Wireless Broadband
Posted February 7th, 2012
and last modified April 10th, 2012Wireless broadband is a technology that provides high-speed unwired Internet access or computer networking access over a wide area. There are two different types of wireless broadband: Wi-Fi and 3G; with both providing wireless internet access to users of portable devices like laptops, smart-phones and tablets.
Top Wireless Broadband plans
Previous Wireless Internet Connections Were Actually De-facto Wireless
The old version of wireless still exists in Internet cafes, airport lounges and ‘hot-spots’ scattered around the country. The Internet was accessed in these area with a laptop computer that had an inbuilt means of receiving the signal sent out by a router in the same way you now set up your own home or office network. It is wireless in the way it is used in offices and schools because there are no untidy cables or wires cluttering up the floor space for somebody to trip over. The signal itself is sent to the router from a computer that is using ADSL or ADSL2+ technology in exactly the same way as you receive broadband with your fixed telephone line or cable PC that is in a room of your home or office.
The biggest problem you have with this type of technology is that you have to search for a ‘hot-spot’ before you can go online and this can be quite a problem in an unfamiliar city. It can also be inconvenient and when you finally find a place to set up, your connection can be quite slow and frustrating if a lot of other people have the same idea.
The Smart-phone Brought With it True Wireless Broadband
True wireless broadband arrived with the introduction of the smart-phone that grew from the humble mobile, or cell phone. As this technology developed it was discovered that broadband access to the Internet could also occur with the use of radio waves. The same as those used to power your mobile phone. You could now go online with your computer anywhere you could make and receive your mobile phone calls. A revolution in Internet use followed. Broadband users could now go online practically anywhere. No longer were you tried to a PC in the corner of a room with nothing to look at apart from the four walls surrounding you. You could now check your emails on the train as you commuted to and from work. You could take your online project with you to the park whenever you wanted to do so. When travelling you could stay in touch with the office, friends on Facebook or Twitter. Student were finally independent of having to wait until a phone line was available to do their studies when away from home. True Internet freedom and flexibility had finally arrived.
What’s the difference between Wi-Fi and 3G?
Wi-Fi and 3G are differing communication technologies that provide wireless broadband internet access to users of portable devices like laptops, smart-phones and tablets. The major difference arises in the way they connect to the internet.
Wi-Fi connects to the internet through a wireless network (usually a fixed broadband connection with a wireless router) and has a relatively short range but a high speed connection. Wi-Fi networks are based around a single wireless access point and are generally private networks set up at home, or public networks in places like shopping centres, airports and restaurants.
3G mobile internet is a type of cellular network that connects to the internet wherever there is mobile phone reception. 3G has a far greater range than Wi-Fi and is typically viewed as ‘on the go’ internet. However, one of its drawbacks is that it is usually slower than Wi-Fi. Accessing the internet through 3G is also more expensive than accessing it through Wi-Fi, which is usually free. Typically, service providers sell ’3G data plans’ or bundle 3G data into mobile plans today.
When using a portable device capable of using both Wi-Fi and 3G, ensure you always connect to Wi-Fi internet where possible. If it is not available or you are out of range, your device will then connect using 3G.
Wireless Broadband Availability
One of the main strengths of wireless broadband is its wide availability. Where ADSL or ADSL2+ fixed line broadband is reliant on you being located within a certain distance from a local telephone exchange, wireless broadband will be available as long as you are in range of a mobile phone tower. In fact Telstra’s BigPond boasts it is able to deliver a wireless broadband signal to 98 percent of the Australian population and if you are too remote to be within range of a mobile phone tower you will most likely be able to access wireless broadband via a satellite connection.
Things to Watch out for With Wireless Broadband:
- Although wireless broadband is quite fast when compared to the old dial-up Internet connections it is slower than ADSL or ADSL2+ fixed line technology. Many users manage speeds of 1.5Mbps which is quite suitable for general usage but could be a bit slow for very large files. This means you may still need your fixed line PC for downloading movies and the bigger files but use your wireless broadband when out and about.
- You will find that third generation (3G) wireless technology is quite reliable and the latest development 4G is even better again. However, you could still occasion difficulty inside some large buildings or when driving through a tunnel, however, if you can get a signal on your mobile phone you should be able to go online in the same location.
- Wireless technology is not as secure as is fixed line or cable broadband connections. This is because the data you are receiving is travelling much longer distances through the air. This can be overcome if you go to the trouble of encrypting your messages, otherwise just be aware of this fact and send any sensitive data through your PC when you get home or back to the office.
Wireless broadband offers so much freedom and flexibility that it is actually mind boggling. It is an essential part of any persons Internet accessing requirements, especially if you move around or travel a lot.
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Most consumers were extremely happy with the development of the 3G technology as it made it possible to receive wireless broadband with this technology. However, innovations in the internet market are constantly underway and more and more leading ISPs in Australia are getting ready to launch their 4G services for wireless broadband.till such time that these services are available to the general public, consumers should try to get as much as they can from their 3G wireless broadband; consumers need to choose the best wireless broadband that provides them with exactly what they need. - Compare Wireless Broadband
Mobile broadband has grown enormously around the world in recent times, particularly in Australia. The first taste the general public had of the benefits that could be obtained from accessing the internet, without the need to plug a modem into a fixed telephone line, was by accessing a wireless hotspot. Laptops began being released with built in modems that would automatically find nearby wireless signals that were available in internet cafes and airport lounges primarily. When you begin to compare wireless broadband you will find it an exciting endeavour that includes many factors that are continually changing as the industry grows with unbelievable speed. Things are looking even brighter into the future. - How to Choose a Wireless Internet Service Provider
Wireless internet providers have never been busier than they are today. Wireless internet, or mobile broadband, as it is commonly called, has caught the imagination of Australian consumers as nothing else before it. Much of this is due to wireless technology using the same radio waves as that of mobile phones which has allowed wireless internet providers to offer the same coverage areas as that of their respective phones. The other reason is its improved speed and reliability. - What is 4G?
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- Laptop Broadband Offers
Over recent years, getting online using a laptop and a service has become increasingly common amongst the many people who are eager to be able to enjoy increased convenience and ease as well as flexibility and freedom when it comes to getting online. You can choose from a range of different sizes of laptops to suit your needs, so whether you prefer a bigger screen and size for your laptop or whether you find smaller is better, you should find the ideal device and plan from amongst the various laptop broadband offers available today.