What is wireless network?

Question

When I turn my computer on (laptop) there is a little bubble that says something like there are wireless networks in range of this computer click here ..... Please someone explain this to me. Because I would really love to get the internet at home , well I do but it's dial up so I rarely use my computer.

All of you were so much help. I can't even pick a best answer. Thank you so much :-)

Answer 1

in a few words computers connected wireless

Answer 2

It means a computer network where the signals go over the air (like radio) instead of through cables.

Your laptop has a wireless network card built into it. What you see is that it finds wireless networks within detection range, and it's telling you to click on the bubble if you want to try to connect to any of them. The problem is that these other networks may be secured so that not just anyone in range can get on. And it's kind of rude to just jump on someone's network without at least asking them.

If you upgrade from dial-up, you might check into setting up your own wireless network while you're at it, if you have some money to spend on extra equipment (you can get a wireless access point / wireless router for about fifty bucks). Just make sure that you also get information about how to secure it, which is a whole 'nother topic.

Hope that helps!

Answer 3

A wireless network is just like using dialup but you connect to another computer "wirelessly" and THAT computer connects to the internet. The end result is that you can browser the web with no wires!

Most coffee shops and many small restaurants now have networks you can log into. Often the employees know how to get you connected. Most of the time though, if you just open your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, etc.) when that bubble pops up your computer and the network will do the rest.

Finally, be cautious about unexpected networks. Some scam artists will broadcast a network to trick people into "logging in" so that they can access your computer.

Answer 4

A wireless network is when if you have an internet connection, but you have to share it with other computers, then you can set up a wireless connection using a router. It just sends the connection out and the other computer(s) can pick it up and use it. Also other computer (and by computers, I also mean laptops) can pick it up and use it if they are close enough.

Answer 5

Your laptop has "built in" wireless - that is, a radio transmitter/receiver for connecting to the internet by radio.

Whenever you turn your laptop on, it sends out an "i'm HERE!" message. It then waits for wireless "routers" to respond. If it gets a response, it tells you that there are "wireless" connections available.

So basically, your computer automatically tries to find connections for you.

Now - if you SELECT one of those connections (double clicking on the wireless icon on the task bar will bring up a window to allow you to try), and the owner of the router has not initiated SECURITY - you can use their internet connection to surf, get your e-mail, etc FOR FREE.

Of course, technically you are stealing bandwidth, but there's no way you'll be caught unless the NSA or FBI wants to catch you...so don't worry about it.

Answer 6

People who live near you have what is called a wireless router. That allows them to use the wireless capability in their laptop. Your laptop has the capability to communicate with these routers and it automatically seachers for them at all times. The message you are getting just says that it found one or more. Wireless routers have the capability of being open to the world, or restricted to just certain physical machines. Most people that have a wireless router have faster connection speeds compared to dialup. Maybe you could ask around your neighbors, find out who has a quicker connection and a wireless router, and offer to pay a few bucks a month to get access through their system.

Answer 7

well, your computer has an internal wireless card- built into it. so it can detect wireless networks. if you were to go to, like starbucks, or something, where they have a wireless network that you are welcome to connect to, you would be able to connect to their network, and go online wirelessly. for free. your computer is telling you that it has detected a wireless network within range, that it is able to connect to if you tell it to. now, if it is a secured network, you wont be able to without being let in. but if it is an unsecured network, you can connect and go online. i used to live down the street from a public place that had a public wireless network available. i would be able to connect and go online free all the time. no more dial up!! but be careful what network you connect to, because it can be considered kind of like stealing internet service if it isnt available for public use.

Answer 8

While the term wireless network may technically be used to refer to any type of network that is wireless, the term is most commonly use to refer to a telecommunications network whose interconnections between nodes is implemented without the use of wires, such as a computer network (which is a type of telecommunications network). Wireless telecommunications networks are generally implemented with some type of information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, for the carrier and this implementation usually takes place at the physical level or "layer" of the network

Answer 9

Most likely you are picking up your neighbors wireless router broadcast.

What wireless internet is, is exactly that. Wireless connectivity to the internet.

I would not connect to your neighbors wireless, it's stealing from them.

But, the good news is that there are plenty of places that have free wireless internet that you can connect to with your laptop.

Coffee shops, malls, colleges, and even some fast food restaurants have wireless connectivity, so you can get high speed internet while you are at those places.

Answer 10

it means that somewhere near u someone has setup a wireless network so any one in range with a wireless card (u have a built in one) can access the internet unless the person set a password. click on the bubble and from there on it's kinda self explanitory

Answer 11

That just means that there is a wireless internet connection network available and you are within range. Your nieghbor might be have a wireless network setup and your computer is detecting it. You can use it too but you must have their username and password.