Wireless Networking: Is it really necessary?

Computer Repair

Such a fuss has been made about wireless networking, but do we really need it and what is it exactely?

"WLAN"

WLAN stands for Wireless Local Area Network or Wireless LAN.

There is a variety of wireless network devices such as wireless network cards
that use the IEEE 802.11 standard of wireless transmission (which is usually the
preferred network solution, but also devices that use different networking
standard such as Bluetooth. Initially, wireless network interfaces were just a
mean of communication mainly between computers, but now it is also being used
for VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and internet access the same way the
Local Area Network interface operate.



One of the advantages of a Wireless Networking environment is that it is completely wires free, which is rather convenient when it comes to data sharing and Internet Access. In order for a Wireless Network to transmit any signal, it needs a wireless Access Point or a Wireless Router. An Access Point has an antenna and an Ethernet Port which is usually connected to a Broadband Modem for
Internet connectivity. However, a wireless Router usually adds more Ethernet ports to combine wired and wireless networks connectivity. Either, Access Point or Wireless Routers operate as radio frequency transmitter and receiver (Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Wave is the medium through which data packets are sent and received). Both of these interfaces communicate with devices such as: computers, IP phones, PDAs, and other Access Points and Routers that use 802.11 wireless adapter stands.



Wherever there is an 802.11 wireless access point, a wireless networking-capable device can access that network and, generally, the internet.

Do you really need Wireless Networking in your Laptop Computer?

The answer is simply: no you don't need it, if you do not wish to have it.
"Having said that": it can come as a rather handy feature to have integrated in
a notebook computer. Below are cases where wireless networking is a necessity:

For those that are finding it difficult to cop with all the wires at home or in the office, wireless networking maybe the solution for you. Also wireless networking is not restricted in terms of the connection from a wireless router, which means that if you have a wireless network router that has got only 4 Ethernet ports but you looking to add substantially more users onto the network, wireless networking maybe the solution to you problem. Please note that wireless networkings aren't as reliable as Ethernet connections because of the radio waves and electromagnetic interferences.



And For those of you that works while moving such as freelancers, reporters wireless networking is very valuable. Wireless networking is the most common mean to connect to the internet, as long as you have a wireless network card, you can potential connect to the internet if you can find a hotspot.



For interfacing with personal devices like PDAs and cellular phones, Bluetooth is a more common option, but Wireless Networking is absolutely necessary for
wireless internet connections.