How does wireless Internet work?

Have you ever asked a question: How does wireless Internet work? In this article you could find out more about the four main ways to accomplish wireless connection to the Internet - Mobile wireless internet, WiFi internet service, Internet access using WiMAX solution and Satellite Internet wireless access.

So to explain how does wireless Internet work let’s first explain what wireless internet is. Wireless access is connection to the Internet without cables. Between your computer and internet provider it is wireless radio signal. There are four main examples to be able to use this kind of connection:


1) Mobile wireless internet

Mobile network operators are offering you a voice calls, but in the same time you could use their service of mobile wireless internet. All new mobile phones have options to connect to the Internet. They also have an ability to use WiFi access. When you are close to your home wireless router or WiFi hotspot the best is to use WiFi, but in the rest of the cases you are connecting on Internet with mobile wireless internet connection. There are also Cellular wireless cards usually with USB or PCMCIA connectors which you connect to appropriate port on your PC and thanks to them you could surf on the web and check your emails. GSM and CDMA connects you to the speed of 9.6 kbps, GPRS have transfer rates of 114 kbps, EDGE up to 384 kbps. UMTS are allowing you speed of maximum 2Mbps and HSDPA maximum bandwidth is 42Mbps. To fully answer on question - How does wireless Internet work, we need to explain others way which are allowing us to use internet without cable.

2) WiFi internet service

For WiFi internet you need to use the Wi-Fi providers. The biggest problem with WiFi it does not have as big range as mobile operators do. WiFi or wireless fidelity refers to the wireless networks that use IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards - 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n. These standards are defining a wireless signals used for connection between wireless access point or wireless router and WiFi cards. WiFi technology is also called a WLAN or wireless local area network - Wireless LAN. This technology is first what usually came up to my mind when somebody asks me - how does wireless Internet work. Its quality, speed and features bring WiFi as the top of all ways to achieve internet without cables.

3) Internet access using WiMAX solution

WiMAX forum has formed IEEE 802.16 standard called WirelessMAN. WiMAX technology or Wireless MAN has bandwidth of 70 Mbps with maximum range of 112 kilometers or 70 miles. Wireless MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) covers a bigger range than WLAN (WiFi). WiMAX solution has two types of subscriber units:

- Indoor units

- Outdoor units.

Indoor units have lower range than outdoor units. Outdoor units needs professional installation and are much more expansive but they are offering wider range. WiMAX technology is much more expansive than WiFi and this is one of the reasons why WiFi is much more widespread than WiMAX.

4) Satellite internet wireless access

With this technology we will cover the most popular internet connections without wires and by now you get the feeling of all these various technologies and you now how does wireless Internet work. Satellite is the perfect solution in remote and rural areas, and it is the only way to achieve broadband internet. Beside big expense, the big delay caused by huge range that this kind of signal needs to travel is the biggest disadvantages of this solution.