Home > Consumer Reviews > BT Home network PC 1200 wireless card

"HotSpots", or high-speed wireless broadband internet is the current hot new thing. You drop into a cafe, start up your wireless-enabled laptop, and get onto the net with no fuss.

Sounds great? Well now you can have it at your place! This item ONLY works with this: BT Home network 1200 Modem, Router and Hub. So go grab that one first (also available from the Electronics shop at Amazon.co.uk). You'll then need to buy any kind of lan adaptor (or Mac airport) that meets 802.11b specifications. But if you already have these, then just pop this card in the front of the BT 1200 Router, note the serial number from underneath, and start 'er up. After a few small config changes, you've just got yourself wireless broadband, baby!

The manufacturer claims it works up to 50m indoors and 250m outdoors. It easily does that - I've not been sad enough to walk up and down my street with my laptop to see where it cuts out, but you can be sure it'll be more than enough for your needs. And if you're feeling generous for other people in your house, anyone within 50 metres of your setup with a wireless-enabled PC or Mac desktop or laptop can get in on your broadband - but they'll need to get your serial number first, for your own security.

Oh, and despite the title of this product, it has nothing to do with "PC"s - it works just as well for Macs, too.