| Ok, so you've read all the cool stuff and heard all | | | | by thick walls, other power sources and the list |
| the great things about going wireless and then it | | | | goes on could reduce this number by as much as |
| just hit you. However, that works you don't know | | | | 90% - so just be aware of this.And without |
| or care but it hit you. That was it, the little voice | | | | enough range, your wireless network is no longer |
| in your head said, "do it" and that was that. | | | | wireless and therefore - worthless. It serves no |
| Unfortunately, that was awhile ago and since that | | | | purpose to go wireless if you have to keep your |
| "moment" you've done your part. You did some | | | | computer next to the wireless port in order for it |
| research into what was needed to upgrade your | | | | to work or if you have multiple computers to |
| computer but it's all just so darn confusing. You | | | | keep them all in the same room to get them to |
| keep thinking, why can't someone just give me a | | | | connect to each other.As a rule of thumb, unless |
| few basics so I feel more comfortable about this | | | | your walls are made of drywall or wood, it's best |
| whole "upgrading" process.If the above paragraph | | | | to buy about four times the strength you think |
| describes you and if you're the typical computer | | | | you'll need. Even in perfect conditions, get twice |
| user it probably does, then it's time to exhale, | | | | what you think you'll need - just to be |
| calm your nerves, grab a latte and settle in | | | | safe.SpeedTake another look at the description |
| because hopefully this article can shed a little | | | | and find where it says Mbps. Mbps is the speed of |
| understanding on at least one aspect of going | | | | the wireless connection - 11 Mbps is about one |
| wireless - the network card.Like most "typical" | | | | and a half megabytes per second. All 802.11b |
| computers users, you love your computer and | | | | wireless cards have a speed of 11Mbps, while |
| you've pretty good at surfing the net, using email | | | | 802.11g cards run at 54Mbps or nearly 5 times |
| and you've probably even gotten fairly proficient | | | | faster. And of course, the next generation will be |
| at using your favorite word processing program | | | | even faster.Clearly, speed is important to your |
| but when it comes to some of the more technical | | | | wireless network because it's going to directly |
| aspects of your computer or computing in | | | | influence how long you have to wait to connect, |
| general, you are probably about as close to a | | | | how fast pages upload, file transfer rates, and |
| "deer in the headlights" as you can get.Hey, no | | | | your overall computer experience is always better |
| problem because you've stumbled across a | | | | when things download faster. I don't know about |
| source that hopefully can shed a little light into | | | | you but if something takes more than a few |
| that wireless networking card abyss. See, those | | | | seconds to download, I start to get |
| searching skills do come in handy.Let me start out | | | | impatient.However, because there are currently |
| by saying that when it comes to selecting a | | | | very few Internet connections running at speeds |
| wireless networking card you can pretty much | | | | over 11Mbps - it's really as much as you need, at |
| ignore all the hoopla except for the following three | | | | least for now.StandardsYou've probably noticed in |
| key factors: range, speed, and standards. Ok, let's | | | | the above specs the number 802.11 followed by a |
| do it and take a look at a few specifics.Below is a | | | | letter b. The b is the standard that the wireless |
| typical specification for wireless networking card. | | | | device conforms too. Currently, there are 3 |
| This one just happens to be for a Linksys | | | | standards - a, b and g.In a nutshell, 802.11b and |
| wireless PCMCIA laptop card. Frankly, I can't tell | | | | 802.11g are compatible with each other while |
| you if this card rocks or it stinks, I'm simply using | | | | 802.11a isn't compatible with either. Due to the |
| it as an example. And with that, let's take a closer | | | | incompatibility issues with the other two standards |
| look.Here's the description from Amazon: 11 Mbps | | | | and because it's an older less robust standard I |
| high-speed transfer rate; interoperable with IEEE | | | | would stay away from cards using it.Between b |
| 802.11b (DSSS) 2.4Ghz-compliant equipment; | | | | and g, b is cheaper but slower, while g is more |
| plug-and-play operation provides easy set up; long | | | | expensive but faster. It's also worth considering |
| operating range (up to 120m indoor); advanced | | | | that adding a b-speed device to a network that |
| power management features conserve valuable | | | | has g-speed devices will often slow the whole |
| notebook PC battery life; rugged metal design | | | | network down to b-speed, making the g-devices |
| with integrated antenna; compatible with virtually | | | | pointless. Basically, the network will operate at the |
| all major operating systems; works with all | | | | speed of its weakest link.If your wireless device |
| standard Internet applications; automatic load | | | | doesn't conform to the right standards, it's not |
| balancing and scale back; model no. WPC11Like I | | | | going to be much good to you. I often see |
| mentioned above, most of the specs can be | | | | uninformed people bidding for used wireless |
| ignored. To start with, "compatible with virtually all | | | | equipment on eBay, not realizing that it's going to |
| major operating systems." That means nothing. | | | | be terribly slow and may not work with other |
| It's simply fluff to expand the description to make | | | | equipment they might have. Always check what |
| the card appear better.RangeTake a look at | | | | standard the wireless equipment is using and if |
| where it says "up to 120m indoor". This means | | | | you don't know the 802.11 letter, don't buy it!This |
| that the maximum range of the wireless card is | | | | article may be reproduced only in its entirety.A |
| 120 meters -- sure if everything was perfect. | | | | great place to research and find answers to |
| And by the way, one meter is equal to about 39 | | | | everything "wireless" is Zephyr Net. Simply click |
| inches or 3 feet. However, in the real world | | | | the Wifi Hotspot link below.Kevin Erickson is an |
| where nothing is ever perfect interference caused | | | | entrepreneur and writer. |