Wireless Broadband Laptop Cards

Now you can enjoy broadband internet access from your laptop at home or away from home, without having to connect to a hot spot. All you need is a laptop card from Wirefly and a data plan from a major wireless carrier.

My laptop has WiFi. Do I need a laptop card?

With WiFi, you need to be within the limited range of a WiFi "hot spot" or access point. A laptop card and data plan from your wireless carrier let you access the Internet at high speeds from anywhere in the country where your carrier provides coverage – indoors, outdoors, or even on the road.

How much does this kind of connection cost per month?

Using your laptop card requires a data plan subscription with your wireless carrier. The most popular plans cost about the same as home high speed internet service – starting as low as $39.99/month depending upon the carrier. Many of our customers tell us they've "unplugged" their cable modem or DSL service to go completely wireless.

Can I share my card between multiple laptops?

Your data service will only work with your laptop card. You can easily move your laptop card from one computer to another, but it can only be plugged into one computer at a time. Multiple computers can access the internet through a single laptop card if the card is used to power a WiFi hot spot, provided that all PCs are in range of the hot spot.

Do laptop cards work on Macs as well as PCs?

Yes. The laptop cards sold by Wirefly work on both Macs and PCs. Just make sure to choose a card that's compatible with your laptop.

How do I know which laptop card to choose?

Laptop cards are distinguished by how they connect to your computer. Some connect via USB, but if your laptop has a card slot, we recommend choosing a slot-type card (either PCMCIA or Express), because these cards don't take up as much space sticking out of your computer.

Hmm. How do I know which kind I need?

Take a look at the side of your laptop. You should see a series of slots, like these:

You can also consult your laptop user manual to see which cards fit in your computer . Remember to consider whether you need these slots for any other peripherals. Consider that Express cards can potentially provide the best performance, but Express slots are only found on newer laptops. USB cards have the advantage of working universally with most laptop and desktop PCs.

What carrier has the best Laptop Card data coverage in my area?

All of the national wireless carriers give you nationwide coverage, though quality in specific locations can vary. A wireless carrier with good voice service in your area should have good data service as well, but be sure to consult the carrier's data coverage map, and remember that Wirefly offers a 100% money-back Satisfaction Guarantee.

How fast will my Laptop Card connection be?

The speed of your Laptop Card connection may vary, and will depend on the carrier you use. Typical connection speeds average between 600 Kbps and 1.4 Mbps, with peak speeds of 2.0 to 3.0 Mbps. For more information, consult the device specifications.

Do I need any special software to use my Laptop Card connection?

Most of the newer Laptop Cards are 'plug & play', meaning there's no need for any additional software installation - your computer will recognize the device upon insertion, and automatically load any necessary drivers. If, in rare cases, your Laptop Card is not 'plug & play,' the necessary software will be included in the packaging.