Friday, December 17, 2010

Wireless Internet -- One Size Does Not Fit All

Do you find yourself a bit confused about the term wireless internet?  If you conduct a search for wireless internet, you will find there are several applications of the term, and they might be very different from the particular problem you are trying to solve.  The solutions to these various issues might be just right for your neighbor, but totally inadequate for your particular needs.

The first step in resolving your issues would be to understand the various applications of wireless internet.  They include:

  • Wireless home networks facilitated by a router, which still require either a wireline or a satellite internet delivery system.  You can be mobile within your home for the most part and get internet access.  This particular solution will also facilitate several internet users as long as you purchase adequate bandwidth.
  • Satellite Internet is sometimes referred to as wireless internet because it is not a wireline delivery method.  Some satellite internet providers also provide WiFi access via hotspots.  Bandwidth is generally limited with this solution.
  • WiFi and WiMax, which are truly mobile broadband utilizing networks of hotspots delivered by high-frequency radio technology.  These solutions are available through internet providers and cellular providers.

You can see that if your neighbor throws around the term wireless and he is meaning his wireless home network, but you require true mobile broadband for internet access anywhere, his solution certainly wouldn't be the same one that you would require.  WiFi access usually requires a separate subscription.  You may enjoy WiFi access at home, but you will not be able to set up a wireless home network because the bandwidth would be inadequate, especially if you had more than one user sharing the connection.

WiMax 4G technology is very promising, but like any new technology, there are some kinks that need to be ironed out, especially in the area of weeding out unreliable providers.  Turning a geographic area into one big hotspot so that you can enjoy internet access at home and on the go with adequate bandwidth and reliability is certainly the gold standard.  This technology has the ability to really transform how we interact with our world.

It's important to avoid unreliable providers, whether they be standard wireliine or satellite providers, or wireless internet providers who may use cost-cutting measures that affect your service.  A broadband connection is an asset only if it can be connected to with few outages or interruptions.