto an unknown network. Depending on your security, if
you can see their computer..they can see yours. Not to mention that you are
illegally using another persons ISP for which they pay a monthly fee and you
are taking for free. Hotspots which are publically available are a whole
different ballgame from using another persons private (albeit unsecured
which is idiotic) wireless connection. Being a new wireless user, you are
hardly to blame for that lack of knowledge though and I would not feel
guilty unless you maintain the practice.

Regards,
John O.

"Tammy Fontenot" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:f8kuf.15951$(E-Mail Removed)...
>I received a new laptop for Christmas/birthday, a Toshiba m45-s169. It has
>wireless installed on it, also has a switch to turn off or on. The other
>day I tried to "see" if their were any "hotspots" in my neighborhood,
>nothing, but today (earlier) when I was upstairs I had unplugged the
>Ethernet cord on the cable modem.....a window came up & found 2 "hotspots"
>one secure, one not. I was able to pull up Yahoo's home page, but when I
>went downstairs to show my hubby ( I was so happy) it showed no "hotspots".
>I know nothing about Wi Fi, but now am very interested now that I have a
>laptop that is Wi Fi capable.
>
> "Ryanne&Chase" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:ywhuf.46607$ih5.28391@dukeread11...
>>I recently aquired my first lap-top, and with it a wireless card. I'll be
>>using this computer primarily for school, and my campus has a wireless
>>server. The sales rep thru Dell told me that my wireless card would
>>recognize whenever it was near a server, and be able to jump online when
>>it was accessable. I went to campus today, took my computer, and had no
>>luck getting online. I looked to see if I had any available networks, and
>>did not. Can anyone help me with finding wireless networks when I'm near
>>a server? Thanks so much in advance, Ryanne
>>
>
>

In article <kpluf.9288$(E-Mail Removed)>, "Jonathan L. Parker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>Tammy Fontenot wrote:
>> .....a window came up & (I) found 2 "hotspots," one secure, one
>> not. I was able to pull up Yahoo's home page, but when I went downstairs to
>> show my hubby ( I was so happy) it showed no "hotspots". I know nothing
>> about Wi Fi, but now am very interested now that I have a laptop that is Wi
>> Fi capable.
>
>Lesson number one: Stay off networks you haven't been invited onto, or
>whose operators you don't know or trust. Not only might this save you a
>rather unpleasant visit from someone flashing a badge, but it could keep
>your identity from being stolen, among other things. Remember that
>whoever administers any network you connect to can, if he or she wants
>to, generally see all the traffic you generate, including passwords and
>the like, unless you're employing special methods to prevent this. If
>you don't know whose network you were using, what would you say to the
>aforementioned badge-flasher when he asks whom you suspect used your
>credit card number on that porn site in Moldova?

You know I've never been asked for my credit card number by a site that
wasn't using secure socket layer (https) that I would even remotely
consider giving the number to. I'm curious could you tell me how you would
as network admin get my number out of a secure link? Same applies to my
online banking, always https before requesting my pasaword.

I'm not arguing with your suggestion one be extremely cautious when
leeching Internet (bad idea), but I am wondering about all these ID thefts
you think are happening in public hotspots etc.

>
>And in response to all the other posters who will undoubtedly weigh in
>with the opinion that I'm all wet (or worse), let me say in advance:
>Yes, your chances of getting caught or suffering other untoward
>consequences are rather slim, but why risk it at all? There's no good
>reason to these days, with so many legitimate free hotspots out there
>run by entities unlikely to have any sinister designs on you, such as
>reputable businesses and government agencies like public libraries.
>
>If you want to play around with Wi-Fi, that's fine. Just make sure
>you're doing so legally and safely. A good place to start is
>www.wififreespot.com to find free access near you that's on the up and
>up-and that you can access that way.

fundamentalism, fundamentally wrong.