Mobile Broadband

Mobile Broadband

Wireless Broadband

Almost three million people connect wirelessly to the internet at home, and once people understand what wireless actually is, and how easy it is to install (and it's quite easy to get to grips with it) more and more people are using wireless broadband

So what is wireless? Also loosely known as WiFi or wireless networking, it's pretty much what it says on the tin. It's accessing the internet without wires. Wireless broadband in particular, is your normal broadband service but made available to any computer or games console in the house (or garden for that matter). You still get the same high speed broadband connection without the need to be next to a phone line.

Wireless broadband, essentially frees up your broadband access. Lots of people can access the connection at the same time. That means no more arguments over who uses it and when. There's less clutter as there are fewer wires running around the house. You can have lots of different computers connected - laptops and desk computers. It even means you can sit in the garden on a sunny day and work or surf as easily as you can at your desk.

Wireless broadband is ideal for families, who are likely to have several computers, games consoles and even mobile phones as well as several potential users.

You can go about getting wireless broadband in two ways. The essential bit of kit is a wireless router. You can buy one yourself from a retailer and set it up or you can get one from the provider of your broadband.

If you want to buy one yourself, you need to make sure it's the right one. If you get your broadband via a phone line, then you need what's called a 'Broadband Router'. If you have cable broadband, you need to get a cable/DSL router. You will also need to evaluate the features you need. Look at things like an integrated firewall for security, the number of ports and whether it includes a wireless USB key to wirelessly enable your desktop computers.

The other option, is to go to your broadband provider. The advantage of this, is that they will send you a router that's already configured to your set up and ready to go within 20 minutes of plugging in. The only drawback, is that you may only be leasing it, making it returnable should you switch providers.

All in all, moving to wireless is pretty straightforward and offers excellent advantages to most.

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