I am a WiFi virgin I have never used it so can you guys answer some basic questions for me?

1. Is Wifi just free internet?
2. If I am using it on an iPhone, how does it connect?
3. Can you connect your iPhone to someones wireless internet at home or is this different to WiFi?
4. Stupid question - how does my phone know that Im connected to the net via Wifi and not through my Telco (so that I don't get charged for data usage)
5. How close to a hotspot do I need to be to use Wifi? Could I use standing on the street?

Sorry if these are stupid questions, I haven't got a clue about this?

1. WiFi = wireless internet. On Telstra, it would be free using their hotspots (access points, the wireless device that serves up the internet for you).

2. The iPhone has wireless connectivity. It connects wirelessly (like how your mobile phone connects to the cell towers, to pick up signals). We don't know how the authentication will work but most likely a sign-in system or some sort... it could also allow only iPhones (and iPod touches?) to connect to their network, details to follow.

3. Yes you can, assuming the network is open and/or you know the security settings (password, phrase, key). WiFi is the same thing.

4. The iPhone has two modes of operation. You can use it as a phone, in which case you'll be using 3G or GPRS traffic. If you turn on wireless, then you will be connected to (if available) the wireless access point/network. It can switch between these two modes.

5. Different access points/hotspots have different ranges. Think about your mobile phone, you can be hiding in your bathtub and it will (might/highly likely) that it will pick up a cell phone signal. This is the same principle. Move your radio around the house and it will pick up the radio signal.

If you are within range, you will receive the signal and you can use wireless/WiFi. If you go to the Apple Store in Sydney, you can use the wireless on the street (which is what people did before the opening). If the range is there (signal transmits within a certain distance), then it will work.

Hope that helps,

p.s. I notice you have a PowerBook/iMac, have you used AirPort before? AirPort is the same as WiFi. It is that "transmitting" icon in the top menu bar, the one that looks like some signals being transmitted.

Great answer, thanks for that

Yes I only use airport at home. I understand it all now. So can I connect my iphone to my home internet connection (Virgin Broadband) through the wireless connectivity? If so is this a way of ensuring I never have to pay for data usage with Telstra?

Yep, you'll just have to put in your network settings into the iPhone.

hey huy. whats that 38% in meun bar?

Great! I hope this is easy to do. Will anyone else be doing this to save money?

I think this will suit me, I won't be connecting to the internet that much when I am out and about so if I need to download anything onto the iPhone I will try and use wifi or wait til I get home and connect to the home net.

That's just my ISP quota monitoring tool (iiUsage, for iiNet).

Yes people have been doing this. It is very easy to connect to a wireless hotspot on the iPhone. Simply turn on the wireless, just like you'd enable AirPort. Then connect to the network. It is exactly the same as on an iMac or PowerBook.

Of course, anyone who has any inkling of what the iPhone can do will be. Its lucky the places I spend the most amount of time in are covered in Wi-Fi networks: home, Monash University, Chadstone.

So set it up and get cheaper, and probably faster internet access.

If you are using wireless at home, then you can't be using 3G/Telstra at the same time. It's one or the other. However do keep in mind that when wireless is enabled (on) you will be sucking battery life.

Another thing to note is that your iPhone could be playing tricks on you when the wireless is off. You have to ensure that GPRS (slower over the air traffic) is not being used if you're on the first generation iPhone. If you have a 3G iPhone, then you should make sure that the 3G traffic is not being transmitted in the background. An easy way to check is to launch a widget or Safari and try to surf the net - wireless OFF. If you get an error, then you are not sending any data via GPRS/3G networks.

Otherwise, you may be up for a big surprise when you get your bill/suddenly run out of credit, as iPhones that are configured to use mobile traffic can suck up your dollars for example Mail checking your inbox every 5 minutes or 15 minutes - keep an eye on your bills, is what I'm saying.

I've had a bad experience with Vodafone GPRS billing me for traffic that my iPhone was pulling without my knowledge. I put a stop to that.

This is why i love the iPhone.

I have an Airport at home. Father in law has wireless, as do my parents. my work as wireless, and there's now wireless in the Wing HQ of my Air Force Cadet Unit where I work part time, so i'm covered there. and given it's the building we use when we run camps/courses at point cook, again - covered.

I don't really go many other places, I drive everywhere, so I can't surf and drive at once, and when i do catch PT, ith's through the CBD, and Telstra prides themselves on having wireless connectivity for the whole melbourne CBD!!

Another question to add to the OP - are Telstra WiFi hotspots only available to BigPond/Telstra subscribers/cutomers? Or are they available to all who have a WiFi-enabled device?

Anyone can log on and use them, however you need to pay rather extreme charges for the privilege.

Anyone can use them, but what sort of access and how much it costs depends on your relationship with Telstra. I don't know the full details, but if you're a Bigpond customer, it's a lot cheaper, if you're on Telstra for your mobile it's cheaper again. Everyone else gets stiffed a higher price. You can also sign up with Telstra and just use their wi-fi service etc.

Hook up to a Telstra Wi-Fi hotspot and try go to Google - you'll get a page telling you "hey, cough up!" which explains it all

Otherwise known as a captive portal, which will show details on what you need to pay to obtain access etc..

I learned something today
Didn't know pages like that had a name - I was going to call it a splash page, hah