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