My building has free Internet service. What do I need to set up a wireless connection in my apartment?

Question

I get "free" internet in my building (I pay HOA dues though so it's not exactly free). I have been using a neighbor's unsecured wireless Internet connection on my laptop which has a wireless card already installed. Sometimes my neighbor goes out of town or just turns his connection off or something, so I want to set up my own so I'm not dependent on him. I'm not too tech savvy, so can you please explain to me what I need to buy? A router? A modem?

Answer 1

if it wireless then all you need is a wireless internet card to pick up the signal and try to connect to it if its LOCKED then yes u will have to talk to them about getting it if its unlocked then you can just connect.  

Answer 2

hi,

first of all, let me inform you that it is NOT safe to connect to open network since anyone can see what you are doing online.  If you are shopping and enter credit card #, it can be viewed by others in network.  So I highly recommend you to stay away from open network.  

If you want to setup your own network, you need wireless router that you connect to cable/dsl modem.  you probably need switch if you have more PCs than # of ports availble on wireless router.

Answer 3

well if you have a desktop like i do i usually hook up a modem to a cable like for a television set and then connect the ethernet code into your computer. if you have a laptop you can do the same but if you want to take your laptop anywhere in the room you would also need a router which directs the internet to your laptop wirelessly. so in this case you would need both a router and a modem. i think they could run up from 50 to a couple hundred bucks. it is all within the quality and brand name. thats it. my router was only 50 and it works fine. the 200 dollar ones are much stronger if you have it setup in a office building. just for any house a cheap router is pretty good. go with a linksys.  

Answer 4

You'll need a modem to give you internet provided by your ISP (internet service provider), and you'll need to look into a router that connects to your modem, which will give you your wireless connection. Once you have internet and all lights are working, then your laptop should be able to connect to it.

Of course, that is to say your building doesn't already offer wirelress internet, and whatnot.

Answer 5

I presume your appartment provides you with wired ethernet ports.  If so, all you need to do is to plug your pc in it.

If the appartment provides wireless internet, then you do not need anything and it should be available all the time.