| As far as I'm concerned, wireless networks | | | | No More Wires. |
| would have to rank as one of the best | | | | |
| inventions in history. They really are the | | | | This, of course, is the biggest reason why |
| best thing since sliced bread. I mean, | | | | you should switch your network over to |
| really, bread is easy enough to cut yourself, | | | | wireless. Wires are inconvenient, expensive, |
| but have you ever tried to wire up a network? | | | | ugly and dangerous -- you'll be delighted to |
| Its a lot of hard yakka as many would say. | | | | see the back of them. |
| | | | |
| WiFi is the wireless way to handle | | | | The average Ethernet wire doesn't cost that |
| networking. It is also known as 802.11 | | | | much per metre, but once you've bought enough |
| networking and wireless networking. The big | | | | metres to do whatever you need to do, well, |
| advantage of WiFi is its simplicity. You can | | | | it tends to add up quickly. Not only that, |
| connect computers anywhere in your home or | | | | but if you want to run your wire between |
| office without the need for wires. The | | | | rooms or floors, you have to knock holes in |
| computers connect to the network using radio | | | | the walls -- which might not even be allowed |
| signals, and computers can be up to 100 feet | | | | if you're renting. I know plenty of people in |
| or so apart. So, in the spirit of spreading | | | | rented apartments who had to keep their |
| the word, I'm going to give you some great | | | | network confined to one room until they went |
| reasons why you need a wireless network. | | | | wireless. With wireless networking, well, you |
| | | | can even take your computer outside, if you |
| Sharing Internet Access. | | | | want to! |
| | | | |
| Wireless networking gives you a cheap and | | | | No more wires also means no more spaghetti |
| easy way to share one Internet connection | | | | all over the floor and in the corners. Not |
| between multiple computers, eliminating the | | | | only does this improve the safety of your |
| need for more than one modem. You can even | | | | home, as it's all too easy to trip over |
| add new computers to your network simply by | | | | exposed wires, but it also means that you |
| plugging in a wireless card and switching | | | | don't have to go to all the trouble of |
| them on -- they get an Internet connection | | | | packing all the wires up and re-connecting |
| straightaway! There aren't many wired | | | | them at the other end when you move. It also |
| networks that can say that. | | | | means that you don't have to examine every |
| | | | wire for damage if your Internet connection |
| Sharing Files and Printers. | | | | breaks down. |
| | | | |
| A wireless network gives you access to your | | | | Play LAN and Internet Games. |
| files wherever you are in your home, and | | | | |
| makes it easy to synchronise the data on a | | | | You might have seen an option in your |
| laptop with a home computer. It is much | | | | favourite game to play over a LAN. Well, |
| easier to send files between computers with a | | | | wireless networks are LANs, which means that |
| wireless network than it is to send them by | | | | your whole family can play that game together |
| email, or even by burning them to a CD. | | | | -- without needing the computers to be |
| | | | anywhere near each other. It's far more fun |
| Plus, with the printer connected, you can | | | | to play against real people you know than to |
| also write things wherever you want, press | | | | play against random people over the Internet, |
| print, and go and collect them from a printer | | | | not to mention that the game will work much |
| connected to another computer -- printers | | | | faster. You could even invite your friends to |
| that are plugged into one of the computers on | | | | bring their computers and join in -- a 'LAN |
| the network are shared between all the | | | | party'! |
| computers automatically. | | | | |
| | | | An added benefit is that wireless equipment |
| Always On Connection | | | | lets you easily connect any games consoles |
| | | | you or your kids might have to the Internet, |
| A big factor in the spread of broadband was | | | | and start playing online. It's far easier to |
| that it let Internet connections be | | | | play online with a wirelessly connected Xbox |
| always-on, without needing to dial in. Well, | | | | or PlayStation 2 than to have to connect it |
| wireless networking lets network connections | | | | to your modem every time. |
| be always-on, meaning that any of your | | | | |
| computers can connect to the Internet | | | | Convinced Yet? |
| whenever you want! You can take laptops from | | | | |
| room to room, and it doesn't matter -- | | | | If you're excited, then that's great -- keep |
| they'll always have access. Plus, there's not | | | | reading these articles for advice on how to |
| even any need to set up a username and | | | | set everything up. If you don't think it's |
| password system, as wireless networks work | | | | for you yet, well, don't give up on it -- I'm |
| without logging in. It's just so convenient! | | | | sure you'll come round when you realise just |
| | | | how easy and cheap wireless really is. |