| There has been so much hype about wireless | | | | Access Points) which use 802.11 wireless adapters. |
| networking that it is sometimes hard to get to | | | | Wherever there is an 802.11 wireless access |
| the important question: do you need it? To | | | | point, a wireless networking-capable device can |
| determine whether your notebook computer | | | | access that network and, generally, the internet. |
| needs to have wireless networking capabilities, | | | | Do You Need Wireless Networking in Your |
| you need to understand what it is first. | | | | Notebook Computer? |
| WLAN | | | | Whether you need wireless networking depends |
| WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network or | | | | entirely on you. Wireless networking capability is |
| Wireless LAN. Wireless network cards use the | | | | always a wonderful feature to have in a |
| IEEE 802.11 standard of wireless transmission. | | | | notebook computer, but there are scenarios |
| There are other wireless networking standards, | | | | where wireless networking is definitely necessary. |
| such as Bluetooth, but the 802.11 standard is the | | | | If you want to have a tidy office or home |
| preferred networking solution. The Wireless | | | | network, wireless networking is for you. |
| Network interface was developed originally for | | | | Moreover, if there are many users in your local |
| interfacing among computers connected through a | | | | network or if the number of users is expected to |
| local area network, but it is now also being used | | | | increase, a wireless router is not limited by the |
| for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and | | | | number of Ethernet ports on the router. Please |
| internet access, just like the standard Local Area | | | | note, however, that a wireless network |
| Network interface. | | | | connection is not as reliable as traditional Ethernet |
| A Wireless Networking environment has no need | | | | connections, and wireless connections are |
| for complicated wiring to accommodate data | | | | susceptible to radio wave and electromagnetic |
| sharing and internet access. The wireless network | | | | interference. |
| uses one or more Wireless Access Points or | | | | If you are a freelancer, a reporter, or in another |
| Wireless Routers to transmit the signal. An | | | | position where you frequently travel, Wireless |
| Access Point has an antenna and an Ethernet | | | | Networking is invaluable. Wireless Networking is |
| port, which must be connected to a broadband | | | | the most widely used form of public internet |
| modem for internet connectivity. A Wireless | | | | access all over the world. With a wireless |
| Router adds several more Ethernet ports to allow | | | | networking card, you are guaranteed an internet |
| a combination of wired and wireless connections. | | | | connection, as long as you can find a wireless |
| The Access Point or Router acts as the radio | | | | hotspot. |
| frequency transmitter and receiver (radio | | | | For interfacing with personal devices like PDAs |
| frequency electromagnetic waves are the | | | | and cellular phones, Bluetooth is a more common |
| medium through which data packets are sent and | | | | option, but Wireless Networking is absolutely |
| received). This Access Point interfaces with | | | | necessary for wireless internet connections. |
| devices (computers, PDAs, IP Phones, and other | | | | |