Internet Connection via Wireless
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: UK
Internet Connection via Wireless
I am looking to get a laptop (in addition to my PC) and use the Internet via a wireless connection and the BT Home Hub.
Currently my PC is connected to the BT Home Hub via a ethernet cable, will this PC need anything wireless wise (something it currently does not have) when I get the laptop?
Currently my PC is connected to the BT Home Hub via a ethernet cable, will this PC need anything wireless wise (something it currently does not have) when I get the laptop?
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
It is the BT Home Hub that should have the wireless connectivity. Check its manual which should also have the instructions and password for connecting a laptop.
I've just done mine through the same system and it works fine.
Alternatively (as I did accidently. Honest), use the neighbours!!!
Cheers
Whirls
I've just done mine through the same system and it works fine.
Alternatively (as I did accidently. Honest), use the neighbours!!!
Cheers
Whirls
Red On, Green On
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,490
Likes: 2
From: Between the woods and the water
You will need to ensure that the laptop has wifi built in, or buy a wifi card to insert into the slot.
You will then need to get a wireless Home Hub from BT, or an ASDL wifi router to plug in, instead of the existing Home Hub, unless that is already a wifi unit.
BT should be able to tell you, but look for a 4" long antenna (cigarette sized) - if you can't see on on the HH, then it's not a wifi one.
You will then need to get a wireless Home Hub from BT, or an ASDL wifi router to plug in, instead of the existing Home Hub, unless that is already a wifi unit.
BT should be able to tell you, but look for a 4" long antenna (cigarette sized) - if you can't see on on the HH, then it's not a wifi one.
More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: land of the clanger
Currently my PC is connected to the BT Home Hub via a ethernet cable, will this PC need anything wireless wise (something it currently does not have) when I get the laptop?
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Twickenham, home of rugby
At present there are 2 wifi encryption standards - WEP (Wired Equivalence Privacy) and WPA/WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access).
WEP is rubbish - can be cracked in seconds, although it is enough to deter casual snoopers / neighbours!
WPA is what you want. Note that home use will use PSK (pre-shared key) mode.
Unless of course you happen to have an 802.11x authentication server lying around.
SD
WEP is rubbish - can be cracked in seconds, although it is enough to deter casual snoopers / neighbours!
WPA is what you want. Note that home use will use PSK (pre-shared key) mode.
Unless of course you happen to have an 802.11x authentication server lying around.
SD
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
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From: BRISTOL!
The BT home hub that was in my last rented place used WPA...
A B.T. engineer told me that you can actually find WEP Key creators for BT on the internet where you type in the SSID is it "BT-12432" and then it will automatically calculate the WEP key...
Not to sure, but it maybe be possible to change the home hub from WEP to WPA?
http://www.btfusionorder.bt.com/supp...aspx#wireless6
maybe it came deafult as WEP but it was changed to WPA...
As said, go with WPA, makes it much more secure as there are some snoopers that are not detered by WEP, and i have a feeling there are some neighbours that are the same "Students"...
A B.T. engineer told me that you can actually find WEP Key creators for BT on the internet where you type in the SSID is it "BT-12432" and then it will automatically calculate the WEP key...
Not to sure, but it maybe be possible to change the home hub from WEP to WPA?
http://www.btfusionorder.bt.com/supp...aspx#wireless6
maybe it came deafult as WEP but it was changed to WPA...
As said, go with WPA, makes it much more secure as there are some snoopers that are not detered by WEP, and i have a feeling there are some neighbours that are the same "Students"...
More bang for your buck
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,513
Likes: 1
From: land of the clanger
To be even more secure after WPA is set you can feed in the MAC addresses of the computers on the net and then tick the box that says <no more connections> (or something similar )
