Internet Help

Cherokeekid88

Cherokeekid88

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2007
Location
High Point, NC
The girl and I are moving into our first apartment Oct 6th and we have almost everything ready to go. The one thing I am trying to figure out in our internet situation. Right now, we both have unlimited Data on our phones but for the most part use wifi...although this is nice to have, we want to be able to have internet through our PC...the complex we will be living at offers free Wifi, but told us that some people can't pick it up depending how far away you live from the clubhouse. We should be ok, but I know that I can turn my phone into a mobile hotspot, but really don't want to have to do that for hours on end if I need to be online for something. I am a newn when it comes to wifi. Can I just buy a Wifi adapter for my computer and be able to pick up that wifi signal given off by the clubhouse to essentially get free internet? I don't want to seem like I am trying to dupe the system, just would be nice not to have to pay for internet of 2 phones and for the pc.
 
I am no IT genius, in fact I'm pretty much IT illiterate but I have some limited experience. Since you said you have a PC I assume you have a desktop and not a laptop. If your desktop doesn't have a wireless card you should be able to pick one up (Best Buy, Office Depot, etc) and plug it in. They're all plug and play. If the complex offers free wifi then you're not duping the system. They may have a security code that you need to enter when you access their wifi system, but they should provide that code to you. Pretty simple really. Hell if I can do it (and I have) then anyone can.
 
Free WiFi is usually worth exactly what you paid for it. Especially at something like an apartment complex. Think of WiFi as a large soda cup and everyone drinking from their own straw. Those with shorter straws (closer to the source) will get more quicker, and those farther away will get less. The more straws in the cup, the less that gets to anyone.

Phone based internet has come along way, but it's still no where near the real deal.

I'd look at Time Warner if it's available there to see what kind of deals they are running. That way, you provide your own WiFi signal that you can control who gets access to. Much faster and much more reliable (not to mention secure). Probably looking at $30 or so a month.
 
You can also get a "wifi repeater" box that picks up the signal from teh clubhouse and "boosts" it. Then tap that for your phones and PC. These aren't too expensive - plus it could make you friends with the neighbors ;-)
But - as mentioned before you still may be bottlenecked if there are a lot of folks using it at one time, and especially if you let your neighbors connect through your repeater.
Personally I'd move in and try, see what it is like before worrying too much about an anternative, if it works, then you get off free or cheap... if not, well then get your own service. Tapping into your phone all teh time won't really be an option unless you have an unlimited data plan, which is getting pricy and rare these days.
 
I was more worried about the legality side of it. I know it can be done, but I didn't know about having a PC with a wifi adapter picking up a signal like that. The clubhouse is about 50 yards from our place, so I am hoping I will be able to pick it up well.
 
RatLabGuy said:
You can also get a "wifi repeater" box that picks up the signal from teh clubhouse and "boosts" it. Then tap that for your phones and PC. These aren't too expensive - plus it could make you friends with the neighbors ;-)
But - as mentioned before you still may be bottlenecked if there are a lot of folks using it at one time, and especially if you let your neighbors connect through your repeater.
Personally I'd move in and try, see what it is like before worrying too much about an anternative, if it works, then you get off free or cheap... if not, well then get your own service. Tapping into your phone all teh time won't really be an option unless you have an unlimited data plan, which is getting pricy and rare these days.
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I have unlimited Data and like I said use my phone as a hotspot...but I have heard that sprint does not like for people to do this for long periods of time....I am just afraid by using my phone as a hotspot...sprint would catch on and hit me with some hefty fees. I might look into the wifi repeater method...I have no problem buying something one time and using it to get something free..I just don't want another bill right now.
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
I have unlimited Data and like I said use my phone as a hotspot...but I have heard that sprint does not like for people to do this for long periods of time....I am just afraid by using my phone as a hotspot...sprint would catch on and hit me with some hefty fees. I might look into the wifi repeater method...I have no problem buying something one time and using it to get something free..I just don't want another bill right now.
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Just borrow a neighbor's wifi... people do it all the time.. if they're too dumb to password protect it, it's fair game... OR pony up $35 for Road Runner and be done w/ it...
 
Cherokeekid88 said:
I was more worried about the legality side of it. I know it can be done, but I didn't know about having a PC with a wifi adapter picking up a signal like that. The clubhouse is about 50 yards from our place, so I am hoping I will be able to pick it up well.
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Cherokeekid88 said:
I have unlimited Data and like I said use my phone as a hotspot...but I have heard that sprint does not like for people to do this for long periods of time....I am just afraid by using my phone as a hotspot...sprint would catch on and hit me with some hefty fees. I might look into the wifi repeater method...I have no problem buying something one time and using it to get something free..I just don't want another bill right now.
Click to expand...

There is no legal problem here, the complex is providing it, you are offered to use it as their tennant. The device you use dosn't matter one bit.
50 yds is actually a pretty long distance for WiFi, it will depend heavily on what is physically between you (e.g. how many walls etc)... so it may be slow.

If you TRULY have an unlimited plan, then sprint can't do anything about how much you use (e.g. bill you), but you better check on that b/c most carriers have changed recently. You may be grandfathered in for now though - however I have heard that they will cut your access speed after you cross a bandwidth threashold.

And ^^ yep chance are good some idiot neighbor will have TWC access and their own wifi router, w/o locking it and you can tap into that. Of course then you ARE pushing the legal line... or, do what many folks do and strike a deal w/ neighbor, few beers/month in exchange for tapping in etc.
 
If you TRULY have an unlimited plan, then sprint can't do anything about how much you use (e.g. bill you), but you better check on that b/c most carriers have changed recently. You may be grandfathered in for now though - however I have heard that they will cut your access speed after you cross a bandwidth threashold.
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Truth...

Verizon is killing my speed lately.
 
Here's the deal with WiFi; if you are about 50 yards away from the clubhouse the signal is going to be pretty crappy. Unless there is a direct line of sight to it. The reason for this is all the buildings that are in your way are going to block some of the signal that is sent out. The more buildings and other obstructions that are there the more signal you are losing. Plus the further you are away from the router the longer it takes for the signal to get there and back basically making the connection slower.

Now if you have a router at one end of your house and you have a laptop that you are trying to connect to it at the other end of the house you will get a signal but it will usually be pretty low due to the fact that the signal has to go through walls, appliances, and other electronics that are great for blocking wireless signals. The best option for you if want to use wireless in your house is get your own internet service provider ( ISP ) and get your own wireless router. Putting a wireless router in your house is pretty simple thing to do.

With your own internet and router your speeds are going to be so much better at any time during the day mainly because like ManglerYJ said if the WiFi is free then there is going to be a lot of people on it and during peak times the net is going crawl along due to bottle-necking. I explain it to customers I deal with like this; think of a busy 8 lane highway 4 lanes going each way. This 8 lane highway feeds into a 2 lane highway 1 lane going each way. At busy times ( peak times ) it's going to take forever to get anywhere but during non busy times ( off peak hours ) it's normally not a problem getting from one place to another. This is what happens when you "piggy back" on free internet. Not to mention the distance you are from the router to which makes the connection and speed worse.
 
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