Wireless Networking - Do You Need It?

There has been so much hype about wirelessAccess Points) which use 802.11 wireless adapters.
networking that it is sometimes hard to get toWherever there is an 802.11 wireless access
the important question: do you need it? Topoint, a wireless networking-capable device can
determine whether your notebook computeraccess 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?
WLANWhether you need wireless networking depends
WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network orentirely on you. Wireless networking capability is
Wireless LAN. Wireless network cards use thealways 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 theIf you want to have a tidy office or home
preferred networking solution. The Wirelessnetwork, wireless networking is for you.
Network interface was developed originally forMoreover, if there are many users in your local
interfacing among computers connected through anetwork or if the number of users is expected to
local area network, but it is now also being usedincrease, a wireless router is not limited by the
for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) andnumber of Ethernet ports on the router. Please
internet access, just like the standard Local Areanote, however, that a wireless network
Network interface.connection is not as reliable as traditional Ethernet
A Wireless Networking environment has no needconnections, and wireless connections are
for complicated wiring to accommodate datasusceptible to radio wave and electromagnetic
sharing and internet access. The wireless networkinterference.
uses one or more Wireless Access Points orIf you are a freelancer, a reporter, or in another
Wireless Routers to transmit the signal. Anposition where you frequently travel, Wireless
Access Point has an antenna and an EthernetNetworking is invaluable. Wireless Networking is
port, which must be connected to a broadbandthe most widely used form of public internet
modem for internet connectivity. A Wirelessaccess all over the world. With a wireless
Router adds several more Ethernet ports to allownetworking 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 radiohotspot.
frequency transmitter and receiver (radioFor interfacing with personal devices like PDAs
frequency electromagnetic waves are theand cellular phones, Bluetooth is a more common
medium through which data packets are sent andoption, but Wireless Networking is absolutely
received). This Access Point interfaces withnecessary for wireless internet connections.
devices (computers, PDAs, IP Phones, and other