apple wireless
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- CX
To connect to a wireless router do you need an airport base station? If so then how do you connect at places like borders bookstore, etc? I am hoping just to have a wireless card and connect anywhere a wireless network is available. Would the bluetooth card do it?
- brundlefly0
bluetooth is maybe 10 feet, but they state 30, so not really, I have a powerbook with an extreme card, and I can connect to most wireless routers......
I run a linksys at home, airport at the office and many coffee shops I can just connect with no setup.
- err0
Download macstumbler helps you find WIFI.
Also yes a mac with an airport card can connect to almost all wifi routers. The catch is if they let you. My experience is that I can get on most networks. BUt watchout for commercial ones like Starbucks. They want to charge you for it. like $12 a month. or something. I have seen places like McDonalds and Burgerking offer free wifi if you buy a meal. Its up to you if you want to take out your laptop to a fastfood place.
- brundlefly0
mmm burger grease keyboard
- CX0
I thought the connections at places like Starbucks was free.
And so you don't really need a Base Station at all? Especially if you already have a wireless router at home?
- jpea0
well, you wouldn't wanna be lugging your basestation around to coffeeshops now would you??
plus, once you're there, how would it connect??ok, sorry.. a little silly venting.
if you have a wireless card in your laptop, you can connect to any wireless network that will let you. Owners of said networks either:
1. restrict access to these for a fee or just restrict it because it's on their office network or something. or
2. don't restrict access, in which case you should be able to just "stumble" across it and your comp will get an IP address, etc.. and be good to go.btw, f&*k starbucks and their "pay wireless" service. Every other coffeeshop has free access. I've sat at a starbucks in mpls, opened my laptop and connected to the borders books network across the street!
- err0
There are way around it if you really want to get wifi. But i don't think they are possible on the mac.
Some PC wifi cards let you change the MAC address so if a base station is using MAC address filtering thingamagig then you can theoretically sniff the air for connected cards and copy their Mac address.
This is all to nerdy for me. I just go down the street till I find one that is open. There are alot of open linksys wifi routers outthere. You would be suprised to see how many people just plug them in and leave em open.
- CX0
Thanks, dudes. So an Airport Extreme card is the way to go?
Is bluetooth even used for wifi internet connections or just linking between hardware?
- whiteSneaks0
i think you got your hardware uses all mixed up.
the airport BASE is a router (correct me if i am wrong, not a mac guy)
the airport card is what allows your comp to connect to wifi network
bluetooth is for wireless connections to items such as keyboards, mouse, phones, etc.
- frankosonik0
Starbucks charges for access, apparently because they don't make enough money off of a $4.00 cup of coffee.
Panera, a sandwich/coffee chain, offers it for free.
McDonalds offers it for free.
You can sit in your car in the parking lot and surf if you're too cheap to pay for a meal.
Soon free WiFi will be as commonplace as public restrooms. After which, Starbucks will charge you $3.00 per flush.
- one2meny0
Correct Sneaks
- CX0
If you get on someones wifi network can they access your computer?
- kpl0
your computer will be as accessible as if you hooked it up to a wired network. your computer won't be any more or less secure compared to a wired network.
however, if you're hooked up with a wireless network access point that is not using encryption, there's the possibility people can snoop and eavesdrop on your traffic.
No, I don't believe there is a way to encrypt your wireless traffic if the access point does not have it on.