With the fast development of wireless technologies, more and more people are migrating from wired networks to wireless setups. They eliminate many problems and issues, such as a difficulty in setting up and a large number of cables lying around. There is only one small cable, from the Internet to the wireless router instead of dozens of meters of cables in the case of wired network setups. If you want to connect two computers in a wireless network, you only need to have capable devices. However, if you need to connect several computers to the Internet you will need a wireless router. There are many router models on the market, but many manufacturers include functions that you will never use. If you need just the basic router capabilities, the Neatgear WGT624 wireless router can represent the perfect choice for you. This router is compatible with the latest standard, 802.11g specifications. Compared to other routers that claim to be compatible with the future wireless standard, the 802.11n specifications, but in fact support it together with one or two network adapter cards, the Netgear WGT624 wireless router is fully compatible with all wireless cards supporting the 802.11g specification.

In independent tests carried out by prestigious web pages, the WGT624 was considered a good performer, reaching its maximum claimed speed and range. Due to its transmitter that boosts a power of 15dBm +/- 2dB, it can send and receive at full 802.11g speeds within a radius of 100 feet. The Netgear WGT624 is fully compatible with the latest WPA security and WEP encryption protocols and it has drivers for major Linux distributions and all Windows versions. Netgear also has promised Mac OS support in the near future, making it a universal wireless router. Netgear includes necessary documentation so you can install and configure it out of the box. The router box also has a demo version of the Trend Micro Home Network Security program, allowing you to secure your wireless network and to use it freely for a trial period. This security program comes on top of the router’s NAT and Stateful packet inspecting firewall included by the manufacturer.

If you look inside the Netgear WGT624 wireless router, you will find a Atheros chipset used for its 802.11g capabilities and it incorporates Netgear’s XR technology for increased signal strength and maximum speed. Netgear also offers its WGR614 entry-level router. Its smaller brother has the same specifications (it is fully compatible with the 802.11g standard), but users have reported that the unit behaves slower in a network that has both 802.11b and 802.11g wireless network cards. Even if it is the smaller unit in the range, the Netgear WGR614 wireless router contains the same security features as its older brother, making it the perfect solution for small office and home networking.

For many years, it has been feasible to connect two or more computers together using cables, so that computer users can swap and store files share printers,share an Internet connection or other general resources.

Wireless networking is a technology that enables the wiring that connects each computer to the network to be replaced by a coded wireless signal, commonly known as a wireless router. When fitted with a wireless network card, a computer can swap data with other equally equipped computers nearby without the need to be plugged in,thus forming a wireless network.

Wireless networks can be easily put together with only limited knowledge of computers and networking. Most wireless routers come with their own
software that will make them “plug and play”,so for many users it has simply been a matter of install and go. However, this misleading ease of use hides a number of pitfalls to do with contradictory standards, physical limitations with wireless signals,and security issues. These pitfalls can make setting up a wireless router a nightmare if the issues are not well thought-out before the wireless router is purchased.

Like a wired network, a wireless network is impartial to the operating systems used by the computers on the network. Whether you are a PC, Mac or a Linux user you will be able to connect to a wireless router if you have installed a suitable wireless card in your computer or laptop.

In the last few years, low cost wireless components have created a number of ways of linking computers together wirelessly. These networks are growing in popularity because they offer low purchase costs, almost no installation costs and they allow wireless equipped computers to be freely moved around the room, the building or even outside. The greatest advantage seen by most is the loss of all the cables connecting the computer

There are 4 steps to creating a wireless network:

1.Choose your wireless router

2.Connect your wireless router

3.Configure your wireless router

4.Connect your computers

It’s called a router for the simple reason that signals are being routed back and forth. The computers can be connected to the router either with a wire (called an Ethernet Cable), or without wires Most wireless routers have at least one antenna. Data from the Internet will travel through the router and then those antennas. They are then broadcast to the Wireless Adaptor on your computer or laptop. (And any other wireless adapter in range - whether its yours or not).

Broadband wired networks have existed for a long time, but it is only recently that wireless networks have begun to reach broadband speeds. However, their greatest advantage is they offer broadband speeds without the use of external wires. Wireless networks are easier to install and configure and they offer the advantage of movement freedom. Wireless technologies have evolved over the years and the latest standard is the 820.11g, offering speeds of up to 54Mbs. The next in line is the 820.11n standard, that will double the maximum transfer rate, but the new specifications are yet to be standardized. Linksys is one of Cisco’s most important divisions and it is known as one of the most important network equipment manufacturers. Cisco themselves are world leader in networking software and equipment and this guarantees the quality of Linksys’s wireless devices.

Linksys has expanded its line of wireless routers with several more products, adding new facilities and enhancing their speed and range. The WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router is advertised to offer up to 12 times the speed of other 802.11g routers and it is capable of sending and receiving data within a radius up to 4 times larger. However, in real world reviews, the WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router only managed to reach its maximum advertised speed, but lacked performance when it came to range. If you need a very fast and reliable wireless router for small networks, the WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router could be a viable choice. However, if you need a router able to send and receive data over a wider area, you should look at other Linksys routers. The WRT300N Linksys wireless N series router has several new innovative features that enable it to send and receive data with greater speeds compared to other wireless routers. It has multiple antennas (two standard, pen shaped) and a larger, square one. You can put them in any position you want, so you can achieve maximum transfer rates. It has a WAN port, four standard LAN ports. The WRT300n router also has a reset button, allowing you to set it to its default parameters if something goes wrong with the device. Linksys provides a documentation brochure together with its routers and on the delivered CD you will find setup advices, usage instructions and security software products (firewall, router monitoring software and an advanced configuration tool).

