In the modern age of technology, most of us are using the Internet wherever we go. We use it at our homes, at our offices, at public places such as libraries, Internet cafes, and airports. However, the vast majority of people never think about how this Internet access they are using reaches their laptops, desktop computers, smartphones, tablet PC’s, PDA’s and so on. Well, today’s most commonly found and widely preferred type of Internet connection is a wireless Internet connection, or Wi-Fi.
Wireless Internet Connection Explained in Simple Terms
To put it simply, wireless Internet connection is a type of Internet access that doesn’t require a physical connection to your computer or any other device that will access the World Wide Web through this network. However, there must be a central device of some kind, which is responsible for retrieving the Internet access from the ISP, and sending it to other devices covered by the wireless network. This device uses radio waves to send the signal to other devices, while being connected physically to the source of Internet access. So, this basically means that you can turn your broadband Internet connection into wireless Internet connection, and this can in many cases be done only by contacting your Internet service provider and asking for the necessary equipment. They will be happy to provide you with everything you need for this, and sometimes even at no additional cost at all.
The Benefits of Wireless Internet Connection
Here are the most important benefits of having Wi-Fi available to you:
Convenience – This is the most obvious benefit, as you can access the Internet from anywhere you want within the network range, as well as access it from any device that has a wireless adapter. What this means is that you can take your laptop and access the Internet from any room in your home, or even from the backyard.
Security – Thanks to WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WPA2, no one can access your network except you, as they will need a password for doing so. Also, all traffic that passes through Wi-Fi networks is encrypted, so there are few security issues to worry about here Tessla.
Cost – Imagine what the cost of connecting all the computers in a big company would be if people had to do this with wires or cables. Even though this had to be done in the past, all of these devices can now be connected to the Internet wirelessly, which saves a lot of money and trouble.
Speed – Speed used to be a real problem with Wi-Fi Internet access, but modern technology (WiMAX and EV-DO) has made it possible for wireless networks to enjoy large download speeds of up to 7 Mbps, or even more in some instances. If you connect your Cable modem or ADSL2+ Fiber Internet Gateway to a wireless N router you can download as fast as your Internet connection will allow, over 100 Mbps in some areas.
Should You Go For Wi-Fi?
Well, it really depends on your needs. If you are thinking about finding an ISP to provide you with Internet access for the first time, you should definitely ask if they are offering wireless Internet options. Even though you might be living alone and only have one laptop, you will still enjoy the convenience of being able to take your laptop wherever you want and surf the Internet. On the other hand, if you have a large family, Wi-Fi is a great idea as you will not need to lay down cables to every computer in the house. Be sure to check the usage limits, as most 3G and 4G providers have low monthly limits of 10 GB or less compared to cable and DSL limits of over 100 GB per month. If you use a lot of data, you are better off with a cable or DSL plan combined with a wireless router for home use and a separate mobile broadband plan if you need Internet access on the go.
