What is a wireless router?
A router allows you to connect several PCs or laptops to the internet, so several people in your home can be online at the same time. A wireless router uses radio signals to communicate between the various computers connected to it, doing away with messy cables. If your computing equipment isn’t currently set up for wireless connection to the internet, you can buy the necessary equipment from Sky to enable it.
A router is a device used to direct traffic flow between local computers networked together, either via Ethernet cabling, or through radio wave technology. A network that uses Ethernet cabling is referred to as a hard-wired network, while radio wave networks are called wireless networks. Both types of networks have advantages and disadvantages, but wireless networks are the least expensive and easiest to set up because they don’t require running Ethernet cable between machines. Standard routers do not have wireless technology built in, so if you want a wireless network, you’ll require a wireless router. While a wireless router can direct local traffic on a network, a modem is required if Internet access is desired. In many cases, digital subscriber line (DSL) and cable Internet service providers (ISPs) provide a pre-configured modem to connect to the service. A wireless router can be connected to the modem to provide Internet access to the network. Another option is to get a wireless r
This might sound real dumbed down, but a wireless router serves exactly the same purpose as the wired router. The only major difference is that it also emits a signal that will allow wireless devices connect to the Intrynet. Some laptop computers have “wireless cards” inside them, and when they are within the signal of a wireless router, the laptop can hook up to that signal and connect to the Intrynet. Essentially, the Nintendo DS has a sort of a wireless card inside it, and when it’s within the range of a wireless signal, it could connect to the Intrynet to play. Most wireless routers also include Ethernet ports so that you can still plug your PC directly into the router to get your connection.
A wireless router serves the same purpose that traditional routers have for over 25 years; it acts as a connection between separate networks and allows the transmission of data across them. The key difference in a wireless router is that it can translate data packets to and from radio carrier waves, thus allowing computers and devices to access the networks the router connects without the need for cables.
Understanding wireless routers is a skill you’ll need going forward, get a lesson in wireless networks and routers in this free video. Expert: David Schaefer Bio: David Schaefer of Friendly Computers has been working on computers for 13 years and has worked with Friendly Computers for 1 1/2 years.