Help! Need some computer/internet experts please! (laptop, DSL, modem)

[kitty3]

Hi! I am moving across country into an apartment (temporarily, until I find a house to buy). I currently have high-speed internet through AT & T (through a modem/through the phone line).
How do I get internet access when I move? I don't really want to hook up a new land-line phone account if I don't have to, since I only plan to be in the apartment a month or two. (I can use my cell phone for incoming and outgoing calls). But how will I access the internet with my laptop?
I am NOT computer/internet savvy (obviously ) and want to plan ahead, so that when I arrive in my new apartment, I can just plug in the laptop and connect. Any suggestions??

[Arcticthaw]

If you plan to have cable tv, you may get highspeed internet from them.

Your only other options is to check with you cell provider, maybe they have a celular modem you can get online with (note normally very expensive)

There is a small chance that if you move into an apartment someone near will have a wireless router hooked to their high speed interenet. If it is unsecured you may be able to piggy back in. If not and it is secured a little detective work and a knock or two on a door may lead you to a neighbor that for a small donation would allow you some acces for a month or two.

Last resort is try to find a hotspot, like at the library or university, some coffee shops etc.

Good luck.

[Radek]

yeah, talk to your Cell provider. You can get their aircards, that run off their cell networks. That might be your best bet, because I think that they have plans where you just pay for the amount of bandwidth you use.

Other than that, cable TV/internet, or leeching off some other unsavvy person.

Hotspots are always good.

[kitty3]

Well, I guess I don't really have a cell provider....it's just one of those cheap Virgin "pay as you go" cell phones. And I'm moving to a really small, rural town, very unlikely to have any Internet cafes or anything. Any suggestions??

[CuCullin]

Get a cell provider?

Seriously, there aren't any other options which will let you walk into the apartment for the first time and have service. Your options would be a cell provider that offers internet access (instant, but expensive, and may not be available in your area), cable (not instant, requires setup, probably a few days of wait), DSL (same issue), or satellite (same issue).

[Drover]

Here's something to think about if you're only going to be there a couple of months: When you get there, find out who in your immediate area has wi-fi and ask if you can sponge off of them for a couple of months for, say, $20 or $30 a month. Or maybe you'll be lucky enough to have a neighbor too dumb to encrypt his signal. My brother-in-law has been leaching off his neighbor for 2 years now.

[Radek]

Originally Posted by Drover

Here's something to think about if you're only going to be there a couple of months: When you get there, find out who in your immediate area has wi-fi and ask if you can sponge off of them for a couple of months for, say, $20 or $30 a month. Or maybe you'll be lucky enough to have a neighbor too dumb to encrypt his signal. My brother-in-law has been leaching off his neighbor for 2 years now.

Its fairly effective, and its not illegal to borrow someone's unprotected broadcasted service.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by Radek

Its fairly effective, and its not illegal to borrow someone's unprotected broadcasted service.

Sure is, someone in Florida actually got arrested for doing this about 3 years ago - theft of services, iirc.

USATODAY.com - Florida man charged with stealing Wi-Fi signal

[Drover]

Sort of. It depends on the jurisdiction, though I suspect that sooner or later federal law on wi-fi access will pre-empt state law because of FCC jurisdiction over wi-fi signals. In the meantime, the legal issues of accessing an open network are still far from settled. IMO it's stupid to make it illegal to access an open network, but judges have shown themselves to be exceptionally ignorant about tech issues. So it will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by Drover

Sort of. It depends on the jurisdiction, though I suspect that sooner or later federal law on wi-fi access will pre-empt state law because of FCC jurisdiction over wi-fi signals. In the meantime, the legal issues of accessing an open network are still far from settled. IMO it's stupid to make it illegal to access an open network, but judges have shown themselves to be exceptionally ignorant about tech issues. So it will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

Doesn't mean I'd want to risk it...

Personally, I leave my network open. Its kind of the "neighborly" thing to do imho, if someone uses comcast and their connection goes down, they can feel free to mooch. I don't use all of my connection so often that it'd be a problem. And there is always the ability to cut anyone off who decides to abuse it.

My neighbor, when I first moved in, told me which network was his, so I could feel free to connect until I got mine up and running for just that reason.