Wireless broadband on desktop PC?

My grandparents live out on rural Long Island (NY) and ALL cable modem and
DSL providers aren't available in their area. And satellite DSL is just way
too expensive.

I've never used wireless internet so I'm not sure how it works (and I assume
that it goes anywhere?). Is it possible to put a wireless card into a
desktop PC and get online with it?




Episode3WillSuck

Episode3WillSuck wrote:

> My grandparents live out on rural Long Island (NY) and ALL cable modem and
> DSL providers aren't available in their area. And satellite DSL is just way
> too expensive.
>
> I've never used wireless internet so I'm not sure how it works (and I assume
> that it goes anywhere?). Is it possible to put a wireless card into a
> desktop PC and get online with it?

Probably not unless there's a WISP in the immediate area or your
grandparents are into hacking into other people's internet accounts.
Check around to see if there's a WISP (wireless internet service
provider) in the area. If there's not, get back to me. I may move there
and start one.

In article <ypTtc.148058$(E-Mail Removed)>,
Episode3WillSuck <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
:My grandparents live out on rural Long Island (NY) and ALL cable modem and
SL providers aren't available in their area. And satellite DSL is just way
:too expensive.

:I've never used wireless internet so I'm not sure how it works (and I assume
:that it goes anywhere?). Is it possible to put a wireless card into a
:desktop PC and get online with it?

Only if there is a wireless server within range of them. If there are
no cable or DSL providers in the area, then -probably- there is no
wireless either (but there might be.)

Unless you start using expensive antennae on tall masts, the effective
range of the kind of wireless you are talking about is not very high.
About 100 yards by default (their property might be wider than that.)

There *are* some providers that specialize in rural service, but they
tend to be very local -- e.g., they might be able to get the neighbour
but not your parents, or the closest one might be 100 miles away and
cover little a block of cottages. So we can't really make any
predictions as to whether you would be likely to be able to find a
rural wireless ISP in that particular location.
--
Strange but true: there are entire WWW pages devoted to listing
programs designed to obfuscate HTML.

"Rôgêr" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:r-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Episode3WillSuck wrote:
>
> > My grandparents live out on rural Long Island (NY) and ALL cable modem
and
> > DSL providers aren't available in their area. And satellite DSL is just
way
> > too expensive.
> >
> > I've never used wireless internet so I'm not sure how it works (and I
assume
> > that it goes anywhere?). Is it possible to put a wireless card into a
> > desktop PC and get online with it?
>
> Probably not unless there's a WISP in the immediate area or your
> grandparents are into hacking into other people's internet accounts.
> Check around to see if there's a WISP (wireless internet service
> provider) in the area. If there's not, get back to me. I may move there
> and start one.

Still haven't found one. They live out in Babylon (only a few miles up from
Jones Beach [for those that don't live in NY, that's far and away the most
popular beach]). I said it was rural, but it's not RURAL. And they just
bought a new computer for the sole purpose of faster net access.

Taking a moment's reflection, Episode3WillSuck mused:
|
| they just bought a new computer for the sole purpose of faster net access.

They probably should have made sure there was faster net access to be
had first. The link below will take you to DSL Reports ... specifically
their ZIP Code based search engine for wireless ISPs (WISPs). See if there
are any in your parents' area.

http://tinyurl.com/2ykza

"mhicaoidh" <®êmõvé_mhic_aoidh@hotÑîXmailSPäM.com> wrote in message
news:RBWtc.5047$3x.5045@attbi_s54...
> Taking a moment's reflection, Episode3WillSuck mused:
> |
> | they just bought a new computer for the sole purpose of faster net
access.
>
> They probably should have made sure there was faster net access to be
> had first. The link below will take you to DSL Reports ... specifically
> their ZIP Code based search engine for wireless ISPs (WISPs). See if
there
> are any in your parents' area.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/2ykza

I advised them on the purchase as there was no doubt in my mind at the time
that there was at least ONE affordable broadband option available.

Taking a moment's reflection, Episode3WillSuck mused:
|
|| http://tinyurl.com/2ykza
|
| I advised them on the purchase as there was no doubt in my mind at the
| time that there was at least ONE affordable broadband option available.

And, is there? With cable and DSL, I would agree. But WISPs are still
hard to find in some places.