Wireless broadband is now a common feature of homes, businesses and public places, enabling people to avoid the restrictive and annoying limitations imposed by wired connections in favour of an option that allows much more freedom of movement. It is important to note from the beginning that in this case wireless broadband is not the same as mobile broadband. The former is essentially tethered to a traditional landline connection in some way, whilst the latter relies on cellular mobile networking signals and as such is different and not relevant to the discussion here.
Wireless broadband is basically an extension of a landline broadband connection, whether provided by cable or copper telephone wiring. For home users, wireless broadband will be provided via a wireless router. A router is necessary if you want to share your broadband connection amongst multiple computers and whilst most routers offer wired connections via Ethernet cable, wireless routers will also give you the option to distribute your internet connection wirelessly over a short distance. Devices like Laptops and smartphones usually come with built-in wireless broadband connectivity, allowing you to quickly get online from anywhere within range of the wireless router’s broadcasting area.
The typical range of a wireless broadband router varies and is dependent on a number of factors. Firstly the size of the property in which you live needs to be considered. In most cases, the average household should not pose too much of a problem for a standard wireless router and coverage should be acceptable as you move from room to room. However, if you have thick walls, or if your property is particularly large, you could encounter more problems. For example, if your wireless broadband router is located beneath a table in your entrance hall and you are trying to access the internet wirelessly from a converted attic room, then the signal could be weak or sporadic, resulting in slow transfer speeds and frequent disconnections. Range depends on the capabilities of the router and the type of wireless broadband standard that it is capable of broadcasting. Most modern routers offer 802.11g wireless connectivity and this will be compatible with the widest number of devices and should offer adequate performance in average homes. However, for faster transfer speeds and a wider area of coverage, a router with 802.11n technology should be sought out. This is sometimes referred to as Wireless N technology, so keep on the lookout.
Before you can set up a wireless broadband connection in your own home, you will need a few things. First and foremost you need a landline broadband connection active in your property. In most cases, when you sign up for a cable or ADSL broadband service you will be supplied with a free wireless router by the internet service provider (ISP) and if this is the case they will usually give detailed instructions on how to get your own wireless broadband connection set up. However, there are a few generic guidelines that you can follow if you are looking for a bit more information. You will need to plug the wireless router into the mains to provide it with power and it will also need to be connected to your landline via a socket. ADSL customers will need to connect the router to a microfilter, which is then inserted into the telephone socket in order to ensure that the digital broadband signal being sent down the line is available to the router without interfering with your home telephone service.
Once the router is powered up, it should automatically detect the broadband connection that is active on your line and in many cases the provider will have pre-programmed it with the necessary settings to get you online smoothly. If not you will have to input these manually and this could involve connecting your laptop or PC directly to the router via Ethernet cable. You should be able to alter all of the wireless router’s settings from your internet browser of choice, although modification may require a password and user name, which should be detailed in the included documentation. From here you will want to head to the wireless settings, where you will be able to activate the wireless signal and then set the password to ensure that no third party users are able to piggyback on your broadband connection by connecting to your wireless network.
Wireless broadband is a great technology for a number of reasons. Without it, you would have to connect all of the PCs in your home using wires, which would either require extensive installation of additional cabling, or plenty of messy cables running all over the floor. Wireless broadband allows you to stream videos, surf the internet, shop for your groceries and play the latest online games wherever you want within your home. It also makes sharing files and data between multiple computers much easier and you will quickly learn the various tricks and techniques that will allow you to make the most out of your wireless broadband connection. Wireless routers will typically improve the security of any broadband connection, because they usually have integrated firewalls which are set by default to keep a majority of the more malicious software and third party intruders which lurk online out of your home computers.
If you want to purchase your own wireless router, either to replace the one you received free from your provider, or to take your fixed line broadband connection to the next level, then there is a lot of choice out there. Here is a quick list of the ten most respected wireless broadband router brands out there and any one of these products would be an excellent companion for a home user.
Linksys
D-Link
Netgear
Buffalo
Asus
Zyxel
Belkin
Cisco Systems
TP-Link
Dynamode
Choosing the right wireless broadband router can be difficult, particularly if you are new to the whole concept. It is sensible to look at your own needs and consider various factors to aid your decision. This might include working out how many people will be accessing your broadband connection wirelessly, how much money you want to spend, what type of wireless broadband connectivity your laptop or phone is compatible with and how large your property is.
For more infomation about Wireless Broadband see this Cool Guide by the BBC.