WISPs v. hotspot providers--newbie question...

Hi,

New to the list, so please excuse these basic questions:

1. My ISP, Earthlink, advertises as a wireless internet service provider
using Boingo. Boingo has its own service that is a little cheaper. Must I
register with Earthlink to get wireless access? I'm thinking I only need
Earthlink if I want to read my earthlink email using Outlook.

2. I purchased the Netgear WG511 which has dual capability with 802.11b/g.
Once installed, it already started sniffing for connections. Don't I need an
ISP/hotspot provider first?

3. Security. Is a VPN promised through Earthlink and Boingo enough? Is
there another protocol like IPsec that I should be looking at for the
consumer/small biz level?

If anyone has a "Wireless Internet Access for Dummies" document, I would
love to see it. Cnet.com is pretty good, but I need more info.

Thanks in advance,


Maryanne

1. No, looks like Earthlink is just rebranding and taking their cut.
2. Yes, you will need an account, unless you get one of those hotspots that
give free access that I've read about.
3.VPN is suppose to be pretty secure. Check out the link:
http://content.techweb.com/encyclope...=VPN&x=25&y=13

"M. Mills" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:x_ZTa.20292$(E-Mail Removed) thlink.net...
> Hi,
>
> New to the list, so please excuse these basic questions:
>
> 1. My ISP, Earthlink, advertises as a wireless internet service provider
> using Boingo. Boingo has its own service that is a little cheaper. Must
I
> register with Earthlink to get wireless access? I'm thinking I only need
> Earthlink if I want to read my earthlink email using Outlook.
>
> 2. I purchased the Netgear WG511 which has dual capability with
802.11b/g.
> Once installed, it already started sniffing for connections. Don't I need
an
> ISP/hotspot provider first?
>
> 3. Security. Is a VPN promised through Earthlink and Boingo enough? Is
> there another protocol like IPsec that I should be looking at for the
> consumer/small biz level?
>
> If anyone has a "Wireless Internet Access for Dummies" document, I would
> love to see it. Cnet.com is pretty good, but I need more info.
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
>
> Maryanne
>
>

"M. Mills" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> New to the list, so please excuse these basic questions:
>
> 1. My ISP, Earthlink, advertises as a wireless internet service provider
> using Boingo. Boingo has its own service that is a little cheaper. Must I
> register with Earthlink to get wireless access? I'm thinking I only need
> Earthlink if I want to read my earthlink email using Outlook.
>
> 2. I purchased the Netgear WG511 which has dual capability with 802.11b/g.
> Once installed, it already started sniffing for connections. Don't I need an
> ISP/hotspot provider first?
>
> 3. Security. Is a VPN promised through Earthlink and Boingo enough? Is
> there another protocol like IPsec that I should be looking at for the
> consumer/small biz level?
>
> If anyone has a "Wireless Internet Access for Dummies" document, I would
> love to see it. Cnet.com is pretty good, but I need more info.

Maryanne,

It's not exactly a "for dummies" document but if you want to understand how
to do outdoor wireless you can check out my book "Deploying License-Free
Wireless WANs".
www.ask-wi.com/book.html
jack

>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Maryanne

--
Jack Unger - President, Wireless InfoNet Inc.
Author of the WISP Handbook - "Deploying License-Free Wireless WANs"
http://www.ask-wi.com/book.html
True Vendor-Neutral WISP Training-Troubleshooting-Consulting
http://www.ask-wi.com/services.html
Email: (E-Mail Removed) Phone: (818)227-4220