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