Wireless networks utilize radio waves and/or microwaves to maintain communication channels between computers. Wireless networking is a more modern alternative to wired networking that relies on copper and/or fiber optic cabling between network devices.
A wireless network offers advantages and disadvantages compared to a wired network. Advantages of wireless include mobility and elimination of unsightly cables. Disadvantages of wireless include the potential for radio interference due to weather, other wireless devices, or obstructions like walls.
Wireless is rapidly gaining in popularity for both home and business networking. Wireless technology continues to improve, and the cost of wireless products continues to decrease. Popular wireless local area networking (WLAN) products conform to the 802.11 "Wi-Fi" standards. The gear a person needs to build wireless networks includes network adapters (NICs), access points (APs), and routers.
The speed of a wireless network depends on several factors.
First, wireless local area networks (WLANs) feature differing levels of performance depending on which Wi-Fi standard they support. 802.11b WLANs offer maximum theoretical bandwidth of 11 Mbps. 802.11a and 802.11g WLANs offer theoretical bandwidth up to 54 Mbps. (In contrast, typical wired Ethernets run at 100 Mbps.)
The performance of Wi-Fi networks in practice never approaches the theoretical maximum. 802.11b networks, for example, generally operate no faster than about 50% of theoretical peak, or 5.5 Mbps. Likewise, 802.11a and 802.11g networks generally run no faster than 20 Mbps. The disparity between theoretical and practical performance comes from protocol overhead, signal interference, and decreasing signal distance with distance. In addition, the more devices communicating on a WLAN simultaneously, the slower the network will appear.
On home networks, keep in mind that the performance of an Internet connection is often the limiting factor in network speed. Even though files can be shared on a wireless LAN at speeds of 5 or 20 Mbps, wireless clients will still connect to the Internet at the speed typically offered by Internet Service Providers, usually less than 1 Mbps.
Wireless Internet
Free Wireless Network
Free Wireless Network Software
Wireless Network Router
Wireless Network Connections
Microsoft Wireless Network
Setting up a Wireless Network
Wireless Network Adapter
