pretty much. We got broadband at the end of June. It was a bigger hassle than expected and somehow we ended up having no access for a couple weeks thanks to a computer issue that showed up right after our connection, but thankfully that’s over. I haven’t really finished all I was hoping for with this goal (like setting up my computer). So I reserve the right to write more on it later. But for now I’m calling this one done to make room for other goals. 3 years ago

I need to hustle on this one. Don’t know when I’m going to find the time, but I’d better do it. I want this in place before our dial-up goes away at the end of the month.

I guess I had better figure out a bare bones, down and dirty plan of action. 4 years ago

I need to get this done before the end of June when we completely lose our dial-up.

I work in IT but my forte is applications/software. I’m a little less knowledgeable on the hardware side but it’s time I learned this stuff anyway.

I’ve had a few conversations with coworkers and friends in the hardware side of IT about what we need to do to get this working. Today I waited for 30 minutes on hold with the cable company and lucked out that at the end of the wait there was a very knowledgeable person on the other end of the phone. So I think I know most of the pieces I need to put in place.

There is no way I’m paying $150 for someone to come to my house and set up wifi when I can do it myself. From what I’ve learned here are the steps for my project:

• Get all 3 computers we want on the wifi network on XP SP3 so we have the functionality of the current Windows firewall.
• Configure the Windows firewall.
• I’m not sure if the laptop even has XP. If not, I may have to research whether an older operating system (possibly Windows ME?) will even work for this. If it does I’m going to want to install and configure a third-party firewall.
• Install and test the wireless USB adaptor I bought.
• Buy at least one more wireless adaptor.
• Get the self install kit from Best Buy.
• Have a coworker help me pick out the best combination of cable modem and router (Not sure if I should get an 802.11n router or if 802.11g will be fine for our needs).
• Use the self install kit and get the modem connected and registered with cable company.
• Get the router installed and configured.
• Attach all the PCs.
• Get antivirus and anti-spyware software intalled and updated on all 3 machines.
• Bonus: Get the laptop ready for travel mode. My most geeky girlfriend (she’s a network admin) recommends setting up a separate Windows profile for use while traveling. One without admin rights to install anything. That way if any nefarious types try to get into my computer while I’m using an unknown connection they can’t get very far. I’d like to do this for the Hawaii trip. 4 years ago

We just have dial-up at home. I am fortunate I can use my company’s high-speed connection after hours. But it would really make things easier to have more speed at home. We haven’t done it before because of cost.

Now, however, CompuServe (our dial-up provider) is dropping their dial-up service by the end of June. That forces our hand. It would be silly to looking for other dial-up in this day and age.

Our phone company advertises their DSL loudly and all over all our bills. But for some reason they don’t have it available in my apartment building! That’s okay, I didn’t want to sign a contract anyway.

So it looks like it will be cable modem for us. I’m a little worried about how much this is going to cost. But I’d better get busy looking for deals. 4 years ago

don’t want to. Had this for a long time and love it. :) 5 years ago

this is driving me nuts. i have dedicated most of my work day to this. i admit i dont know what i am doing really, but i know i want broadband becuz i will be setting up a multi user household, and more bandwidth means less slow down, and crashing, and disconnecting. however at this moment in time i am having a hard time finding a provider in my area, let us say its atlanta georgia, but its a little further north actually, and kinda east. if anyone ANYONE out there knows of a small time provider that can provide me fast internet service for this very obviously black hole of an area, please PLEASE PLEASE PRETTY PLEASE let me know.

i never knew it would be so hard to request for strictly an internet service. i dont like the television, i dont use a land phone, but i have both options, with comcast as the cable provider, and bellsouth now at&t as my phone line people. i dont get it. if i want just one service they dont want to help me. but they will do back flips to give me a bundle deal. look i like to pick and choose. i am not going to pay $80 to receive a bunch of telemarketing calls, and the damn t.v. is the devil. besides the writers are on strike, there is nothing good to watch. can i just please have my internet and watch badly filmed youtube vids please? if the port is there, i have a gateway, let me out already?! 5 years ago

and the future is adelaide!

in adelaide for about 8 weeks and my apartment has it. I’m plugged in now – and it is super quick and good.

if only there was stuff i wanted to download! 6 years ago

I could not imagine life without broadband!! 6 years ago

Just got it!
The argument was always that I was never going to stay in an apartment for a year and that it was too expensive.

Finding free wireless hotspots works, but I am getting more done now.

Perhaps I getting less done, but I am doing it from home. This will certainly remove ten 3$ coffee drinks from my life. That’s just about what I am paying for DSL.

Next goal: Set up my network. 6 years ago

oh yeah, wireless is good. You can read my very first blog post from home here6 years ago

It’s so fast! But it was driving me mad over the first day – it kept turning itself on and off pretty much randomly. But it’s been working okay since – touch wood!

The first thing I did when I got broadband, naturally, was to use it as a tv – I saw the first episode of Lost, series three on the net, as they won’t show it over here for a while and when they do, it won’t be on a channel that I have. So good! It’s been so much better after series one – it’s as if the writers started it off on a lark, and after series one realised the potential of what they created. Or they’ve had new writers in. Have they had new writers in? Does anyone know?

Hopefully now that I have broadband, I’ll save time and end up spending less time on the computer too.

(Hilariously 43things, which has been playing up for days now, has decided to insert a picture of dolphins into this entry. I’m going to post it anyway :) )

(EDIT: The dolphins only appear in preview it seems :) ) 6 years ago

so much faster.
still.
there is faster out there,
waiting for me to get it 6 years ago

we bought a laptop the other night, now we just need an ISP6 years ago

for these reasons, I believe I do need the internet at home. 7 years ago

I am not subscribing to my 24/7 broadband connection in my apartment yet. I am sharing my wireless iBurst (www.iburst.com.au) connection I use for work whenever I am in the apartment. My Ilokano genes won this time. 7 years ago

maybe surfing 43things and crafty blogs at work in my lunch hour is enough – I wouldn’t get as much useful stuff done at home if I had it there. will rethink once HandyMan and I move in together. 7 years ago

It costs a lot, but it is worth it. 7 years ago

definitely!!! Free flow information and fast fast fast. 7 years ago

well, getting paid at end of feb so not too long 7 years ago

Looked at my choices whilst at work today, and I might go with Waitrose, even though it’s not the cheapest. I know their call centre is local, and good, and the speed and usage figures look better too. 7 years ago

I’m going to be specific with this now. I want to take action and get this in January :-) 7 years ago

I’ve had DSL since 1999. The price has pretty much stayed the same, but the bandwidth has increased for the same amount of money. I loves me some broadband. 7 years ago

For speed!

After broadband, you can’t go back to dial-up—the speed is amazing and you get hooked very quickly. 7 years ago

Verizon Online DSL at fifteen dollars a month rocks. :) 7 years ago

It was soooo worth it! Get it, it will change your surfing forever! 7 years ago

I have it ordered, dunno how long it’s gonna be before I get it though. Can’t wait! 7 years ago