Technology Not a tech savvy but need internet access!!!

[eyestar]

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Hi!
I bought a satellite toshiba laptop with built-in wireless, and need internet access in my new apt. I use my cell phone most of the time so not sure if i need to get a phoneline at home just for internet access. Now verizon tells me i can either get DSL via phone line with new home phone or dry loop-just having a new phone line but only for internet access.
So now someone tells me i can just buy a wireless card? and use it for internet access anywhere at home or on the move. Now, do you guys know what's the cheapest but reliable way for me? I am also going to have cable network with time warner, but not sure if the internet access thru them is that good.
Little confused about the many ways of internet accesses 😕

 

[southerndoc]

You have built-in wireless, so you do not need a wireless card. However, you do need an access point. Usually this means either you're school provides wireless internet access, you steal from your neighbor, or you set up your own wireless system, which means you must purchase internet access from your phone or cable company.

Have you checked into a cable modem?

 

[eyestar]

You have built-in wireless, so you do not need a wireless card. However, you do need an access point. Usually this means either you're school provides wireless internet access, you steal from your neighbor, or you set up your own wireless system, which means you must purchase internet access from your phone or cable company.

Have you checked into a cable modem?

Wow, thank you southerndoc! Finally, i am understanding what this wi-fi is. So, do you like cable modem better than DSL? Actually, i don't carry my laptop all the time, so the internet access is for home. But i will be staying at a hotel the next 2wks in NYC, my program is giving me housing 2 wks late!? SO, i don't know how to use my laptp to go online while i am at the hotel.
Now when i get my own apt, i guess cable modem or DSL right? But what about like a card something that plugs in your laptop and you get internet wherever you go-myconnect with toshiba?

 

[DrBowtie]

Wow, thank you southerndoc! Finally, i am understanding what this wi-fi is. So, do you like cable modem better than DSL? Actually, i don't carry my laptop all the time, so the internet access is for home. But i will be staying at a hotel the next 2wks in NYC, my program is giving me housing 2 wks late!? SO, i don't know how to use my laptp to go online while i am at the hotel.
Now when i get my own apt, i guess cable modem or DSL right? But what about like a card something that plugs in your laptop and you get internet wherever you go-myconnect with toshiba?

I would go with cable, especially if you have cable tv.

The hotel if it has access should give you the instructions on how to get on their netowrk.

 

[medmarkco]

I have cable and DSL access ... prefer cable because it is usually faster, but both work. Monthly DSL charges are usually less for the "base" level of service (<1.5Mbps download speed) and approach cable prices for faster service (>4Mbps). Most home DSL speeds are around 5Mbps - cable usually runs 6-8Mbps.

Southerndoc is right - you don't need a WiFi card because your laptop has built-in WiFi. The "card" option mentioned to you might be a cellular card, which gives you access to the Internet via a carriers's cellular network. Your current cellular carrier probably offers this option. For $59 -$79/month you can add a cellular data plan to your cell service. A very limited number of laptops from Sony, Lenovo, and Dell have built-in WWAN (wireless wide area network) cellular radios, but most require a PCMCIA card. Cellular data works when you need uninterrupted portable access, but is slow compared with "wired" options such as DSL and Cable. As long as you're in fairly large metropolitan areas the cellular cards work - however, they don't work everywhere your cellphone works. This is an expensive option but would save you $20+/month to set up a phone line. If you travel to a city covered by your cellular carrier, you avoid the $10/day charge to connect to a hotel's Internet service.

Not knowing your exact situation it sounds like DSL might be your least expensive option if your phone company offers a free dry-loop. Especially if you choose a basic DSL plan. For reference, my Comcast Internet adds $43/month to my cable bill. My DSL service adds $35 to my monthly phone bill.

 

[eyestar]

I have cable and DSL access ... prefer cable because it is usually faster, but both work. Monthly DSL charges are usually less for the "base" level of service (<1.5Mbps download speed) and approach cable prices for faster service (>4Mbps). Most home DSL speeds are around 5Mbps - cable usually runs 6-8Mbps.

