Heh, well couple of quick questions.

#1.  Do you know this person who owns the wireless network you've been connecting through? 

#2.  Do you have permission to use their access point?

If the answer to the first and second question are true, just ask the person.  If neither of the questions has an answer of 'yes'... then I would suggest you either purchase your own internet connection, or you head to the Starbucks. 

I've not personally tried wireless connections under Vista.  I wiped vista after less than a day of it being on my lappy.  If it's anything like XP or most other wireless connection gui's though, it will state if the target AP has encryption or not.  If it is encrypted, that's a 'don't tresspass' sign, so I would stay off the lawn or get shot.

i can help...

put laptop down

get off couch

walk out side

knock on neighbor's door with "linksys" WAP

ask politely to use his WAP because you cant afford your own

if he tells you to go pound sand, go check out my cracking wep post...

sweet!

Hehehe.... naughty.