Hi I have a few question about the wireless internet USB key, any answers or link to resources is much appreciated. my questions are: - How do you connect to the internet through a wireless USB key (how does the whole thing work)? - Who provides the service and how (satellite, wireless towers, a wireless device in the building..)? - How big of an area does the one provider station cover (building, city, state..)? - Approximately how much does it cost to set up a provider station and what are the requirements?? Thanks in advance
You need the following: - A combined wireless modem and router OR a separate wireless modem and router. The modem converts your telephone signal into something understandable by your PC and vice versa, the router transmits the signal between modem and PC. - A wireless card (in your PC) or USB adapter (plugged in) for each PC on your wireless network. Most premade PCs come with a wireless card built-in. Other answers: - On the basis of your question, I think the answer you're after is that the service comes from the wireless device (modem and router) which is positioned somewhere near the PC. - A wireless modem and router will typically transmit somewhere between 50 - 100 metres. It is therefore important you secure your network to avoid unauthorised abstraction of your signal (read up about WEP and WPA). - You can set this up on one PC for less than $150. Each additional PC will cost about $50 for an extra wireless card or USB adapter (assuming they don't have a built-in wireless card).
Thank you very much countryboy.. I thought the wireless USB key connects to the internet through a satellite or something like that so anyone can access the internet from virtually anywhere. Is there anything like that?? How much would it cost to run a service like that?
No, wireless USB key connects to your wireless modem via the router. There's a couple of places (like Mountain View, CA wherever that is) where they are experimenting with larger scale wireless networks that cover entire neighbourhoods. This particular Google experiment is still very much in beta. To run a system where PCs connected to the web via direct satellite link would cost huge money - not even Google are attempting that.