I got a wireless card the other day, it loaded on my win98 but no matter where i drove i can't get online. i know i'm doing something wrong but no one can tell me @ work--not even the lan techs ( jerk offs that just reimage machines and bring back moved folders in office suites ) thanks for listening

= Carmine =

What besides just "driving around" have you done to get online? At a minimum, you will need to locate and connect to an access point. The access point will either need to be open, or one that you have credentials for.

Also, why didn't you post this in the networking forum?

Isn't this the 'miscellaneous' forum??

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

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I guess it is now ;)

Ah! somewhere to direct all the STANDALONE DOS FORUM mis postings at last!!!

As good a place as any... (looks around)... seems like plenty of room

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

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ohhh so you have to have access to access other wireless networks. I thought you can just turn on a laptop and if a signal is availabe you can get online. sorry to bother anyone. I won't post here again...

Wait...don't leave yet....this may be your problem:

Having the Win98 OS is the biggest issue.

The problem is that Win98 does not have a feature which will show "all available wireless networks"

See....to connect to a hotspot, you have to know its name....or SSID. In WinXP (home or pro) you can just double click on the little network icon in the systray and it will show all of the available SSIDs. You then just click on the one you want, and that's it.

If the SSID you select is not encrypted...or otherwise password protected....which many are not, you've got general Internet access.

Unfortunately....in Win98, you have to know the SSID of the WiFi hotspot and enter it into your Wireless Adapter setup. And...also unfortunately....in most of the places that advertise "free WiFi access" like hotels, etc, the employees have no idea what you are talking about when you ask...hey...what's the SSID of your wifi? Rarely, if ever, will it be published in an info card...nothing.

So...to make a long explanation longer....either get a notebook with XP...upgrade yours...if it can handle it...or, if you are in a hotel, etc... that advertises free wifi...try to ask someone else with an XP notebook to give you the SSID...then you can enter that into your settings.

Depending upon the software provided you can see the SSID of the hot spots within range. under Win98. Both Linksys and Netgear provided the configuration utility for my wireless cards.

Kev100 thank you so much for the assistance and kind words. I'm going to use my 98 rig for email and jpeg viewing. I just orderd an XP pro notebook $750 with bells and all.

thanks again

= Carmine =

I have the same problem - I have Win 98 - I can't access the internet at free locations. Above someone wrote:
"...try to ask someone else with an XP notebook to give you the SSID...then you can enter that into your settings."
Everyone but me has xp at my local Cybernet cafe - they would gladly give the settings, but no one I have talked to knows where to find them. Where, exactly, are the SSID settings located in Win XP?