Wireless Internet forum: Travel with laptop and "free" wireless internet at hotels

Most new laptops have wireless cards, that is all you need.

They usually give you a password and your laptop automatically recognizes the hotel wireless signal.

In order to connect to the wireless internet at hotels and such, you will need a Wi-Fi card. Many laptops have one built in, but external ones are available as well. There is a dizzying array of different formats, but it is actually quite simple. All Wi-Fi cards follow a specification called 802.11, followed by some letter, A, B, G, or N. A is very uncommon. B is very common. G is faster than (but backwards compatible with) B. N is new and even faster, but is also backwards compatible to G and B. So, if it says its a B, G, or N, youre good to go.

It is very important to realize that these public wireless connections are very insecure. Anyone within range of the hotspot can, using easy to use tools freely available on the internet, intercept your data. In order to prevent this, your company will give you a VPN client, which will enable you to securely access the companys network. Basically, all of your computers web traffic is sent securely to your companys network, and from there it is sent out over the Internet. If they do not provide such a thing, you will need to sign up for a proxying service. They are inexpensive and will keep your data safe. For more information, you can listen to Security Now: Episode 10, which (after summing up last weeks episode) talks about wireless network security.

Good luck on your job decision.

I have a Dell Inspiron 8200. The manual tells me that the comptuer is not compatible with PC cards but is with express cards. Is a wireless express card what I need if I want to use WiFi in a hotel?

Thanks.

Don.

Check with the hotel before making reservations. Some provide free internet access and some ask for an hourly rate. However, the free are easy to find. (i.e. Travel Lodge=free...Red Roof Inn=$6.00/hr) All are very insecure. Install a firewall on your laptop before using any public wi-fi hot spot.