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View Full Version : New Tool we have the who time for Homeschooling and I didn't even know it!!!


LupusMommyto5
September 26th, 2007, 02:39 PM
:doh

I feel so stupid.......Make sure when you buy computers especially Laptops you read the user manuals completely instead of thinking you know it and don't need to like I did.

Earlier this year before we pulled our kids from public school we bought a laptop because our old desktop computer was outdated and than the hardrive bit the dust.

We bought a Toshiba A135 Satelitte Series Laptop. For months I have seen this Wi-Fi Satelittle button on the front of it, and never turned it on, never looked it up to see what it was for or nothing.

Well yesterday I turned it on, and still really not understanding contacted the Toshiba manufacturer for help.

Now here's my GOOD NEWS and info on how we have another tool for homeschooling---Just don't laugh at me ok?!

The Toshiba Satelitte Wi-Fi Series, has built in Wi-Fi hardware and software that when turned on searches the sky around you for satelittle signals that allow you to connect to the internet without having to use a phoneline, broadband, or even an ethernet connection thus eliminating having to sign up with an Internet provider, and eliminating having to stay at home, you can go to the park for an outing or take a trip to a landmark or something for a field trip and take your laptop with you and after your done turn on your Wi-Fi switch and you can connect to the internet to look up what you need for your trip even while in the car, as long as there are signals you can connect and for free.

I feel stupid for this, when I think of how much money I have spent with first juno for internet access I could just kick myself.

I am using my wi-fi now and still may keep Juno for if we have bad signals due to weather or whatever as a back (still deciding there).

However, now I can sit and go from room to room with no wires attached to the laptop, go outside, take it with us, and even use my phone again while online at the same time....So So Convenient....

Your Sister in Christ,
Nannette (a.k.a. LupusMommyto5)

lisaann
September 26th, 2007, 03:05 PM
:shocked

I want one!!!

songbird
September 26th, 2007, 09:54 PM
FYI- Actually, it doesn't come from the sky. It comes from someone near your location who is paying for internet connection and is using a router to broadcast a signal to other computers in their wireless network. Actually, it is stealing internet service from someone who is paying for it. Someone was doing that with ours one time and slowing it down terribly, so we secured it with a password. It's the same as buying a NIC card at Radio Shack to use in a home network, only it's built into the laptop.

HSmomto4
September 26th, 2007, 11:13 PM
FYI songbird there are many places that offer that for FREE so people CAN use their laptops in and around their buildings. It is everywhere here and a great tool! The city next to ours offers it free for anyone within so many miles of city hall. It isn't uncommon at all and by no means is it stealing! There are signs up everywhere that tell you it is offered for free.

Kathe
September 27th, 2007, 12:49 PM
I use it at Panera bread and other places like that. It's free. Kathe

wife
September 27th, 2007, 02:33 PM
I use it at Panera bread and other places like that. It's free. Kathe

yummm panera bread!!! and free internet.. gotta love it

firstoftwelve
September 28th, 2007, 04:56 PM
my hubby also set up a router attached to our DSL internet connection, so I can be wireless throughout the house it's great! There are some cities that are trying to offer city wide wi-fi for free. I know Winston-Salem was looking into doing it, but I don't know if it went through or now. cool stuff.
Just an FYI, you do want to protect your computer. With the Wi-Fi stuff there are people out there looking to get personal info off other's networks. You have to be protected when hooked up to an unprotected network. NOT a good time to look at bank accounts and such.

songbird
September 29th, 2007, 08:05 PM
FYI songbird there are many places that offer that for FREE so people CAN use their laptops in and around their buildings. It is everywhere here and a great tool! The city next to ours offers it free for anyone within so many miles of city hall. It isn't uncommon at all and by no means is it stealing! There are signs up everywhere that tell you it is offered for free.

It's not stealing if you are in range of one that is posted as free- but when you live in the sticks (like me :)) chances are anything you pick up belong to someone else who really should secure their network.

I had no idea cities were doin this! We don't even have access to DSL or Cable where I live, we are stuck with Hughes Net (satellite). So, anyway I didn't mean to accuse you of stealing, I just wanted you to be aware of the possibility. Thanks for the information!

LupusMommyto5
September 30th, 2007, 11:29 PM
It's not stealing if you are in range of one that is posted as free- but when you live in the sticks (like me :)) chances are anything you pick up belong to someone else who really should secure their network.

I had no idea cities were doin this! We don't even have access to DSL or Cable where I live, we are stuck with Hughes Net (satellite). So, anyway I didn't mean to accuse you of stealing, I just wanted you to be aware of the possibility. Thanks for the information!

:)Quick question:

I want to secure our network and have bought our own Belkin Router to do so and am considering Hughs just so I can set us up on our own private network, dont get me wrong free is great but I wanna make sure we're secure in this day and age with hackers and identity theft and all, so what I want to know is Hughs good and worth the money??

Your Sister in Christ,
Nannette (a.k.a. LupusMommyto5)

songbird
October 5th, 2007, 09:59 PM
:)Quick question:

I want to secure our network and have bought our own Belkin Router to do so and am considering Hughs just so I can set us up on our own private network, dont get me wrong free is great but I wanna make sure we're secure in this day and age with hackers and identity theft and all, so what I want to know is Hughs good and worth the money??

Your Sister in Christ,
Nannette (a.k.a. LupusMommyto5)

Well, I hate it, personally. I know that wasn't what you wanted to hear, but it is very unreliable. We live in rural coastal NC. If there are clouds in the sky, the wind is blowing, it's raining either at your home or where Hughes is located you have no internet. We FAP out a lot, meaning if you download more than a certain amount of anything (including playing games, pictures on websites, etc.) in a day, your "high speed internet" gets cut back to dial up speed or less. Hope this helps you in your decision.