[douga]

Well, only 4 more days before we leave snowy north for a three month stay in the Villages for the first time. We have been able to keep in touch with our kids and grandkids via web cam at home and will have a web cam in my laptop when in the Villages. I was planning on getting internet with villages.net but understand that they only have dial up. I understand that I might be able to get high speed with comcast but won't have a router or modem with me so that may not be a solution but if someone has done it I would love to hear from you. I have been told that with dial up I probably won't be able to talk and view because the bandwidth isn't enough. Don't know if that is true but it sounds reasonable. Is there anywhere in the villages that i can get high speed wireless. I know that in some libraries it is possible but I would not be able to talk to them while in the library. Hoping that someone can tell me where I might be able to use the webcam with my laptop if I can find a 'hotspot.' Any help would be appreciated. Know I probably should post this on the computer forum but thought I might get more response here.
thanks
doug

[The Great Fumar]

Everything you said was accurate ........However why don't you just go the an Electronics store and buy a modem and wireless router and then your in business .........
I have both because sometimes I like to take my laptop out onto the lanai and play from there............
If you gonna use a webcam then I recommend hi speed by all means....

all seeing and all knowing fumar

[douga]

My problem is that I am renting and don't know what getting high speed entails. I have a modem in my laptop but guess it is for the phone line and dial-up.

[villages07]

douga,

There are wireless hot spots in the larger regional recreation centers (Lake Miona, Laurel Manor, Hacienda, etc) and a few locations around the squares. You might also be able to sniff a signal in the area where you are renting. Also, as you meet and get to know neighbors and others, they, too might be willing to let you use their signal. If you have a fairly new laptop (less than 4 yrs old) it should have wireless capability built into it...you just need to find a signal. You should not have to buy any new hardware.

[midstatepc]

I had a service call not too long ago where the couple couldn't get on the internet, It turns out they were renting a home and it came with DSL. If you are renting, I'd ask the management company if they can supply dsl for the duration of your stay. Otherwise, call the phone company and see if they have something available. I don't think it unreasonable to have an extended stay plan.

[Eve2278]

We were using the Lake Miona Rec Center.You logon with your ID etc..My husband actually worked out of the center a few days. I bought a modem and had Comcast use that instead of renting theirs. You can pick one up from Best Buy. I have wireless also and what I did before I moved to the Villages was go to my local Best Buy and have them set it up in the store for 50.00 then all I had to do when I got to The Villages was attach it to my modem. Very easy and no problems. I didn't even realize you could do that without having your computer with you. Anyway the reason for this was when I checked with the new best Buy on 441 they no longer do it in store, they have to come out to your house! Why, I don't know. Also the guys in my Va store seemed to answer all my questions than those guys.
I'm having no problems except Comcast didn't put the outside wires back in the box and they have yet to come back and finish the job. Its been three weeks..but the Internet works great.