Posted in Innovations - Gadgets & Inventions

Wireless Network Adapter

A wireless network adapter is a device that allows a specific computer or any other Wi-Fi enabled device to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Radio transmitters and receivers are built in wireless network adapters. A fully functional wireless network adapter supports 802.11a, 802.11 b or 802.11g Wi-Fi standards. With tremendous strides that have been achieved in the field of technology, and with the development of wireless networks, demand for high-tech devices with powerful ability to detect wireless networks in range has shot up the sky. Wireless networks indeed make it easier for users to connect to the easily. On most occasions, wireless networks have amazing speeds.

A network adapter is the component of a computer’s internal hardware that is used for communicating over a network with another computer. It enable a computer to connect with another computer, server or any networking device over an LAN connection. A network adapter can be used over a wired or wireless network.

A network adapter is usually the only component within a computer for interfacing or connecting with a network. Typically, it is built on a printed circuit board with jumpers that connect it with the computer’s motherboard. A network adapter for wired networks has an RJ-45 port that uses twisted or untwisted pair cable for network connectivity. Wireless adapters connect with the network through a built-in or externally connected antenna. Both network adapters support popular LAN protocols such as TCP/IP.

Source : https://www.techopedia.com/definition/8546/network-adapter

Wireless network adapters execute their functions in a not so sophisticated way. Like in a desktop computer, it simply connects to the desktops peripheral component interconnect (PCI) however, in most desktop computers, the wireless network adapter has to be first installed. There are also USB wireless network adapters that only need to be inserted into any of the desktops universal serial ports. To add to the list is the media adapter. The media adapter connects to the Ethernet port of any playstation system. On the other hand, High tech laptops have been developed with inbuilt wireless network adapters. All that is required of these high end notebooks is a wireless network that is in close range. It is worth noting that an effective adapter supports Wi-Fi and Ethernet modules.

Wireless adapters are electronic devices that allow computers to connect to the Internet and to other computers without using wires. They send data via radio waves to routers that pass it on to broadband modems or internal networks. Most laptops and tablet computers have built-in wireless adapters, but you often have to install them on desktop computers. Before adding them to office desktops and establishing a wireless network in your office, the kind of adapter you get must match your needs.

A wireless adapter has to obtain signals from inside the computer, change them into radio waves and send them out via an antenna. For a desktop computer, the electronic card either plugs in to a PCI slot inside the computer case, into a USB port from the outside, or into an Ethernet port via an Ethernet network cable. For laptops that don’t have a built-in adapter, the electronic card can fit into a PCMCIA slot or a mini PCI slot on the side of the laptop. For tablets or notebooks that don’t have an adapter, the electronic card can fit into a memory card slot. The desktop PCI cards have an antenna that extends out of the back of the computer, while the other cards have the antennas inside the card cases.

Source : http://smallbusiness.chron.com/wireless-adapter-work-61042.html

Wireless networks carry in them numerous benefits over the ancient network that was wired. These benefits are very useful to consumers, besides offering incredible speeds, though speeds vary from region to region, wireless networks, among other advantages, are easily accessed, safety of information that is sent over the wireless network is guaranteed. Most of these networks are free hence reducing on the cost one would need to secure a wired network. With these benefits, demerits are most likely to occur.

Because wireless networks operate wirelessly, they become very easy to setup and change. However, there are still a few things to getting a wireless network setup. To create a functioning wireless network, you need to provide each of the computers with wireless network cards, and also purchase a wireless router.

Previously people were very worried that people would simply “hack” into their wireless networks, and this was a valid worry. However, today the security that wireless routers and cards offer, is great, if you are willing to just go about setting it up.

Another major benefit to going wireless over wired, is the fact that wireless is so much cheaper than wired. Although the wireless cards may cost more than a typical computer network card, the benefit in not having to buy network cables far out weighs this.

Source : http://www.computer-hardware-explained.com/wireless-network-cards.html