How Does Wi-Fi Work

[timmeyboy]

Ok so I'm not as techno-savvy as i would first appear to be.
i know stuff about stuff but i get confused with Wi-Fi.

Do you need to be connected to an Internet service Provider to use?? When you go into place like Starbucks and they have free Wi-fi, how do they mean it's free??
I'm thinking of buying a lap top butdon't really wanna have to pay for internet as am a poor backpacker who will be travelling...any ideas???

[mjm078]

I stubbled across it all.....I to was a poor uni student on limited wages and i managed to complete a whole year of study nicking wi fi from my neighbours......

Firstly have a friend who has a laptop with wi fi built in drop around your place to see if you neighbours have an "open" network (i.e. one that does not require a password) you won't believe how many people leave there networks open (that is what i found when i was doing uni) I think people have smartened up now and put the security on but you never know your luck.....

If you do find one your in business until they close it and then its time to move onto someone elses....lol if not you have to pay unfortunately.

[timmeyboy]

thanks mate.
its all so confusing for me and my small brain lol
damn me for being blonde lol

[robbie]

you're better off paying $20 or so a month for your own connection, rather than having to go through the painstaking process of finding an open network or going to starfuckers and getting it for free while having to fork out $6 for a grande orange frappa mocachino! Rip off merchants!

[timmeyboy]

but can i sign up to a ISP if am only gonna be in oz for less than a year....and not an oz citizen

[timmeyboy]

Ok so thought would re-hash this topic

I am now the Proud owner of a Macbook. and thought it would be good to get the internet at home, had a good look round and decided on Unwired as don't have to have a contract with them and they are wireless so don't need a fixed phone line.

WHAT A MISTAKE.
Bought the modem and have had it since Sunday, have tried every possible location in the small bedsit in which me and the fella live and have not been able to get a decent signal, when I call Unwired they fob me off with interferance crap and tell me there is a tower by St Kilda Junc so i should be getting good signal - SO WHY AREN"T IT!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone have any thoughts on better ISP.
We want something we can take around Oz with us and get decent connection but don't wanna be tied into a useless contract (Telstra - 20hrs a month!!!!!!!!)
Or should we just give up all hope!!!!

[mjm078]

I see "3" have an unwired product that keeps flashing across my tv screen at the moment check that one out.....(maybe only in Sydney though?)

I have unwired it can be tempremental on cloudy days and mostly with email though other than that it is fine....we actually ran a company (5 people connected to the net at 1 time) on it for about 2 months it worked fine and we didn't even use the 2gb download limit in a month....

[timmeyboy]

Well I've called them and they said if i call back tonight when i get home, switch the modem on and they will try and run a diaog from there end to see if it's a prob with the modem or what.

[Jody Ekert]

Unwired sucks. I've had it for a few years now since I tend to live in houses with no phone lines. I'm about to move again but will be changing service and getting cable.

It's hard to get connected properly with Unwired, it's never the speed they say it is and if the wind blows, a plane flies overhead, it's cloudy, you have wire screen doors or your mojo just isn't with you - no service. To use it now I open the windows, open all security screens, sit it on the highest window ledge and cross my fingers. Or I give up and use my poor neighbours open wifi - idiots have called it "default" and not put a password on!

[timmeyboy]

No Wires
No Wait
No Worries

WHATEVER!!!!!!
Wish i had stupid neighbours with open Wi-fi connections!!!!!!

[Tim D]

I use Unwired at home and I've never had any problems with it.

I do live up on a hill through with pretty clear access, and it's not the fastest internet in the world. But what it lacks in speed in makes up in convenience.

[Jody Ekert]

I wish we were like the US where wifi is everywhere and a lot of the time it's free - cafes, librarys, town centres - hell I was in a place in Death Valley with one pool table, a petrol station and 4 hotel rooms and the chamber of commerce had decided that they'd have fast wifi there, free for anyone passing through!

[timmeyboy]

Tim I'm more jealous of you know, than I was earlier!!! hahahaha