A little information,,, please. (1 Viewer)

[old-mo]

Thinking of doing a two/three month trip to Italy/France/Spain/Portugal next February,,

Can someone in the simplest way explain how WIFI works ?
Do you have to pay for connection or what ?

Please make your explanations as simple as possible,, cos I am really thick when it comes to puters. :Confused:

Thanks.

 

[Pikey Pete]

WiFi is the internet broadcast wirelessly from a router/base station and most computers have a receiver card that can decode this signal.
Do you have to pay for it ? In most cases yes as the signal is often encoded so you need a password to allow your receiver to decode the signal. It is the password you are paying for.
Some cafe's/restaurants/bars/ have free WiFi if you are eating/drinking on their premises, they will give you the password if you ask them. Look for the WiFi sign.
Sometimes you will find that certain places have unencoded free access and if so you can access the internet if you are within range.
The signal is usually line of sight and has a range of about 50 meters.
Your computer should auto detect any wifi signals in range and you can buy booster Ariels that can extend the range up to about 500 meters.
Many Motorway services throughout Europe have WiFi and you can gain the password by paying via your credit card without the need to enter the premises.
Hope that helps,

Pete:Cool:

 

[moandick]

This is from a computer "know-nothing"!

Your computer needs to be 'WiFi' enabled or you need to have a 'card' inserted which will allow you to receive the signal.

When you switch on the computer, you tell it to look for a signal - and if it is available it should come up on the screen as saying that you can connect to 'such and such' a signal.

If the WiFi is free the compuer will connect and away you go on the internet BUT if, as normal, the WiFi has to be paid for - you will need to go to the controllers office, pay for so much time and get a password.

You then get the computer to pick up the signal, you apply the password and log-in.

I am told that there are many places such as McDonalds carparks where you can connect free of charge but most WiFi suppliers will charge you for the facility. The Caravan Club, for instance, applies a sliding scale of charges a bit like a car park charge - you pay more for a short time on the 'net' that you pay for a week or a month. - The longer on line, the cheaper.

 

[N&K]

Click here -> Q&A: Wi-fi explained

:thumb:

 

[ronald4874]

Ron & Marj

You will find that a lot of campsites in say France & Spain have WIFI and are helpful in getting you on line by giving you the code & PW and invariable putting in for you. The Spanish libraries in some cases have a free service in very comfortable surroundings, again very helpful as long as you computor is not too old.
We take our L/T with us for about 3 months each time so contact with home is fab. We have a rule that we do not use internet banking due to the risks involved, leave this info at home.

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[old-mo]

We take our L/T with us for about 3 months each time so contact with home is fab. We have a rule that we do not use internet banking due to the risks involved, leave this info at home.


Normally we go abroad for a few weeks, this time we are going for a few months,, I am glad you bought up the banking online bit as that is what we were thinking of doing.

Thanks a lot.. :thumb:

 

[gypsyrose]

May I ask where you can buy booster aerials please??