will this work...? please help

[joko]

hi

i have been given a linksys wireless G network adapter- WUSB54G

i am on Vista (its made for XP, but the system recognises it an has installed it drivers automatically...so i guess it is probably compatible)

i have virgin cable broadband at the moment

i would like to be able to connect to the internet on the move...wherever i happen to be - as i move around a lot an never know where i will be...

can i use this to connect to a 'pay as you go' internet connection service ??
or perhaps pay for a month at a time with it...??

i am on virgin already - so dont really want to be payin for monthly access with this thing as well if possible


any ideas? can i use it?

thanks

[ACtheTROLL]

the adapter is the same as a piece of wire ... it's how you connect .... not what you are connecting to.


if you are using a reasonably modern laptop (I assume it is a laptop you intend to travel with) - it probably has the equivalent adapter built into it
but with vista you need the driver (xp won't do)
http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/support

no you can't connect to payg without a payg dongle - expensive!

[joko]

thanks

could you tell what i need to to ? i feel a bit lost to be honest...i have no idea what i need or what to do with what i have.

yes it is a pretty modern laptop an has a wireless thing built in...but its a bit rubbish...i occasionally get connected on an unsecured network but its very weak.

how do i use 'hotspots'...?

do i need a router? do i need a subscription to a service?
or does the purchase an use of this thing give me access...?
all i have is the thing i mentioned above - nothing else...except my cable broadband...

i dont undestand anything about it really
thanks

[ACtheTROLL]

the router is the connection - so all connections go back to it

access is a mix of all
some hotspots are free (costa coffee, macdonalds, etc)
some require subscription

but none of them work more than 100M from the router (ish)

and it's ilegal to use an unsecured connection without permisson

the only true "anywhere" connection is a mobile dongle