The Linksys WRT160N wireless N series router iss an Internet and network sharing device intended for small and medium networks. It is also a 4-port switch to allow you to connect the Linksys WRT160N router to other wired Ethernet equipment. Linksys says that the WRT160n router is compatible with the upcoming 820.11n specifications, but it works perfectly within the 802.11g specifications. The router has 256 bit encryption allowing you to fully secure your wireless setup and it comes with documentation for installation and configuration procedures. In real life tests, the Linksys WRT160N wireless N series router performed well, achieving maximum throughout put if the signal strength was at maximum. If you intend to set up a small wireless network , this router can be a good solution, as it is also cheaper than its older brother, the WRT300N router.

Wireless routers allow flexibility and freedom for many internet users. With Wi-Fi, a person can sit at a coffee shop and start surfing the web as if they were connected to a phone jack or cable at home. Even today, some towns are going completely wireless so that anyone within the vicinity can access the net for free.

But with all the advantages that wireless routers provide there are things we should be mindful of when we decide to plug in the router. Wireless routers are not necessarily without their flaws. Here are few things to keep in mind.

If a person were to connect directly to the internet with a cable and compare that with the same connection, but with a wireless router, there would be a noticeable difference. The wireless connection will be slightly slower than the direct connection. The reason is simple; a Wi-Fi transmits through the air and there’s some degradation with this medium. It’s like comparing television reception between cable and antennas. Cable is obviously faster.

Possibly a huge concern with wireless routers and Wi-Fi is the encryption protocols. In some public Wi-Fi places (such as a local café), the transmission is encryption free. This means that all of your private data stored in your laptop or PDA will be exposed to anyone in the same vicinity. It’s possible that an unscrupulous person could obtain passwords and important personal information.

An older protocol for wireless routers is the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). Although it does have a level of encryption, the encryption can be easily compromised. The problem has caused a number of wireless router owners to upgrade to WPA and WPA2 encryption protocols.

With the increasing Wi-Fi hotspots in the neighborhood, Wi-Fi pollution is becoming more apparent. Sometimes stores or organizations will broadcast over the same channel, causing interference and lack of access points. Cities are just noticing this problem as more users are jumping into the wireless realm.

Other devices and equipment can also contribute to the pollution. Studies have shown that Bluetooth devices, cordless phones and microwave ovens all contribute to interference of public wireless transmissions. This is a known problem in high-density areas such as cities with many access points.

Wireless routers do not have a limitless range. As such, the broadcasting radius could be limited to just a 150 to 300 ft. If you want to improve the range, you’d have to purchase Wi-Fi antennas.

The wireless Wi-Fi realm is different to other mediums such as Bluetooth. The power consumption is much greater for devices using Wi-Fi through a wireless router or access point. People who use PDAs or laptops will burn through battery power.

Another problem is that for countries all over the world, you’ll find differing spectrum assignments. The lack of consistency has caused problems for internet users traveling from country to country. In some instances, governments may prohibit use of certain channels or require special authorization.

There are many disadvantages of wireless routers and Wi-Fi, but the disadvantages should not necessarily stop a person to use the service. Consider the pros and cons of the wireless realm first before jumping into the world wide web.

Wireless Internet has truly changed the way the world goes online. Because of this transformative technology, you can go online and enjoy high-speed Internet access without being tied down to your home. In fact, wireless Internet is so wonderful because of the freedom it gives the individual to surf online away from the desktop, on your laptop or other portable device.

Also referred to as “wifi,” wireless Internet is usually accessed on a laptop, cell phone, and other mobile computing device. You can also set up a wireless network between the computers in your house using a special router. People use wifi at home as a way to wirelessly access the Internet from any room in the house. It really is the most convenient way to go online in the modern world.

Wireless Internet providers offer a wide range of services to customers with speeds that compete well with DSL and cable. In the past, before the introduction of wireless Internet and routers, the only way you could connect to the Internet on your laptop was through a very slow, dial-up connection. Luckily, wireless Internet now allows you to go online without having to plug into a phone line.

Connection speeds for wireless broadband vary between 384 Kbps and 2.0 Mbps, which is a whopping 35 times faster than your average dial-up speed. This allows users of mobile devices to carry out online tasks on the go - and you can do more than just email and text message. Plus, it allows you to wirelessly set up a network at home with the use of a router.

Wifi and wireless routers make it possible to download streaming media and large files no matter where you happen to be - this is a convenient option for media junkies who just can’t get enough of online media, such as videos. This type of router in particular lets you share files between several computers at home. In the past, you had to create a wired network for this to work - now routers make it possible to network more than one home computer more easily. Wireless routers let you bridge several computers together, even in different rooms.

How it works is that you purchase a wireless Internet connection, and then set up a router to transfer the signal elsewhere, and share the Internet connection.

With a laptop and router it’s easy to get connected to a wifi signal and take advantage of wireless broadband - almost every laptop sold now comes with a wireless modem already installed. The same goes for portable handheld devices, which have wifi capabilities built right in. The number of wifi hotspots is also increasing, so you can almost always find access to a broadband connection when you need it.

So where do you find a wifi provider? If you want to find a broadband connection in your local area, that isn’t in your home or office, all you have to do is search online for hotspots that provide wireless Internet service. There are various websites that help you locate broadband connections in certain areas, especially as wireless Internet access grows in demand.

A wifi connection doesn’t have many requirements. Although different from other connections, providers do provide many of the same features provided by other services. A wireless Internet service usually requires a laptop computer or a computer that is connected to wireless routers. A regular computer may need a Wi-Fi card for the service to work properly.

For wireless Internet access you may also need sniffer software that allows you to search out hotspots around your town.