help me figure out what my g-friend is talking about

[/\\/3|2o]

My girlfriend is stationed at Sheppard AFB and does not have internet connection in her dorm. She asked around and some people said:

"You need a wireless router from Best Buy that you pay $15 a month for and does not plug into the wall"

I have NO IDEA what they are talking about. Apparently its something that you buy, call up the company and give your credit card number, and then get internet service. The only thing I can think of that she is talking about is one of those cards you plug into your laptop and connect through a satellite. She says that THEY said it wasn't a card at all.

IM TOTALLY CONFUSED!

[cradivonyk]

Ok, she is either talking about a wireless aircard for a laptop like Sprint offers, or she is talking about a wireless NIC to connect to some other wireless service offered at the AFB.

[Trap05]

Yeah probably a wireless card for the machine. A router would do nothing for her without a internet connection to plug into it.
An aircard would work as well for a laptop but would be much more expensive to run.

[/\\/3|2o]

Ok, she is either talking about a wireless aircard for a laptop like Sprint offers, or she is talking about a wireless NIC to connect to some other wireless service offered at the AFB.

I was thinking the same thing. I don't think she is trying to connect to other peoples' network because she already tried that just to see what her availability was. I guess she is talking about the Aircard.

Thanks guys!

[Skeith]

she should just get an internet connection unless she wants to sit at the park and surf the net. Aircards are slower than regular internet connections and usualy just as expensive. Dont know how much they cost where you are, but any Ive seen here are supplied by my mobile phone companies, cost like $40 - $60 a month and come with a binding contract of 2 -3 years.

They're only good for people who want to be completely mobile, besides, now adays with a regular wireless adaptor, when you go out somewhere there are usualy hotspots to connect to in a busy area, and if you absoloutely need to get on the net, im sure somone wouldent mind you borrowing their unprotectes wireless network for a few minutes (assuming your not using it for illegal activities) Besides if they realy cared in the first place they would encrypt it.

I think my whole central downtown has hotspot, many coffee shops and restaraunts supply free interent via wireless, and different places and malls do.

[Jon]

I'd say they're talking about ClearWire. They were really exploding when I was at Ft. Hood, TX. It's just wireless Internet.

[Diggrr]

I'd say they're talking about ClearWire. They were really exploding when I was at Ft. Hood, TX. It's just wireless Internet.

Sounds about right to me too.
It's a box that needs a wall plug (10 watts, 50/60htz) and connects to your pc with an ethernet cable.
It provides a hookup to wireless internet much like a cable modem does but wirelessly.