# network diffrences in Europe

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 24, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785 "2009-01-24T14:58:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Thinktank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Thinktank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thinktank)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785/1 "2009-01-24T14:58:24Z")

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HI I was just wondering if I had broadband here and I took my laptop to europe (especially Poland) will the hardware in my machine be adequate to use broadband over there too or do they have a different standard?

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785/2 "2009-01-24T16:10:02Z")

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You mean wireless? I believe the same standards are used world-wide.

And same thing if you are using ethernet.

And there are several DSl standards but, same thing. You’d be getting your DSL modem locally?

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**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785/3 "2009-01-24T17:05:40Z")

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My wife’s Toshiba laptop was bought in the USA and works just fine on wired and wireless ethernet here in the UK. I imagine the same would be true if we took it to Poland.

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**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785/4 "2009-01-24T17:17:15Z")

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> [@Thinktank](#):
>
> HI I was just wondering if I had broadband here and I took my laptop to europe (especially Poland) will the hardware in my machine be adequate to use broadband over there too or do they have a different standard?

You’ll be fine with any network access. I’d check that you have a power adaptor/plug to charge your laptop up with though.

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**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785/5 "2009-01-24T18:15:46Z")

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You’ll be fine. I’ve used my laptop’s wireless in the UK, US, France, and Poland and there’s not been any problem whatsoever, (and I know that US-bought laptops will work with the wireless in Poland too). You will need a US -\> Europe adapter though for the power brick.

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**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\
**Post date:** [January 24, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/network-diffrences-in-europe/482785/6 "2009-01-24T21:39:08Z")

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A North American wireless network adapter may not be able to receive wireless signals on channels 12 or 13. So if the access point in Poland is set to use one of those channels, you might be out of luck.