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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Ibook And Wireless Internet Connection
Apple Novice - Aug 15, 2005 - 5:14 pm
I am completely new both to the Apple world (just purchased and Ibook a few days ago) and to the wireless world. When I try to read on how to get an Internet connection that's not dial-up, I barely understand the language being used...
What I'm trying to find out is how I can get a wireless connection with my Ibook, which comes with airport express. When I first turned it on and set it up, I got Internet without doing anything. From what I understand i just got access to someones wireless Internet in my building, or something to that effect. Now the connection is gone and I would like to know what I need to do to subscribe/get access to the Internet again. Also, is it more expensive than cable/DSL/broadband (not sure these are the same thing either).
Thanks for enlightening me.
Apple Novice.
What I'm trying to find out is how I can get a wireless connection with my Ibook, which comes with airport express. When I first turned it on and set it up, I got Internet without doing anything. From what I understand i just got access to someones wireless Internet in my building, or something to that effect. Now the connection is gone and I would like to know what I need to do to subscribe/get access to the Internet again. Also, is it more expensive than cable/DSL/broadband (not sure these are the same thing either).
Thanks for enlightening me.
Apple Novice.
baldprof - Aug 15, 2005 - 6:18 pm
I think I can help you. What happened during the intial setup was that your Mac looked for an available network connection. The setup detected that you had a wireless card in your iBook, so it defaulted to using that to make a connection. It musy have found an open wireless network that one of your neighbors had, and was able to use that network. During the setup process, your Mac needed to communicate with the "mothership", probably to register the IBook.
What apparently has happened is that whoever was operating that open network currently has it shut down. Or they may have closed the netowrk to outsiders. It's hard to say exactly. But that's why you can't find that network now.
Here's a site which will probably be helpful to you:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Internet_ser...tml?tag=ont.is
You will notice over on the left side the heading Internet Acccess. Click on that and you should find some answers. While CNet has it's flaws, it's fairly "plain spoken", and I think easy to understand.
FYI: Broadband is a generic term that includes both DSL and cable access.
Your basic decision is, how much do you want to spend? That's true for all types of broadband access, and will determine what type of speed you get.
In my area, I can now get both cable access and DSL. Initially I went with Roadrunner through Time Warner cable because DSL wasn't available. It was fine for the first 18 months. Them Time Warner and AOL merged. The uality of service deteriorated over the next six months. A tech told me that well there wasn't anything he could do because it was the crappy wires in my area.
BY this time DSL had become available through Bellsouth. I have had that for over two years. It's been rock solid. The only time I have lost service is during a general power outage.
I mention this story because "your mileage may vary." The best ISP can vary according to where you live. Here's something else: some of them are better than others about supporting Macs.
A suggestion: check out this site:
http://www.apple.com/usergroups/
Use it to locate a Mac user group in your area. They can give you advice about which ISP in your area gives good service.
What apparently has happened is that whoever was operating that open network currently has it shut down. Or they may have closed the netowrk to outsiders. It's hard to say exactly. But that's why you can't find that network now.
Here's a site which will probably be helpful to you:
http://reviews.cnet.com/Internet_ser...tml?tag=ont.is
You will notice over on the left side the heading Internet Acccess. Click on that and you should find some answers. While CNet has it's flaws, it's fairly "plain spoken", and I think easy to understand.
FYI: Broadband is a generic term that includes both DSL and cable access.
Your basic decision is, how much do you want to spend? That's true for all types of broadband access, and will determine what type of speed you get.
In my area, I can now get both cable access and DSL. Initially I went with Roadrunner through Time Warner cable because DSL wasn't available. It was fine for the first 18 months. Them Time Warner and AOL merged. The uality of service deteriorated over the next six months. A tech told me that well there wasn't anything he could do because it was the crappy wires in my area.
BY this time DSL had become available through Bellsouth. I have had that for over two years. It's been rock solid. The only time I have lost service is during a general power outage.
I mention this story because "your mileage may vary." The best ISP can vary according to where you live. Here's something else: some of them are better than others about supporting Macs.
A suggestion: check out this site:
http://www.apple.com/usergroups/
Use it to locate a Mac user group in your area. They can give you advice about which ISP in your area gives good service.
Apple Novice - Aug 16, 2005 - 1:59 pm
Thanks Michael for the prompt reply and the advice. I'm going to check out the links you sent me.
Apple Novice.
Apple Novice.
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