Southerndoc is right - you don't need a WiFi card because your laptop has built-in WiFi. The "card" option mentioned to you might be a cellular card, which gives you access to the Internet via a carriers's cellular network. Your current cellular carrier probably offers this option. For $59 -$79/month you can add a cellular data plan to your cell service. A very limited number of laptops from Sony, Lenovo, and Dell have built-in WWAN (wireless wide area network) cellular radios, but most require a PCMCIA card. Cellular data works when you need uninterrupted portable access, but is slow compared with "wired" options such as DSL and Cable. As long as you're in fairly large metropolitan areas the cellular cards work - however, they don't work everywhere your cellphone works. This is an expensive option but would save you $20+/month to set up a phone line. If you travel to a city covered by your cellular carrier, you avoid the $10/day charge to connect to a hotel's Internet service.

Not knowing your exact situation it sounds like DSL might be your least expensive option if your phone company offers a free dry-loop. Especially if you choose a basic DSL plan. For reference, my Comcast Internet adds $43/month to my cable bill. My DSL service adds $35 to my monthly phone bill.[/QUOTE

hi medmarkco! i think i will go with verizon DSL but have you heard of toshibamyconnect ?anyone? Its 39.99 per month, no phone lines, no cards, but server limited? not sure how that one works. I thought that might be a new thing for toshiba, but don't know much about it. i called their customer service nos. and they told me"they don't know about it either??!

 

[medmarkco]

I checked out myconnect at www.toshibamyconnect.com. I had never heard of it before. What isn't clear from the website is if your membership fee covers the physical link charges to get to the Internet. I suspect it does, but only at participating resellers. If you find access to free Internet (some hotels and many eateries like Panera Bread) then obviously there are no connect fees. HOWEVER, in that case you do not need Myconnect to access the Internet - just connect via RJ-45 or WiFi, open your browser and agree to the provider's terms and conditions, then you're on. Another place for free access is McDonald's - some locations are free and some require a subscription to Wayport (a service like Myconnect).

Myconnect "feels" like AOL. You get access to a pre-defined personal space wherever you are. If the establishment you visit is a reciprocal member with Myconnect, then you get free high-speed access... if not, you use dial-up networking (DUN) to get in. DUN = sloooow. For home, Myconnect may be reselling access through DSL or cable - (didn't spend enough time on the site to determine). I think AOL's high-speed access plans bundle Verizon DSL, but I haven't really checked it out.

Even if the toll-free or local DUN servers are free, the phone call from hotels usually has a $1.00 or more charge per call. Not a big deal, but each call may hit you up for a buck.

I've traveled a lot and have never run into a "Myconnect" location (or didn't realize it if I did). You can search participating Myconnect locations at the link above. Usually I see Boingo, T-Mobile, Wayport, etc.

Unless Myconnect can offer you a re-packaged plan with your local phone or cable company, you'll end up paying for your Myconnect plan AND the physical connection from home. At some point, wherever you are you need to go through a modem - cable, DSL or DUN - to get to the Internet. Even with wireless WiFi, the signal goes back to a broadband wireless router connected to a high-speed cable or DSL modem. ...now if your neighbor has high-speed wireless service and hasn't protected their wireless signal, then you have just located a free hotspot.

Bottom line... if you don't travel a lot, I wouldn't recommend Myconnect.

 

[jonb12997]

if you're the verizon service area... DSL, $14.99. www.verizon.net/DSL 🙂

 

[medmarkco]

if you're the verizon service area... DSL, $14.99. www.verizon.net/DSL 🙂

Bingo. This is probably your least expensive route to faster-than-Dun Internet access - "base DSL". The only downside is that it is significantly slower than "standard DSL" and almost all cable internet packages. If all you're looking for is access, then you'll be happy. If you do a lot of research or downloading you will notice the difference.

For comparison:

DUN - 56Kbps
Verizon 728K DSL ($15/mo) - "up to" 768Kbps download/ 128Kbps upload
Verizon 3Meg DSL (~$30/mo)- "up to" 3,000Kbps download/ 768Kbps upload
Comcast cable ($45-55/mo)- "up to" 8,000Kbps download/ 768Kbps upload

* the key is "up to" since there are many factors that impact actual performance. Verizon has faster "business" plans for more $$.

P.S. Since you don't have a phone line, don't forget to factor in any phone line charges required to set up DSL. If you can negotiate a free line, then you come out way ahead. Otherwise your "$15 plan" may end up costing you about $35/mo. If you're going to get cable anyway, for ~$45 per month you'll end up with MUCH faster service with cable.

 

[eyestar]

Wow medmarkco! Thank you. I wish i had a prof. in med school like you-med school wouldn't have been such a blur. You are right, for someone who doesn't travel much, myconnect is not the one to get.