A wireless router lets everyone in your home share your broadband service.
Accessing broadband in Minnesota is easy with the right service or equipment. Several companies provide in-home broadband service using digital cable, satellite and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) connections. Digital cable connections run through the same cable lines that transmit television programming, while DSL service runs through telephone lines. Satellite connections transmit from a microwave dish outside your home to an orbiting satellite. Outside your home, you can access broadband at Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) hotspots using a laptop or on a computer at a local library or computer cafe.
Instructions
At-Home Service
1. Purchase a digital cable connection. Two major providers cover most of Minnesota: Comcast Cable and SCI Broadband. You will also find smaller companies that provide digital cable to limited regions. Hiawatha Broadband Communications provides cable Internet access to eight cities, Lewiston, Minneiska, Rollingstone, St. Charles, Stockton, Utica, Wabasha and Winona. Contact a provider and submit your address to determine if services are available in your location.
2. Purchase a DSL connection. Major providers covering most of Minnesota include Century Link, Qwest and Frontier Communications. As with digital cable, smaller companies provide service to limited regions throughout Minnesota. Contact a provider and submit your address to determine if services are available in your location.
3. Purchase satellite service. Satellite service is an option, possibly the only option, if other services are not available in your location. Major satellite providers in Minnesota include Wild Blue and Hughesnet. Contact a provider and submit your address to determine if services are available in your location.
Broadband Outside the Home
4. Upgrade your equipment. If you have a laptop or other personal computer, you can access broadband Internet at Wi-Fi hotspots with a wireless card. If your equipment does not have wireless card or the card does not support Wireless-N, you can purchase an adapter. An adapter uses an open USB port on your computer, so there is no technical installation required. An adapter can sell for less than $70.
5. Choose an adapter. Purchase an adapter that uses Wireless-N or dual band. Newer Wi-Fi hotspots use Wireless-N because it is faster and covers a larger area; older hotspots use Wireless-G. A dual band adapter will allow you to access both hotspots.
6. Find free hotspots. Use WiFi.com, Wi-Fi-Freespot.com or a similar site to find free Wi-Fi hotspots in your area.
7. Purchase time with a Wi-Fi provider. Not all Wi-Fi hotspots are free. Some providers offer access to their hotspot for an hourly or daily fee. You will receive a notification when you connect to the hotspot and begin browsing if the location requires a fee. If it does, use a credit or debit check card to purchase access time.
Tags: Wi-Fi hotspots, available your, available your location, digital cable, services available, services available your, your location
