All about the Wireless Internet Card

Wireless internet card or wireless network adapter connects a computing device to the wireless network. There are WiFi cards for laptops, desktops, PDAs and other devices that need a wireless network connection.



There are lots of kinds of wireless networks. The most three most common wireless networks are:

1) Mobile wireless internet

As addition to voice calls, mobile network operators are offering mobile wireless internet. You could reach internet with your mobile phone, or with your personal computer using special mobile cards. There are various different technologies for mobile wireless internet connection - GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, LTE


2) WiFi network connection


For WiFi internet connection you need to use Wi-Fi providers or you could use broadband wireless modem connected to you DSL, cable or satellite provider. Your home wireless network is made of computers or other devices connected with their wireless internet cards to the WiFi router.


3) Internet access using WiMAX solution

WiMAX - Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access or WirelessMAN works in big distances. This technology covers much bigger areas than WiFi.


In this article I will talk most about wireless cards that connects to the WiFi routers, so we could these cards WiFi cards.
Wireless internet cards connect devices to the wireless LAN network or the WiFi network. On web you could find the alternative names WiFi card and wireless network card. Wireless network cards supports one or more 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11n WiFi standards.
There are few different kinds of Wireless network adapters on the market:

- WiFi cards for laptops

- PCI Wireless Network card for desktop computers

- PCMCIA Wireless Card

- USB Wireless Network adapter

- WLAN compactflash card


This WiFi cards can work also on different devices except classical computers like:

- Xbox 360 wireless network adapter

- Nintendo WiFi

- Wireless credit card terminal

- Wireless internet printer adapter

- Wireless internet camera

- Wireless internet radio

- WLAN compactflash card

- PDA WiFi

- Archos 605 WiFi

- SD WiFi


There are many different vendors producing WiFi cards:

- Verizon WiFi card

- Sprint wireless card

- Belkin wireless G notebook card

- Atheros wireless LAN


Here I will explain you in details the most common kinds of wireless internet cards:

PCI Wireless Network Card

Wireless PCI adapter connects to a desktop computer’s PCI bus. PCI bus is inside the computer, so you need to open a computer and put the wireless PCI card. PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect is a standard for connecting devices to a computer CPU. PCI forms a common interconnection called bus. The bus connects all connected devices to share communication. PCI is the most common bus for desktop computers.


WLAN compactflash card


WLAN compactflash card or WiFi compact flash is combination of flash memory and wireless internet card. You could find the alternative name WiFi CF card or WLAN CF card. In one card you can have the wireless connectivity for your computer and a memory card for your pictures and other files you need.


Many computers have only one card slot so you need to decide are you going to use it for WiFi connection or for storage. PDA devices have even less card slots. Using the WiFi CF card this is not an issue.