BT Fon WiFi Connection

[JasonR_374341560]

I hope I don't worry to many people or JTQ, but I've found the BT Norton package to be not to hot.

We use another AV package like LB + seperate anti spyware and use our own fire walled wireless router, we are on the home hub type plan as long standing customers but we dont bother with BT phone calls as there are better options.

LB internet phone calls can be cheaper than other calls such as mobiles when away travelling.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Hi LB a lot of sites across europe have wireless internet ,for a small fee they will give the code ,to use your laptop ,and if you go to www.three.co.uk you can buy mobile broadband for as low as

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Lord B,

I use BT Hub at home and a BT wireless hub at work, I've also recently upgraded to a new Dell Laptop this week (and use Outlook Express for e-mail and Google as my home page), what I would say is let Windows mange your wireless network, rather than the Dell wireless connection software that also comes pre installed. As JTQ said there is no need to use BT software on the laptop unless you want their Anti Virus Software, I've not installed any of the BT Software, but since it is a work laptop I have to use Sophos Anti Virus, all works fine at home, at work and out and about.

The Dell systems have a good step by step set up - just follow these but do not create an internet connection when requested and after the set up configuration, re-start your Laptop and then the in built wireless card should find your BT home Hub all you need to do is just enter the wireless security code when prompted.

Regards, Bill

Thanks Bill, sounds easy but I can guarantee if that something will go wrong, I haven't had a straight forward procedure yet for setting up the internet :O(

If I have any probs and have to phone BT for help I will tell them it's Bill's fault .... hehheh!

If anythings going to go wrong it will happen to me ... forever a pessimist :O)

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Regarding Norton I put that on many moons ago, before Broadband. I had problems with the computer so rang the helpline. He asked if I had Norton and I replied the affirmative. He told me to uninstall it, which I did, and didn't have any further problems, I used AVG after that.

Then when my new computer crashed after installing the BT offering of Norton I can't say it's my favourite.

I think I will stick with AVG and Vista firewall.

Anyway, thanks all, no doubt I will be back :O)

 

[Royston]

Have to agree with on this one LB, never ever could get Norton or Mcfee to run without having loads of problems, Not sure what the difference is between Avg that you have on board(Downloaded)and the version that I purchased from my local dealer.

I get daily downloads of the latest anti virus inputs and it has on two occasions sent two viruses to the vaults when i have been on what i considered safe sites, its due for a renawel later on this year.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I use the free AVG Royston. I set it to scan my computer daily at 8am and updates at 3pm. Two weeks ago it found a virus which I believe came from the Ashampoo site. Thankfully AVG healed it although it wasn't a nasty virus.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Well my new Dell laptop arrived today. All nicely packed but where is the instruction book? There isn't one.

Just a booklet 34 pages thick on health and safety while using it and a leaflet saying "setting up your computer".

1 Connect the AC adapter

2 Connect the modem.

3 Connect to the network.

4 Press the power button.

Thats it :O(

Nothing about the battery or charging it.

Do you have to connect to the mains with the battery in place and leave it connected until charged? How long does it take to fully charge from flat?

 

[WilliamTups]

Lord B,

Plug the mains lead and turn on the power, follow the on-screen step by step guide, the battery is fully charged when shipped, but use can use AC power whilst the battery is charging - Done this with 3 new Dell Laptops for work this week

The owners manual appears as a shortcut on the desktop once the basic installation is done

Regards, Bill

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Lord B,

Plug the mains lead and turn on the power, follow the on-screen step by step guide, the battery is fully charged when shipped, but use can use AC power whilst the battery is charging - Done this with 3 new Dell Laptops for work this week

The owners manual appears as a shortcut on the desktop once the basic installation is done

Regards, Bill

Thank you Bill :O)

 

[WilliamTups]

Sorry forgot to say charging time varies according to the battery size I find that the 6 cell battery (standard type shipped) takes about 2 hours to charge without the laptop on, about 2.5-3 hours to charge when flat, whilst the 9 cell battery takes 3 hours / 4 hours repetitively

Worth while picking up a spare Dell replacement battery off Ebay, which will cost you a fraction of the cost of going direct to Dell, if you can get a 9 cell battery these are good for about 5 hours of power - handy for out in the Caravan

Regards, Bill

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Sorry forgot to say charging time varies according to the battery size I find that the 6 cell battery (standard type shipped) takes about 2 hours to charge without the laptop on, about 2.5-3 hours to charge when flat, whilst the 9 cell battery takes 3 hours / 4 hours repetitively

Worth while picking up a spare Dell replacement battery off Ebay, which will cost you a fraction of the cost of going direct to Dell, if you can get a 9 cell battery these are good for about 5 hours of power - handy for out in the Caravan

Regards, Bill

Yes, it's a 9 cell, going to fire it up now, fingers crossed :O)

 

[WilliamTups]

Sorry forgot to say charging time varies according to the battery size I find that the 6 cell battery (standard type shipped) takes about 2 hours to charge without the laptop on, about 2.5-3 hours to charge when flat, whilst the 9 cell battery takes 3 hours / 4 hours repetitively

Worth while picking up a spare Dell replacement battery off Ebay, which will cost you a fraction of the cost of going direct to Dell, if you can get a 9 cell battery these are good for about 5 hours of power - handy for out in the Caravan

Regards, Bill

Bad day spelling - should be:

2.5-3 hours to charge when flat whilst using the laptop

& takes 3/4 hours respectively

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Well, it all went without incident Bill, I couldn't believe how straightforward it was.

It asked me if I wanted to connect to the internet, I clicked OK. Then asked how, wifi, modem or dial up. Clicked wifi then it asked for my homehub security key and that was that :O)

I've uninstalled the 30 day trial of MacAfee and loaded AVG. I nstalled all the windows and AVG updates and that was that. The rest was just personalising the settings :O)

One question ... when away in the van how do I connect or see if theres anyway I connect to the net?

 

[WilliamTups]

Well, it all went without incident Bill, I couldn't believe how straightforward it was.

It asked me if I wanted to connect to the internet, I clicked OK. Then asked how, wifi, modem or dial up. Clicked wifi then it asked for my homehub security key and that was that :O)

I've uninstalled the 30 day trial of MacAfee and loaded AVG. I nstalled all the windows and AVG updates and that was that. The rest was just personalising the settings :O)

One question ... when away in the van how do I connect or see if theres anyway I connect to the net?

Lord B,

Glad things went well for you, worst things about a new PC is the tons of Windows updates to download.

The wifi card is always active (unless you turn if off by mistake - to turn off or on the wireless card hold down the Blue Fn key and at the same time press the F2 key - should have a blue Radio mast symbol) so when ever you power up the laptop it searches for wireless networks if you have networks saved (like at home) it should automatically connect to that network. Otherwise a small box window will appear about the wireless icon (bottom right hand corner) with one of two messages

(a) Wireless Networks found click here for more info

(b) No Wireless Network found"

With Opt (a) click the box look at the list of networks available and select the once you with to connect to Cloud, Openzone etc - this tool with also advise you of the network or either secured or unsecured, secured you will need the password.

Hope this helps and makes sense.

Regards, Bill

 

[JasonR_374341560]

At bottom right of screen you will have connection Icon with two TV screens LB. Click on them and it will show signal strentgth and networks available to you, if networks in range it will show the names and if access is open or blocked.

Apart from FON and Openzone "hotspot" lists/finders this resorurce is quite good - http://www.jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm

and the XP finder should work with your Vista with no problems.

These gadgets can be useful as well, first one I found on search was - http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=47098&TabID=1&C=SO&U=strat15&doy=search