Wireless Internet Access

[Q-Source]

First, I don´t know much about computers, so sorry if my question shows great ignorance.
Ok. I travel quite often between America and Europe, I need to get access to internet and my laptop does not contain the card (?) that allows someone to use wireless internet. My question is, if I buy this card in America, will this card be useful in Europe?
I ask this question because Tvs, radios and mobiles bought in the UK cannot be used in America, they are not compatible. Does it happen the same with wireless internet cards?

P.S. The US =/= America

 

[snooziums]

To the best of my knowledge, yes.

Television signals have different scanning rates in North America and Europe/Asia. It is NTSC and PAL.

However, this does not apply to wireless cards. There are different standards of speed, but they will still communicate (just using speed of the slower end).

P.S. With HDTV, those international problems with video may go away.

 

[DoubtingStephen]

Yes, the same wi-fi standards are used in Europe and the US. I've used my American notebook in several European countries.

 

[stormer]

Actually, there are slightly different channels specified for WiFi in different countries.

USA and Canada - 11 channels
Europe - 13 channels
JApan - 14 channels

The rest of the world usually defaults to 11 channels (my notebook made in Taiwan and destined for Asia has 11 channels)

The channels are exactly the same for every part of the world, just that some parts of the world have more of them.

In reality though, you should not have any problem connecting anywhere in the world since your notebook has 13 channels (Well, except for the Access Points using channel 14 in Japan, 1 to 13 will be no problem)

 

[kevin]

Just to be clear - you are NOT talking about cellular phone based technologies such as EV-DO, correct?

If the card you're looking at purchasing is marked 802.11z where z is one or more of several letters (a,b,g,n) then what everyone said is true. Just be sure to get one that does g (ones marked g will also work with 802.11b equipment). If it does g and a that's good. I would avoid N (or Pre-N).

If you're looking at something that works anywhere a cell phone does then that is something different. Not sure if those work in europe or not. I don't think they do.

 

[Q-Source]

Thanks a lot for the information. Now I can buy that card and it won´t be a waste of money. I´ll consider Kevin´s recommendation.

 

[BPSCG]

Thanks a lot for the information. Now I can buy that card and it won´t be a waste of money. I´ll consider Kevin´s recommendation.

Now, where are you going to plug your machine in when you get to Europe?

 

[Globert]

Now, where are you going to plug your machine in when you get to Europe?

Most Laptops take 220v inputs, all thats needed is a plug adapter.

Be sure to read the brick, it should accept 120v~220v @60hz or so.

My laptop paid for itself when we went to Ireland in 2003. 15 days w/no tv and rugrats ranging from 18mo to 13yrs.