First and foremost, RTFM....no offence intended, but it does wonders for
understanding!

Now, some hints. The software that controls your Wifi chip (probably Intel
PROset?) will constantly monitor for Access Points while your wifi radio is
turned on, and list any that are available. To link up with any listed AP
you need to construct an acceptable profile within PROset which essentially
sets the protocols/security to be used when talking to the AP. There is a
menu in PROset for doing this. You will also need to know about the
requirements of the AP, unless it is wide open to the world. Once you have
connection to the AP, you have a connection to the net.. You will need to
set your preferences in your browser and mail client to accept connection
over a LAN. How you do all this depends on the software you are using.

To find out the protocols for hooking up at a Starbucks AP, go to their
website and find out what applies in your locality. The site will also tell
you about payment options. Here in Australia, Starbucks provides wifi via
the main telco, Telstra. Here you need to activate a wifi account with
Telstra , or for casual use you can supply your CC details, I think.

Starbucks is a good way of getting things up and running, but they are
expensive. There are many cafes etc which provide free wifi service. Its a
matter of finding them....by word of mouth, a sign in the window, or driving
around with your laptop looking for AP's ! NetStumbler is good, free
software for detecting and analysing AP's.

Remember to turn your radio off when not using wifi....its a significant
drain on the battery otherwise.

alt.internet.wireless has some useful discussion.


"Rodney Myrvaagnes" wrote in message
...
We plan to be coastal cruising in the northeastern USA and Eastern
Canada for 5 or 6 months this year. Last year we were unable to
connect at the Chamber of Commerce in Northeast Harbor where they used
to keep a modem line. The reason was they now have a continuous DSL
connection with an ethernet hub so individual calls don't cost them.

Our 1995 Libretto, a little Toshiba antique that still works fine,
doesn't have an ethernet port. Other marinas we have been in have
WiFi.

Upshot, I bought a new notebook computer that has Wifi, ethernet, usb,
modem. I have my dial-up working, just what I had before. The machine
advertises "No-configuration networking" on the box, which I take to
mean it will network with anything receptive around, either by cable
or wifi.

I can carry an ethernet cable, which I expect to work at NEH, where I
saw the hub box. But I, being an ancient mariner, have no idea how to
use wifi. Can I expect to go into a Starbucks and have my browser
work? How would I know it is connected if it is?

If I am in a Wifi hotspot that wants to be paid, will something tell
me so, or will it just not work?

Maybe I am asking the wrong questions. I appreciate knowledgeable
replies to what I should have asked as well.

TIA




Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC
J36 Gjo/a


"Nuke the gay whales for Jesus" -- anon T-shirt