NationStates Jolt Archive

...huh? I've not much heard of someone providing wireless internet..unless they simply sell password access, but even then that's odd...

You don't get a wireless provider. You get any regular dsl/cable internet, and from the modem you get, connect it to a wireless router. Your ISP may be able to provide you with a wireless modem as well.

In short, you don't get a service that gives you "wireless internet". You just get a regular internet provider, and a wireless router turns it into a wireless network.

Wireless routers for personal use run about $50.

Edit: or are you talking like wireless through a mobile phone?

Edit2: woohoo, thread steal...I think I'll add a poll...

Hey guys


I need some help, and I'm hoping you guys can help me out here.

I'm currently in need of a wireless broadband provider, but I'm not sure which one is the best to go with. I need the fastest, most reliable wireless broadband!

Do you guys have any experience or knowledge in this area?


Also, I'm having some disagreement with my friends here, but is there a difference between wireless broadband, and WiFi? And if so, what is it?

Thanks!

Although networking isn't the strongest part of my computer-related knowledge, what I can tell you is that wireless broadband is not the same as WiFi.

By "wireless broadband" I suppose you mean a type of broadband as opposed to cable or DSL. Then "wireless broadband" would be something like satellite internet, although I don't know if that quite counts as "broadband."

WiFi is basically a wireless local area network. To get internet access, the wireless network is hooked up to a wired internet source such as cable or DSL.

no, i'm talking about wireless broadband, through a laptop

Sprint and TMobile are just a few of the major phone companies that offer wireless broadband. Basically it's a device that you put into your labtop which allows you to access the internet from their satellites

You have to pay a monthly fee for it, of course, but i'm not really concerned about the price, i'm just concerned with which one is the best (in other words, which one is the fastest, lol)

ooh ok, I see what you mean, sorry that's what I meant by "through a mobile". I've heard good things about sprint...

...huh? I've not much heard of someone providing wireless internet..unless they simply sell password access, but even then that's odd...

You don't get a wireless provider. You get any regular dsl/cable internet, and from the modem you get, connect it to a wireless router. Your ISP may be able to provide you with a wireless modem as well.

In short, you don't get a service that gives you "wireless internet". You just get a regular internet provider, and a wireless router turns it into a wireless network.

Wireless routers for personal use run about $50.

Edit: or are you talking like wireless through a mobile phone?


no, i'm talking about wireless broadband, through a laptop

Sprint and TMobile are just a few of the major phone companies that offer wireless broadband. Basically it's a device that you put into your labtop which allows you to access the internet from their satellites

You have to pay a monthly fee for it, of course, but i'm not really concerned about the price, i'm just concerned with which one is the best (in other words, which one is the fastest, lol)

Hey guys


I need some help, and I'm hoping you guys can help me out here.

I'm currently in need of a wireless broadband provider, but I'm not sure which one is the best to go with. I need the fastest, most reliable wireless broadband!

Do you guys have any experience or knowledge in this area?


Also, I'm having some disagreement with my friends here, but is there a difference between wireless broadband, and WiFi? And if so, what is it?

Thanks!

As far as I know, both Sprint and Verizon offer wireless broadband (but I've never used either).

As to your disagreement, wireless broadband is usually cellular broadband (as I stated above, I think Sprint and Verizon both offer PCMCIA cards for laptops), which gives internet access. WiFi is just a network connection, and does not automatically give internet access (you'd need either a cable or dsl modem and the appropriate service through a provider).

no, i'm talking about wireless broadband, through a laptop

Sprint and TMobile are just a few of the major phone companies that offer wireless broadband. Basically it's a device that you put into your labtop which allows you to access the internet from their satellites

You have to pay a monthly fee for it, of course, but i'm not really concerned about the price, i'm just concerned with which one is the best (in other words, which one is the fastest, lol)They will say somewhere on their site what speeds they offer for the price.

Although networking isn't the strongest part of my computer-related knowledge, what I can tell you is that wireless broadband is not the same as WiFi.

By "wireless broadband" I suppose you mean a type of broadband as opposed to cable or DSL. Then "wireless broadband" would be something like satellite internet, although I don't know if that quite counts as "broadband."

