LAN internet connection abroad

[Timolgra]

If a hotel in west Africa said it had LAN internet connection, does that mean I could take my old laptop which has no WiFi and plug it into the 'phone socket, LAN socket' or whatever it is using the same lead that would normally connect a UK landline connection or does the UK BT type lead need an adapter or perhaps it's the same plug as the computer end??

 

[Pathologic]

Ethernet cable

If they are running a LAN you will need a straight thru ethernet cable. Same as you might use to connect to an office LAN.

You will need to check the net settings for your laptop. It will probably need to have DHCP capability. Even so it may not connect without a bit of knowledge of the hotel set up.

Drop them an email and ask for their TCP/IP (internet) settings. As if they can send you a screen shot of the the settings dialog box from a Windows PC on their network. If you duplicate that on your laptop and have the right cable it should work.

I hope your life doesn't depend on it working. Its quite likely not to work. You machine could also acquire a virus. So be careful.

regards,

Path.

 

[Timolgra]

Thanks for that Path, I'm off tomorrow morning so not much time to sort it as it was a last minute thought.
I don't even know what an office LAN is so perhaps I'll leave the computer at home

 

[judge]

LAN requires an Ethernet connection (RJ45)

Modem requires a phone connection (RJ11)

A picture tells a thousand words as they say...

So you'll need the cable as well as the laptop, cable available from any good (or crap) shop that sells pooters including those at airports.

I find many hotels offer LAN connections in the rooms but make a charge for it, most Western hotels have the cable already in situ and use what's called DHCP, that means when you plug the cable in the laptop connects to their network, gets an address to use and Robert is your Dad's brother.

Also you are no more susceptible to Virus there connecting via their LAN than you are anywhere in the world, that's why you have virus protection on your pooter isn't it

 

[Timolgra]

Ok Andy, that explains things. I do have the right cable somewhere amongst a birds nest of confused wires.

 

[unhinged]

LAN might not mean wired LAN either.

 

[Timolgra]

LAN might not mean wired LAN either.

K'inell just as I was becoming an IT expert

 

[judge]

LAN might not mean wired LAN either.

True enough but WiFi is the worldwide accepted term for Wireless so I'd expect the hotel to refer to wireless in the common form.

Sounds like the ability to keep in contact re the other trip might well make it worth it to take or have fun in the Internet 'cafes' on offer