This page is broken down into four parts. They are what, how, which, and where. What a wireless LAN is is the first section. It explains what they are and how they work. It also goes through a brief setup tutorial. The second section explains how a wireless LAN can benefit you. The third section takes you through some major issues when choosing a wireless LAN and helps you to choose the LAN that is best for you. The last section is links to different pages and companies that you might want to know more about when purchasing a wireless LAN.

What is a Wireless LAN?

Wireless LAN Benefits

Which Products Should I Buy?

Get More Wireless LAN Information

Hooking home computers together in a network is one of those ugly personal technology tasks with no right answers and no simple alternatives.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope.

A new technical standard for wireless networking with the ungainly name IEEE 802.11b, also known as Wi-Fi, is starting to deliver relatively affordable gear intended for home users.

Wireless networking is going mainstream for some very simple reasons. It allows people to achieve more by freeing them from their desks while providing easy yet fast and secure access to information across a building or campus.

Once upon a time, wireless LANs were found solely in vertical enterprises: schools, health care, warehousing, and inventory management. Wireless LANs were slow, expensive, and proprietary. Today's wireless landscape looks significantly different. Today, going wireless is practical and cost-effective. The speed and performance of the 802.11b products tested make this technology a reasonable alternative where wired Ethernet is simply not feasible. And thanks to dramatically lower prices, SOHO (small office/home office) and mobile apps are also a possibility.

To achieve a home network, the reach of the PC and Internet must be extended throughout the home and yard. Additionally, the resources of the PC and Internet must be connected with legacy home applications such as telephony, audio entertainment, and home control systems. After these requirements have been met, the sharing of resources in a multi-PC home becomes simple.

Ambicom is a distributor of Wi-Fi products. The page that I included a link to is the FAQ page. It has some great information about wireless networks.

The most crowded track at this year's IDF seemed to be those centered around wireless technology, and the Bluetooth track was no exception. With the room filling to capacity over 20 min. before the presentation, it seems that Bluetooth technology is a hit, not only with the press but also with OEMs.