text: howe does it work? do laptop wireless cards pick up the signal for just highspeed or dsl internet??or does it pick up dial up too how does it work with dial up?? wireless cards pickup the signal from routers that send out a wireless signal. these routers have to be connected to a modem given to you by your internet service provider. therefore, only people who have highspeed connection to the internet can have wireless internet (but they have to buy a wireless router and wireless card to setup a wirless connection).