Wireless router question

Zam

Banned
Mar 20, 2002
414
0
0
If I visit a friend or co-workers home and they have a wireless router would my laptop be able to pick up the signal?
Would it matter if it was a laptop with or w/o a card? What if it was bluetooth enabled such as a Mac powerbook?
Would I be able to surf the web?
Thanks
 
If it didn't have a card, it would need to have built in wireless.
Assuming it does, it should detect the network. Whether you can connect to it or not depends on how he has the router set up and what security is enabled.
 
While on the topic of routers, which brand is most recommended?

Seems for GPS devices, Garmin is the most recommended.

What about for routers?
Belkin? D-Link? Linksys? NetGear? Other?
 
They have a desktop that they would like to make a central hub, I guess, and the kids work from. They want to get a laptop, undecided on pc or mac, which they can use in another room.
So, I don't think it would be encrypted. Just for around the house.
 
Edifice said:
While on the topic of routers, which brand is most recommended?

Seems for GPS devices, Garmin is the most recommended.

What about for routers?
Belkin? D-Link? Linksys? NetGear? Other?

For GPS you are paying a few hundred dollars... and a router... $50-$70

DLink, Linksys, Netgerar.... they are all decent
 
I have been using 2 cheapest of cheap Blanc/gigafast routers for two years now. They
have performed flawlessly.
 
The question of how one might set up security on a wireless router has more than just encryption behind it: one can set up a wireless network (configure the wireless router) so that it doesn't show up at all to "strangers passing by". Or it can be set up to show up, but only allow certain specific machines to connect. Or it can be set up to allow anyone to connect who "knows" a certain Key. Or to allow anyone within range to connect.

Wireless routers tend to support "A", "A/B", or "A/B/G" (and "N"), and you'll be looking for your laptop (or Mac) to use "A", "B", or "G" on its wireless interface. Whether that wireless interface is built right into the computer, or is added as a PCMCIA card (or PCI card, for desktop PCs) doesn't matter. Bluetooth is another beast entirely, and isn't generally used for communicating between a laptop and a router.

For example, Apple mentions "n" as well as a/b/g support for the MacBook, and most newer laptops come with wireless support built in.
 
as long as your in rang of the router, and you have access to the password if it locked, or just in range to pick up the signal, does not matter how you connect to the router just as long as you are in range.

Everytime I am my parents house I can jump on their router. and jump back on to mine when I am home.
 
Thank you anynym. Your post has made the process more clear.

Thanks to all.

Minnie- It had me staring more quite a long time;)