On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 11:09:56 -0700, George <
ggambill@emr.net> wrote:
> 1) Any suggestions of what steps might be needed to use this on a Win 2000
> system? Could it be as simple as showing up and turning on?
A little Googling shows that this is a pay service[1] through SBC.
It's called FreedomLink[2].
Basically, buy a wireless adapter and read the directions for
installation. If it says Win2K needs software installed, you should do
so. I've done a ton of wireless, but very little of it on Win2K so I
can't recall if it's as automatic as WinXP.
Either way, once it's properly installed, it should "find" wireless
networks automatically, pop up a message informing you of the new
network, and offer to let you connect to it. It's pretty easy.
> 2) Without the white paper how does one know if it is A, B or G etc. Or, do
> we care.
We care. 802.11A is not compatible with the other two. B is by far the
most common and G is, you could say, a newer version of B and is
backwards compatible with it. I prefer G these days because I know I
can connect to G or B networks with it. I just plain stay aware from
A. (Whew, did ya get all that?)
Let me break it down:
G: gets you G and B networks (G-to-G is faster)
B: gets you B networks only and is, by far, the most common
A: gets you A networks only and is very rarely used, but it's speed is
roughly equivalent to G
The SBC FreedomLink network uses all 802.11B right now[3].
> 3) While the laptop is W2K it is destined for Linux (probably ubuntu) when
> the 2K need (cust requirement) expires, Therefore I am looking for
> suggestions for a USB wireless device that will like W2k, like Linux and
> like Barns & Nobel.
I didn't do wireless Linux stuff on my laptop (yet). It still has
WinXP. So, I don't have advice for you yet. However, I've found the
Ubuntu forums[4] to be an incredibly useful resource. I've searched
there probably a hundred times in the last 2-3 weeks, finding answers
to questions!
> 4) Is there a risk of painting myself into a corner (lack of planning)
> whereby it will not work at... say a Stammtisch or East Side/West Side
> meetings?
Just don't get 802.11A and you'll be OK.
Also, it's not hard to find a device that's Windows-friendly, but can
be a challenge to find one that's Linux-friendly. Search the Ubuntu
forums to make sure you find stories of people having success with a
particular card before you get stuck with one that won't work in
Ubuntu (or, more importantly, Debian).
By the way, a client took me to dinner at Wildflower Bread Company[5]
Tuesday night. They have free wireless there and it was pretty decent
food. I believe they have it at all their stores, but it'd be a good
idea to call a particular location and confirm it before-hand. I can
confirm wireless at their McClintock and Guadalupe store.
[1]
https://secure3.sbc.com/
[2]
http://www.sbc.com/gen/general?pid=5949
[3]
https://secure1.sbc.com/support/faq.adp#whatequipmentdoineed
[4]
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/
[5]
http://www.wildflowerbread.com/
--
Ric Fischer
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