ive got a pc and currently connect it via wires to phone line. Bt are sending me a wireless. does this mean i dont need wires. i hear you need some sort of wireless card. also whats the difference between wireless router stuff and wi-fi
2006-10-17 23:51:14 · 9 answers · asked by james b 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Internet
You will still need wires to connect the router to the phone line for the internet. The wireless router will also serve as your ASDL modem.
What the wireless router does do is allow your PCs to be networked in the house without any need for network cables.
Usually you still need 1 pc connected to the router which is connected to the internet (by wires). For every other pc in the house you want to connect you will need a wireless adapter to communicate with the router. They come in card format (which plugs into the motherboard) or what is far easier and what I use, a USB Wireless Adapter.
And it works by sending radio signals around the house. Unfortunately this means anything else that transmits similar or interference can block the router signal (worse case) or reduce it's effectiveness (distance and quality) best case. Things like portable telephones (home), mobile phones (cell), microwave ovens, etc. Things which emit radiation basically. Having said that the technology is very good these days, I have Netgear RangeMax and hardly have any trouble with it whatsover.
2006-10-17 23:55:14 · answer #1 · answered by E=MC2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wi-fi is a brand name that describes a wireless local area network, or WLAN. Much in the same way that the brand "Hoover" is synonymous with a vacuum cleaner, wi-fi now refers broadly to a wireless network or a device that can connect wirelessly. A wireless router is the piece of kit that broadcasts your internet connection over a local area.
With the wireless router that BT are sending you, you can connect to the internet without the use of an Ethernet card. To receive the wifi signal your computer needs to have a wireless network card; many modern laptops have this built in, but if your computer doesn't, you can buy USB ones quite cheaply (PC World sells them for under £15)
Setting a network up is fairly straightforward, and doubtless BT will also send you full instructions. It's worth ensuring that you have security protection on your wireless network, to make sure that your neighbours don't steal your connection (unless of course you're the philanthropic type).
2006-10-18 00:31:49 · answer #2 · answered by dean_nicholas 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wi-fi is wireless. Wifi stands for wireless fidelity. Its just another name for 802.11 which most people don't like to remember. You'll need a card in your computer. Some laptops have these built in.
WIFI takes place of the wires, with a few draw backs, but it simply takes the ethernet wired protocol and encapsulates that in the 802.11 wireless protocol.
Some of the draw backs are...
Distance is limited. You should really secure it and this is fairly easy to do if you know what you're doing. It's not as fast as wired. It's not as reliable as wired because of the nature of radio waves. It operates on a frequency that is prone to interference from microwave ovens.
It works using a spread spectrum radio transmitter. Basically it bounces around a band sending signals hoping from one part of the spectrum to another and it hopes that it doesn't collide with another device trying to speak at the same time.
2006-10-18 00:02:21 · answer #3 · answered by To Be Free 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Other posters have answered this, but a couple of people have stated that you need at least one computer connected via wires to the router. This isn't true - all your computers can be wireless if you like.
2006-10-18 00:16:04 · answer #4 · answered by Daniel R 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YOU WILL NEED A WIRELESS CARD FOR YOUR PC. TO USE THE ROUTER YOU PLUG THE LAN CONNECTOR INTO THE ROUTER.
YOU CAN THEN MOVE YOUR PC AOUND AND STILL RECIEVE INTERNET EVEN THOUGH THE SYSTEM IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE MODEM.
WHERE THIS REALLY COMES IN IS WITH A LAPTOP LETS SAY YOU PC IS DOWNSTAIRS WITH WIFI YOU CAN SIT IN BED AND GET INTERNET WITHOUT ANY WIRES HOPE THIS HELPS
2006-10-18 00:00:11 · answer #5 · answered by tonyinspain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your main PC remains connected by wire to the wirelss router, but all additional ones receive (and send) their signals by radio waves from the aerial on the router and a small gadget which plugs into them.
Takes longer to describe than set up!
2006-10-17 23:57:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It works on frequency. You do need a pc card yes or a network card to plug into your laptop. Worth it if you have a laptop otherwise not much difference if you have a desktop pc
2006-10-17 23:55:04 · answer #7 · answered by Maxi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to the following website for answers to all your questions.
2006-10-17 23:54:48 · answer #8 · answered by richard_beckham2001 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Infra red signal I think.
2006-10-17 23:54:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