How to use laptop in caravan

[GeorgeandAde]

Hi.Im afraid my knowledge of computers is a little bit limited but i would like to be able to take my laptop away with us for a little web browsing and maybe send the odd email etc..

The problem i have is that i dont think my laptop is "WI-FI" enabled?

Its a Toshiba Satellite model about 5 years old.

Ive seen other posts on here explaining the use of a "Dongle" but i think i may need something else as well to be able to connect to internet?

Not sure if this is right but maybe someone could help please?

 

[James_374408700]

Adrian,

I bought a Satellite last year and use a dongle .

Just plug in to the usb port and away we go. Subject to signal of course.

Jim

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Hi James.Thanks for reply.

Ive looked in my manual and i cant find anything about being able to access the internet apart from plugging it into a cable(obviously supplied by Telewest,virgin,BT etc..)

Its about 5 years old but a good laptop so dont want to buy a new one which will already be able to use the dongle.

im sure i need some sort of "enabling card" to insert into laptop first but not sure which sort.

thank you anyway.

 

[RayS]

Hello Adrian, I don't think you will need an extra card, just an adaptor or dongle. Several makes available eg Netgear and Belkin. These plug in to a USB port on your computer - which I'm pretty sure your machine will have. The adaptor comes with a CD which contains the necessary software - you load this into the computer using the CD drive. It's all prtetty straight forward.

You will, of course, need to use a caravan site which offers wi-fi "connection" or use the free ones at some coffee outlets and the like. You may well have to pay quite a lot for those at the sites.

The other problem is that reception of the signal inside the caravan can be a bit of a problem as it is a big metal box, and even worse when the blinds are down as these are metalised. Once you have loaded the software you should see a small symbol of a laptop along the bottom line somewhere. If you have a good signal, the "screen" of this laptop will show green, if poor signal, yellow; if no signal, red. Get the computer up and running with this symbol and then move the computer about inside and outside the caravan until you get green or yellow.

You can sometimes help matters by buying a USB extension cable - female to male - put the adaptor in the female end and the male in the laptop. Then you can get the adaptor outside the caravan, e.g. on the roof (although it is not watherproof and should be protected e.g. with a plastic bottle with the end sawn off, or even well wrapped in klingfilm.

Purists will tell you that the maximum cable you should use is about 1.5m but I have used a 3m. cable with good results.

Finally, there will probably be other users on any site you go on who will help for the asking.

 

[James_374408700]

Ray,

Why do you have to be on a Wi Fi enabled site?

I have to turn off my wifi switch when I use my O2 dongle.

Me definately no expert but it works although slowly!

Never thought of poking the extension lead out the window though. Thanks for that.

Jim

 

[RayS]

Sorry James, my poor wording. Dongle once was used for the wi-fi adaptors as I use but now seems to be used mainly for those which - effectively - include a mobile phone. These should work anywhere there is a mobile phone signal for the appropriate network.

The outside protection popular in Spain seems to be a 2 litre empty pop bottle, take the top off and pour in a few inches of gravel. Put the top back on. make a slit - carefully - in one side and poke in the adaptor on the end of the USB cable, tape up the bottle to seal the slot. Stand on roof and run cable through rooflight or side window. prepare to anser silly questions as to why you have a coke bottle on the roof !

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Thank you Ray.I will purchase one of those dongles and give it a go.

 

[Mikey1]

How do you connect your laptop to the internet at home?cable or wireless?

 

[GeorgeandAde]

I connect with a cable from Virgin Media where we also have our basic package TV and telephone line.

As far as i can see,the only other methods of wireless communication i have on this laptop is by infra red or bluetooth.

 

[Ianofwilts]

Jim,

I'm sat here on my laptop, it also is a few years old and I am using a "dongle". I have opted for mobile broadband as I'm always out and about.

I went with 3. The dongle holds all the soft ware and loads automatically. Its then just a case of plugging in the dongle and hitting the icon on the desk top whenever you want to log on. The signal varies from place to place and therefore the speed is affected. I find it plenty good enough for emails and the like but guess would be no good for on line gaming etc.

Another feature, may be same for all dongles, this one holds a micro sd card as well

Ian

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Just had an email from a friend whos pc knowledge is also a little limited but he tells me that the laptop should have an internal wi-fi card fitted or it wont work.

i dont think mine has this so looks like i will have to get one before i start thinking about getting the dongle

 

[KeithJ]

Adrian

We seem to be confusing dongles and wi-fi cards.

A dongle is a device (looks like a flash drive / memory stick) that plugs into a USB port (socket) and enables connection to a mobile phone network. I have never used one of these because they are only for use in the UK (would be expensive to use abroad) and I do most of my caravanning abroad, but they should work anywhere there is mobile phone network coverage, and you pay the phone company for service.

A wi-fi card enables connection to a wi-fi network or router. Wi-fi routers are provided on most of the up market camp sites abroad which charge a small fee for the service, or many of them are free. In the UK the service exists on some camp sites, but is generally at a prohibitive cost and use of a dongle for a mobile service might be better. There are other places where you can receive a wi-fi signal - MacDonalds restaurants and many others, some of which provide the service for free.

You do not need a dongle to use a wi-fi service, they are two different things. So really you need to decide which method would be best for you, depending on where you do your caravanning.

Hope this makes sense

Keith

 

[KeithJ]

forgot to say - if you take your laptop in to a computer shop they will tell you straight away whether you have a card fitted.

 

[ANN_374233635]

Hi Adrian

we use a Vodafone Pay-as-You-Go dongle; costs

 

[KeithJ]

Adrian

Ann's comments about mobile network dongles are valid for the UK - I only take issue with the comment that "its much cheaper than buying "airtime" from the site's wi-fi system". Sites in the UK do charge excessive prices but if you travel throughout Europe (except France, which can sometimes be expensive)they are generally cheap or free and enable you to keep in touch at low cost as well as surfing the net.

Keith

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I think i maybe confusing wi-fi cards and dongles.

Im going to get a dongle(I think the type that Ann suggested would be fine for me).

Thanks again.