George Bell wrote:
> Wireless (WiFi) is an excellent solution, provided there is
> a good signal, and should cost nothing in running costs.
> Speed is slower, but generally barely noticeable for
> Internet browsing. If you need to have very large file
> transfers or a regular, Broadband is better. (By large, I
> mean 10 Megabytes and over)
Wi-Fi is a technology for connecting computers within a local area. A
wireless Local Area Network (LAN) may or may not be connected to the
internet and the internet connection could be via dialup (slow), ISDN, ADSL,
cable modem or leased line (in rough speed order). ADSL and connections via
a cable company (Telewest/Blueyonder or NTL) are loosely referred to as
"broadband".
Wi-Fi ranges in speed up to 11 Mbits/sec for the slowest flavour (IEEE
802.11b for the interested) and ADSL's top theoretical speed is 9 Mbits/sec.
Most cheap ADSL connections are around 0.5 MBits/sec. Thus unless the Wi-Fi
reception is poor (due to distance or building structure) or the Wi-Fi
network is shared by many people, it will easily handle any speed of
broadband connection.
Although Wi-Fi doesn't cost anything in running costs, it will not allow
email or web browsing unless connected to some sort of internet gateway,
whether broadband or not. Someone, somewhere will be paying for this
internet connection, even though it may be an unknown someone in the next
building or flat. Wi-Fi is based on radio waves, so a connection may be
established to a network some distance away and often these networks are
installed with minimal security allowing anyone access to shared resources
including the LAN's internet connection.
Saying that broadband is better than Wi-Fi is like saying that a BT
telephone line is better than a cordless telephone, they're not really the
same thing and you could have one without the other or even have both.
George's experience may have been "eavesdropping" on a distant insecure
wireless network, in which case, yes, it is faster to have your own broadban
d internet connection, but there is no reason why someone couldn't have
their own broadband internet connection distributed around their premises
via a wireless network. It is often inconvenient to run cables throughout a
building or be forced to use fixed locations for computers - with a laptop,
a wireless network and an internet connection, one can browse the web from
anywhere within range, including the garden!
Sorry for the length of reply, but precision is important in these matters!
Robert
Edinburgh University Computing Services Disabilities Advisor
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