Stupid wifi connection question

[rtcatfish]

I know this is probably a stupid question but, when you take a laptop to a place that has free wifi connection do you have to have your own internet provider or can you use just the explorer? All I have is dial up from aol at home but my laptop has wifi on it.

[Rick]

When you use a wifi host ( Hotel or cafe )
They [provide the connection and the ISP

In most cases you will need to turn on /enable the wifi on the laptop
Then let it search or tell it to search for wifi connections
Select/highlight the one you want to connect to

Then use the connect button on the bottom of the window

Once it connects and you open a browser it may ask for a login or display an access agreement
Just follow the prompts and input as needed the password or other info

Then surf away once the login is complete

One note
When you have it search or the wifi connection window opens
Select the strongest host signal

Remember in a busy hotspot there may be a large list of connections
Select the HOST not another users system