Wireless Internet???

**peanut** · 05-17-2009, 10:40 PM

Hi, we have a situation. We need to know what it costs to go to wireless internet. You have to by the router right...anything else? Do you have to pay for a special connection? Or does it work on your regular connection?

We live in an old house and, what with moving my studio upstairs, we're going to have to poke holes through walls to travel a bright blue (can't they make these cords in subtle colours? Like white?) Internet cord across the length of the house. This is not doing wonders for my interior design colour scheme. Ie. looks downright ugly next to the taupe trim! We're wondering if going wireless is our answer.

Any pros and cons we should know about? Thanks.

Jean

**mauimagic** · 05-17-2009, 10:43 PM

Don't remember how much it cost for the router - for the new one that is, I know the prices have come way down. Our first one cost $400, but that was years ago when it first came out. Ours is hooked up to our telephone lines - but could go through cable on TV.

What I do know is that we love it - makes life soooo easy - regardless of how many of us are one. Strongly suggest the investment.

**jantana** · 05-17-2009, 11:10 PM

We have wireless internet on our laptop. It's just a monthly bill about 45 dollars, I think. We still live a bit far out of town not that close to a tower, so it's slow for us. All in all, it's worth it.

**heartofmine** · 05-17-2009, 11:19 PM

Do you mean getting completely wireless or do you have a main computer in the home hooked up to internet and you want a wireless router for laptops to use in other areas of your home?

We have 1 main computer in the livingroom hooked to internet that costs us $35.00 for DSL through our phone company. We bought a wifi at Walmart and hooked it up in the livingroom so my kiddos can both use their laptops wirelessly. It was $50.00 for the wifi box and there are no other fees.

**peanut** · 05-18-2009, 07:56 AM

OH! I didn't think about that option. DH's computer can stay hooked up and I can go wireless for mine then? I suspect DH would like to go wireless too. We're running two full size desktop computers at the moment. Plus DH has a new-to-him laptop. And I hope to replace my computer with a laptop sometime this year. I'm looking for space efficiency in my studio. Right now I'm using DD#2's computer desk, and she wants us to take it to her down east this fall. A laptop seems more practical.

We should have no problem with towers here. We're in an urban area. But I am concerned about jantana's comment that service can be slow... Is that just if the tower isn't close? Or is service more fickle with wireless?

**Linus** · 05-18-2009, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by peanut

OH! I didn't think about that option. DH's computer can stay hooked up and I can go wireless for mine then? I suspect DH would like to go wireless too. We're running two full size desktop computers at the moment. Plus DH has a new-to-him laptop. And I hope to replace my computer with a laptop sometime this year. I'm looking for space efficiency in my studio. Right now I'm using DD#2's computer desk, and she wants us to take it to her down east this fall. A laptop seems more practical.

We should have no problem with towers here. We're in an urban area. But I am concerned about jantana's comment that service can be slow... Is that just if the tower isn't close? Or is service more fickle with wireless?

It depends on what you're referring to. You can get a wireless card that allows you access anywhere that the company (usually cellphone company like Sprint or AT&T) provides service. Depending on who you use this will be the cost of that company's wireless card (special wireless card with antanae ) along with monthly fees. It can be cheap it's with your cell phone provider but seems to range from $10 to $100+ a month. This allows total freedom but tends to cost more and quality can vary.

Or, if this is entirely for home usage (which is what I suspect you want to do -- remove the wires from home) you merely get a wireless router. This option runs whatever your regular internet costs are now (DSL or cable connectivity) and the one-time fee of a wireless router (can range from $30-200). This is a cheaper option but limits where you go with this wireless (the house) unless you find "hotspots" that are cheap/free (e.g., starbucks and apple both provide free access at some of their locations).

**Natalie** · 05-18-2009, 09:13 AM

Well, you can get the wireless router and hook it up yourself. If you don't tell the ISP (cough), it won't change the rate any. If you loose the internet signal on your laptop, just kick everyone off the computer(s), turn off both motums, wait 10 (or a couple more, just in case) seconds, then turn them on again. Watch for all the lights to settle down, then you should be good to go.

**lotsadebt** · 05-19-2009, 10:35 AM

We have the USB card for the laptop/PC. It is run on our cell phones. It is added as another line. Rebate for the USB was free after. I use it on the laptop and get a phemonal signal. Dh can slo take it and use it on his PC in the basement. Love it! No wires needed.

**peanut** · 05-19-2009, 10:44 AM

We don't have cell phones, and don't plan to get them quite yet. So I'm thinking this will be a simple in home thing...for now.

**vm9799** · 05-19-2009, 02:24 PM

we have a wireless network in our home (my hubby works in IT/IS) and it's just a router connected to our desktop computer. i have a laptop (and also a studio on our 2nd floor) and i can connect to our wifi from anywhere in the house and even outside for a distance. there are no extra charges for this, it just gives you whatever access you already have.....which for us is verizon fios service. i think we paid under $100 for our router. it's pretty simple to hook up as well.

good luck! and as an interior designer myself, say no to the wires!!!

**lisaflex** · 05-20-2009, 06:22 AM

it can get dicey in an old home. have had a few different routers due to thick walls and depnding where it is placed. it is worth it though

**Homekeepn** · 05-20-2009, 07:38 AM

We have a linksys (blue color) router. It costs under $75.00 at staples a few years ago. We run ours through our cable provider. It was super simple to set up. If you are worried about it running slow, then you might want to close off or lock your router to just your computers. This will prevent others close by to pull on your signal for free. Your router set up should explain how to do this.

We run three laptops on this router all at the same time. We use them in the backyard. I have even taking my laptop to work across the street from my house and still had a fairly strong signal. HTH