Saturday, September 02, 2006

Wifie gets WiFi

Yay! We applied for Internet access from my desk in the bedroom. That was last November*. You know when you keep trying to get something sorted, and it just doesn't happen?

So today, Habibi went out and bought a small technical doodad that means we can have both laptops online at the same time. I'm still not sure what WiFi is (which will come as no surprise if you've read any other entries regarding me and IT) but I do know that it means we don't have to take turns for Internet access any more, which is both convenient and cosy. I might finish my blog entries before bedtime, too!

*To be fair, the guy at the Jebel Ali Etisalat office did say there might be a delay......

7 comments:

Keef said...

No, what happened was that first of all I could not network the two laptops ('cos I'm stupid?), so then I got a dial-up account for BetterArf. That didn't work either, even after a visit by Etisalat technicians.

Anyhoo, having got half of the components for a wifi network (a card I picked up in Spain plus my new laptop has it built-in) all that remained was to buy the gateway thingie. So I did that today and we now have the two lappies beaviering away on the interweb. It's very romantic.

Passionate Dilettante said...

Ah Hunny!

nzm said...

Networking 2 computers is a nightmare - there's a second tab on the setup screen within the Microsoft setup that you can easily overlook, and it's there that you have to tick all the settings for access. It took J many frustrating hours to do this!

But we have wireless at home, and now when we travel, we have a mini wireless router which goes with us. Much more convenient and hassle-free!

Passionate Dilettante said...

Do tell. Are wireless routers expensive, because I like this new convenient access lark. My laptop's doing amazingly well,considering the battering it's taken, but several bits are definitely wobbly, and when I can afford to upgrade - maybe Feb - I might as well go the whole hog. There might be Shopping Festival bargains to be had around then.

trailingspouse said...

Wireless routers are not expensive, I think we paid less than 300 Dhs for one a year ago (mini ones might be a bit more expensive, never knew they existed). They are absolutely the best thing since sliced bread as we are definitely an internet-junkie family. You should consider making your wireless network encrypted though, particularly if you do online banking, as anyone in the area can use your connection if you don't. There should be instructions with your router on how to do it and it's usually not that difficult.

nzm said...

As TS says, no, not expensive considering the lack of hassles and the freedom that it gives, and her advice to make them encrypted is also a very good idea.

The travelling ones are great - very small calculator-size and come with a carry pouch. They save us a lot of money when on the road, because in hotels where we have to pay for internet, we only have to pay once for the 2 of us to use the same connection, and we're not tied to a cable on the desk, giving us the freedom to sit/lie where we want and be online.

Passionate Dilettante said...

Thank you, Customer Support!