Technical Issue with New Gateway Laptop

[TheNiteSiren]

Any help with this issue would be appreciated. I am having trouble connecting to wifi outside my own home. When I do it usually says 'Limited' and I cannot do a thing. This is a hindrance because I run a side business where I sell cosmetics. If any one has any ideas how to fix the problem could you please PM me instead of reply. Thank you so much.

 

[NightL]

saw this advertised recently - have no idea how effective it may be
Amped Wireless High Power 600mW Compact Wi-Fi Range Extender
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BWLL9N8/sofa-20/ref=nosim

review
http://lifehacker.com/rec10-wireless-range-extender-fixes-your-crappy-wi-fi-s-481093435

 

[NightL]

Oh here we go again.

and not even an apple endorsement from you hehe
mind you they are fairly fragile - hint of a boobie and they just crumple

 

[silverwhisper]

i don't PM people i don't know. ever. by contrast, i'm sure that 123josh has already PMed you a few times with tedious leg humping messages.

your laptop can only connect to wi-fi networks where they exist. your home wi-fi network is good in most parts of your home but as you've learned, once you're no longer around it, there's nothing for it to connect to.

if you're going to people's homes, you don't want to rely upon using their internet service. so for reliable, rock-steady internet connectivity, you'll need to shell out for a wireless ISP account. this is different from your satellite/cable ISP service, which requires a fixed, physical connection: with a wireless ISP, it's all wireless as the name implies. on the plus side, it's a business expense.

ed

 

[NightL]

outside my own home

is that sitting in your backyard or or actually away from your home?

If it is away then silverwhisper is spot on

- if you are talking of just sitting on your porch, either look at the product I mentioned earlier or see if you can get a more powerful modem - may even be cheaper than the product I mentioned earlier.

 

[TheNiteSiren]

i don't PM people i don't know. ever. by contrast, i'm sure that 123josh has already PMed you a few times with tedious leg humping messages.

your laptop can only connect to wi-fi networks where they exist. your home wi-fi network is good in most parts of your home but as you've learned, once you're no longer around it, there's nothing for it to connect to.

if you're going to people's homes, you don't want to rely upon using their internet service. so for reliable, rock-steady internet connectivity, you'll need to shell out for a wireless ISP account. this is different from your satellite/cable ISP service, which requires a fixed, physical connection: with a wireless ISP, it's all wireless as the name implies. on the plus side, it's a business expense.

ed

Thanks. I will look into that. *pecks ur cheek*

 

[silverwhisper]

you're welcome!

ed

 

[Emerson40]

Any help with this issue would be appreciated. I am having trouble connecting to wifi outside my own home. When I do it usually says 'Limited' and I cannot do a thing. This is a hindrance because I run a side business where I sell cosmetics. If any one has any ideas how to fix the problem could you please PM me instead of reply. Thank you so much.

http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/home

http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/contactus


Good luck.

 

[NightL]

if you have internet on your mobile phone - you can use that as a modem for your laptop.

this is info for a iPhone - to use with a mac or PC laptop
http://science.opposingviews.com/tether-laptop-iphone-8848.html

You don't even need to plug the phone into the laptop - the phone connects to the internet - the mobile connects via wireless to laptop.

 

[TheNiteSiren]

Thank you all for the help. I am sure this will get the problem solved.

 

[njlauren]

Wifi is a local thing, and outside your home finding an open wi fi connection is kind of like finding a needle in a haystack.

There are some options for you to think about:

1)You can get a 4G "brick", that uses the 4G data network on your cell carrier and you can connect your laptop to it via the wi fi. It usually costs about 20 bucks a month for 4gig of data.
2)You can get a USB based 4G dongle, that plugs into your USB port on your laptop and allows using the 4G network, similar to what you use with the brick. Again, it costs about 20/month, plus whatever they charge with the gizmo.
3)If you have a smartphone with data access (i.e has a web browser) with 3g or 4g connectivity, you can use that as a 'wifi hotspot', similar to what you would do with the items in 1 or 2, except it is your phone. Laptop connects via wi fi to the phone, it looks like a wi fi connection, but you are using the 4G on the phone to get to the internet. It will be about 20 bucks a month extra to do this as well.
4)If you want to be cheap, there is a program called easy tether that allow you to connect via the USB port on the laptop to the USB on the phone (or the Iphone data connector if an Iphone). I don't know how well it works on the iphone, to be honest, because Apple has put stuff in to stop people from doing that, I know it works on Android phones. The downside is the laptop is physically connected to the phone to do this, which can be a pain, and the program will cost you (I think it was 20 bucks if I remember correctly). The advantage is you install the software on the laptop and the phone, and it should work. Nice part is you don't have to pay the 20 bucks a month for the wi fi hotspot on the phone or gizmo as in 1,2,3 above.

One note, with data service over the cell phone network, no matter what you do, they limit you to 4 gig of data a month, after that they sock you with pretty heavy overcharges (Sprint is still unlimited, Tmobil claims it is unlimited but once you use more then 500 meg, they slow it way, way down, the 4 gig is Verizon and ATT). A HD movie can do that in an hour or so, so if you plan on streaming a lot of video and such, be careful (on the other hand, surfing the web, e-mail and such, generally doesn't use all that much).