need advice connecting to internet
hamma
can i gain internet access? any reputable cards that i would be able to
use on both items to connect to the internet for email and browsing?
David Empson
[Reposting my prevous answer from comp.sys.mac.hardware, as it is more
likely to be read and commented on here.]
If you are in a location where you have access to an Ethernet socket
through which you can access the Internet, the MacBook can use that.
Otherwise if there is no WiFi network to which you can connect, you will
need some kind of external device which allows the MacBook to connect to
the Internet via an appropriate cellular network, or a similar long
distance wireless technology (e.g. satellite modem, WiMax).
The MacBook has no slots in which you could install any kind of "card",
so you must use an external device. Your main connection options are
Bluetooth or USB.
Some possibilities:
- An iPhone can do USB or Bluetooth "tethering" and provide Internet
access, but only on some cellular networks (AT&T doesn't allow this, for
example).
- Some cellphones can be connected to the computer and provide Internet
access in the same manner (USB and/or Bluetooth, depending on the
phone). I have done this with a Sony Ericsson cellphone. This may have
the same issues with the network provider not allowing tethering.
- There are specialised cellular modems you can buy which allow
connection in the same manner. They plug in via USB. This may require a
separate account from your cellphone, and charging is handled
differently from cellphones doing tethering, so your network operator
should be fine with this. Main problem is likely to be ongoing monthly
costs, so this is expensive if you only want to use it occasionally.
The iPod Touch can't access the Internet without a WiFi network. I'm not
aware of any Bluetooth or USB device which would allow this.
Your only option there would be some solution which allowed your MacBook
to connect to the Internet, then use the MacBook to create a WiFi
network. Your iPod Touch could then connect to that network and access
the Internet while near your MacBook.
--
David Empson
dem...@actrix.gen.nz
Bill
hamma <ha...@bda.net> wrote:
The MacBook has an ethernet port. If you are in a place where there is a
wired network, you can use that to connect to the network. That is the
still most secure, most reliable and fastest connection to a local
network, faster, more secure and more reliable than wireless. I normally
have my MacBook connected that way to my Airport Extreme router, and
other computers connected by wireless.
To connect to a landline phone for dial-up connection (the really old
fashioned and really slow but still useable way) you can get a USB modem
from Apple, plug that into a USB port on your MacBook, and hook up to
the phone line. of course you have to know the phone number to call to
connect via the phone line to your ISP.
To connect to a cell phone network, there are USB devices that you can
get that allow your MacBook to connect to a cell phone network. Those
are probably about as slow as a dial-up modem, and maybe slower and less
reliable, I don't know.
hamma
access while traveling, my ethernet and wireless connections at home
work fine. during my last trip i found myself without a wifi signal and
noticed another person with a windows laptop with a small gadget that
appeared to be attached to the usb, approx 1x2 inches with leds
blinking. i was not able to find out what that person was using but i
would like to try the same means if available for my macbook.
thepixelfreak
If you have good 3G cell reception where you are you might want to look
at the MiFi, some of the carriers (Verizon, Sprint) have them. You'll
probably get stuck into a 2 year contract though. The MiFi is a cell
device that provides a wireless Wifi network.
http://www.novatelwireless.com/
--
thepixelfreak
Wayne C. Morris
hamma <ha...@bda.net> wrote:
> thanks for the responses, i should have stated that i am trying to gain
> access while traveling, my ethernet and wireless connections at home
> work fine. during my last trip i found myself without a wifi signal and
> noticed another person with a windows laptop with a small gadget that
> appeared to be attached to the usb, approx 1x2 inches with leds
> blinking. i was not able to find out what that person was using but i
> would like to try the same means if available for my macbook.
Sounds like a USB wireless modem, aka mobile internet or mobile broadband. It
uses an internal cell phone, so it works anywhere you can get a cell signal, but
requires a service plan which can be expensive.
Check the major cell phone and internet service providers. If you already have
a cell phone, you may be able to save money by getting your wireless modem and
service plan from the same provider.