Help Needed With Wireless

I have an HP laptop computer with wireless availability but using it at
home only dial-up is available in my area. I understand that I can get
a wireless data card from one of our local companies. It's called
Axcess MobileLink. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Do I still need an Internet provider, such as AOL which I now use?

Would I be able to access the Internet and download files? What about
using a computer phone, such as Skype?

Would I also be able to network my laptop with my desktop to access the
mobile network?

I'm hoping to be able to get a faster connection at the lowest cost and
I like the idea of being mobile for when I travel.

I am a total novice at this so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Pat

On 8 Jul 2006 18:15:54 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
<(E-Mail Removed). com>:

>I have an HP laptop computer with wireless availability but using it at
>home only dial-up is available in my area. I understand that I can get
>a wireless data card from one of our local companies. It's called
>Axcess MobileLink. Does anyone have any experience with this?

That's a cellular CDMA 1xRTT data service.

>Do I still need an Internet provider, such as AOL which I now use?

No -- you'll connect to the Internet through the cellular provider. You
can replace AOL email with free Google Mail. Etc.

>Would I be able to access the Internet and download files?

Yes, faster than dial-up.

>What about
>using a computer phone, such as Skype?

Probably possible, but painful, due to network latency.

>Would I also be able to network my laptop with my desktop to access the
>mobile network?

Probably, using Internet Connection Sharing. Or get a PC Card adapter
for your desktop and switch the data card.

>I'm hoping to be able to get a faster connection at the lowest cost and
>I like the idea of being mobile for when I travel.

I do this with Cingular Wireless EGPRS(EDGE) service.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

John:

Thanks for all the good help.

Pat

John Navas wrote:
> On 8 Jul 2006 18:15:54 -0700, (E-Mail Removed) wrote in
> <(E-Mail Removed). com>:
>
> >I have an HP laptop computer with wireless availability but using it at
> >home only dial-up is available in my area. I understand that I can get
> >a wireless data card from one of our local companies. It's called
> >Axcess MobileLink. Does anyone have any experience with this?
>
> That's a cellular CDMA 1xRTT data service.
>
> >Do I still need an Internet provider, such as AOL which I now use?
>
> No -- you'll connect to the Internet through the cellular provider. You
> can replace AOL email with free Google Mail. Etc.
>
> >Would I be able to access the Internet and download files?
>
> Yes, faster than dial-up.
>
> >What about
> >using a computer phone, such as Skype?
>
> Probably possible, but painful, due to network latency.
>
> >Would I also be able to network my laptop with my desktop to access the
> >mobile network?
>
> Probably, using Internet Connection Sharing. Or get a PC Card adapter
> for your desktop and switch the data card.
>
> >I'm hoping to be able to get a faster connection at the lowest cost and
> >I like the idea of being mobile for when I travel.
>
> I do this with Cingular Wireless EGPRS(EDGE) service.
>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_How_To>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>