WiFi is basically a wireless local area network. To get internet access, the wireless network is hooked up to a wired internet source such as cable or DSL.

That's what I thought, but I got confused when I saw a WiFi device on Tmobile's website that looks like it does the same thing as Sprint's mobile broadband

here's the link, see what you guys think: Click Here (http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/Detail.aspx?tp=tb1&device=e84f500d-8c20-4a82-9017-0c6bc3f4ad5a)

Hey guys


I need some help, and I'm hoping you guys can help me out here.

I'm currently in need of a wireless broadband provider, but I'm not sure which one is the best to go with. I need the fastest, most reliable wireless broadband!

Do you guys have any experience or knowledge in this area?


Also, I'm having some disagreement with my friends here, but is there a difference between wireless broadband, and WiFi? And if so, what is it?

Thanks!

Wireless (aka mobile) broadband is usually through a cell phone company such as Sprint. WiFi is through a wireless router you set up in your home and that gets connected to a modem for cable or DSL internet.

That device on Tmobile's website seems to have not only the ability to use mobile broadband (through a GSM network) but also a WiFi hotspot (using wireless B/G standards). In other words, it's a dual connection device.

That device on Tmobile's website seems to have not only the ability to use mobile broadband (through a GSM network) but also a WiFi hotspot (using wireless B/G standards). In other words, it's a dual connection device.
Assuming those wireless points have deals with Tmobile.

...huh? I've not much heard of someone providing wireless internet..unless they simply sell password access, but even then that's odd...

You don't get a wireless provider. You get any regular dsl/cable internet, and from the modem you get, connect it to a wireless router. Your ISP may be able to provide you with a wireless modem as well.

In short, you don't get a service that gives you "wireless internet". You just get a regular internet provider, and a wireless router turns it into a wireless network.

Wireless routers for personal use run about $50.

Edit: or are you talking like wireless through a mobile phone?

Edit2: woohoo, thread steal...I think I'll add a poll...

There is wireless internet. In the states AT&T, Sprint and Verizon (to name a few) of the cell phone providers do offer wireless internet, as does a company called Clearwire. I myself use Sprint Mobile Broadband when I'm out and about.... In fact, I'm on it right now.

EDit: Speed is ok, usually about 1.5Mb download speeds, though actual speed tends to be effected more by the quality of the card than the service provider... All the Mobile Broadband Cellular stuff is presently using the same standards (EV-DO) for it's connection to the cellular towers... Though it seems, from my point of view that the range on the EV-DO broadband is greater than the normal cellular voice/data people get on their phones. (I can still get sprint signals in places where people's phones are in a blackout zone).

Additionally, with mobile broadband as opposed to WiFi hotspots, there is no worry about being in a hot-spot. As long as you're in a location within range of cellular towers, you've got internet access... It's becoming very common in the business world.

You don't get a wireless provider. You get any regular dsl/cable internet, and from the modem you get, connect it to a wireless router. Your ISP may be able to provide you with a wireless modem as well.

In short, you don't get a service that gives you "wireless internet". You just get a regular internet provider, and a wireless router turns it into a wireless network.Wireless Broadband exist, I use it when I am in Canada..

The only drawback I am experiencing is that my Modem has to be close to a window. And when I have a choice I prefer regular Broadband. If I have time to work the cables.

Wireless Broadband exist, I have it (I have both)
The only drawback I am experiencing is that my Modem has to be close to a window.

I've noticed that with Clearwire. My friend Hernan, has that service at his restaurant, and the modem has to be near the front to work (he hides it in the overhead)... Whereas my Sprint service will work anywhere in the place.

I've noticed that with Clearwire. My friend Hernan, has that service at his restaurant, and the modem has to be near the front to work (he hides it in the overhead)... Whereas my Sprint service will work anywhere in the place.nice, maybe sprint has a better signal in that city.

nice, maybe sprint has a better signal in that city.

Well, Sprint owns most of the cellular towers in this area, followed by Verizon... Everyone else has to lease lower spaces on their towers.