How to Set Up a Wireless Network

Dial-up is the slowest internet connection available with connection speeds maxing out at 56 Kbps (Kilobits Per Second). Slow connections are limited in that you may not be able to access some content intended for faster connections. For example, our WiFi Internet Radios will not work well with a dial-up connection since streaming audio (and video) require a large amount of bandwidth (data sent and received per second).

Unlike broadband which is always connected and ready, dial-up connections usually take a few minutes to dial-up and establish a connection with your internet service provider before you are able to connect to the internet.

Dial-up requires that you tie up a phone line when connected to the internet. You can add an additional phone line dedicated to internet access, but you'll most likely have to pay your phone provider for the second line.

Like dial-up, DSL connects you to the internet through your existing phone line. However, contrary to dial-up connections, DSL is always on, it does not require you to dial-up in order to establish a connection, and it does not tie up your phone line, meaning you can take phone calls while surfing the internet.

With average speeds around 5 Mbps (Megabits Per Second) DSL offers high connection speeds.

The farther away you are from the switching site, the slower your connections speeds.

May not be the best option for rural areas.

Connections (like cable) which are always on and connected to the internet may be more vulnerable to internet security threats.

Cable internet connections are shared with other users, so you may experience slower speeds due to congestion during peak hours.

With up to 1.5 Mbps download speeds, satellite internet connections are noticeably faster than dial-up connections.

Because satellite internet connections don't require a hard wired connection to the provider, satellite access is available almost anywhere. This is a great alternative for users off the grid in rural areas.

With up to 128 Kbps, the upload speed is not nearly as good as the download speed.

Satellite Connections are occasionally affected by inclement weather.

Internet provider satelites orbit about 23,000 miles above the equator. When you request information from the internet using a satellite connection, the request travels 23,000 to the satellite, then 23,000 miles back down to your service provider. Then the information you requested has to make the 46,000 mile return trip back to your computer for a total round trip of about 92,000 miles. Even though the signal travels near the speed of light, this does cause a minor delay known as latency. Latency causes problems when playing games over the internet or when using VOIP technology to make internet phone calls.

With speeds up to 54Mbps, 802.11a operates in the 5.8GHz frequency range so it is less susceptible to interference caused by devices such as microwave ovens, 2.4 GHz cordless phones, baby monitors, etc.

802.11a is not as common as 802.11g, which dramatically limits the number of wireless networks (hotspots) you'll be able to access.

With only about 100 foot range, 802.11a is limited when compared to the 150-300 foot range of the other types.

Products that operate on the 5GHz frequency range require more power which means your portable gear will drain batteries faster than technology operating on the 2.4GHz frequency range.

This technology operates on the 5.8GHz frequency, so it will not work with WiFi Radios that operates on the 2.4GHz frequency. 802.11b and 802.11g are compatible with the WiFi Radio since they also operate on the 2.4GHz frequency.

Up to 150 foot indoor range.

Products are usually inexpensive.

802.11b products are sometimes hard to find.

WIth speeds up to 11Mbps, 802.11b is the slowest wireless technology available.

802.11b operates on the 2.4GHz frequency making it highly susceptible to interference from other devices like 2.4 GHz cordless phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens etc.

802.11g is the most commonly used technology, so buying 802.11g products will increase the number of wireless networks (hotspots) you'll be able to access.

With data transfer speeds of up to 54Mbps and a range of about 150 feet indoors, 802.11g is recommended for most home and small-office networks.

802.11g products are not only compatible with each other, but they are also backwards compatible with 802.11b products.

Relatively inexpensive.

June 2009 (est.)

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