Wireless networks, connections between electronic devices through the use of satellite, infra red signal or radio frequency. Amateur radio (also known as ham radio) uses it on some frequencies calling it a repeater system. This system uses one central radio station to receive and retransmit communications using two different frequencies. Basic example of this would be a person 50 miles south of the repeater transmits to the repeater receiving frequency the repeater then retransmits this communication to another person 50 miles north of the repeater station thus a clearer communication. Systems similar to these are used by police, fire, rescue and other state and federal services. Wireless networks can even cover our entertainment. You have one remote control that operates several pieces of equipment via either radio frequency signals or in some cases ultra violet light signals. Most common wireless network is a cell phone. Regardless of which carrier you use, they are the central location to which your cell phone communicates taking your voice and turning it into electrical signals. From your carrier you are connected to the person you called taking those electric signals and turning them into sound in the earpiece of the phone called. Another wireless network that is popular is by laptop computers. You take your laptop to the local coffee shop and you have internet access thanks to an open wireless router. You can also attain access to the internet from your cell phone provider for your laptop via a device that plugs into your laptop and connects you to the internet through your cell phone provider. The great thing about wireless network is in the name “Wireless” it basically means that you can be anywhere that a wireless network is and be free of cord and wires, that could hinder you from anything.
Benefits of Computer Networking in the Home
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Computer networking in your house may seem like some type of computer-nerd idea that normal folks just don’t implement. The truth is that computer networking in your home can be an excellent idea for a number of reasons.
The first reason is that you can limit the number of external devices you have. A home network can rely on one printer so that your presentation, your daughter’s term paper, and your son’s new album graphic all come out at the same place. One printer saves your family money.
Home networking also allows you to share information using file sharing or FTP software like File Zilla from one computer to the next. Most families have two reasons for this sharing of information. The first benefit is that music, movies, or files can be shared among the members of a family whenever anyone needs to use them.
The second benefit is that you aren’t stuck working on the same computer all the time. Let’s say your son is using the family computer in the living room, where you normally store your family’s budget spreadsheets. You need to work on the budget planning. With a computer network in your home, power up your laptop, sign on to the network, and access information in shared network folders. You can instantly pull your family’s budget without interrupting your son. Home networks simply make the family’s computer life run more smoothly.
Home networks also can be beneficial if you will have people over using various computers or if the members of your family have laptops. You can connect everyone so that no one is attached to a specific device. A home network can eliminate any arguing and negotiating over family computer time.
So the next time you think a home network is just for the tech geeks out there, reconsider–your home could benefit from one!
Upgrading: Is It Time to Replace Your Computer?
Only you can decide if the time has come to replace your desktop or laptop computer. Naturally, if it’s broken and would cost a lot to fix, you’ll probably want to replace it. But what if it’s just getting older and you aren’t sure whether it really does all that you want it to do? In that case, replacement is not actually required, but it may be a good idea. If you use your computer for business, you can deduct the cost of a new one from your taxes. If you just use it for personal things, you won’t get that benefit. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t replace it, though. Computers become obsolete just about as fast as they are purchased and leave the shelves. By the time you get it home, there will be something that’s faster, or that does more.
Don’t worry about that. All that matters with your computer is that you get what you’re looking for and what works best for you. If you never use it for playing games online, for example, you probably don’t need something that’s designed to do that. If you put a lot of things on your computer, you’ll want to make sure that you have a large memory and a fast processor, so you can get everything you need on your hard drive and access it quickly. How you use your computer will play the largest role in whether you should upgrade it and whether that means buying some new hardware or replacing it entirely.
With desktop computers, it’s much easier to just replace a component. You can put in a second hard drive, add more memory, or do all kinds of other things. With a laptop, space is much more limited. You don’t have room for large upgrades, so it may be easier and more economical to just buy a new computer and sell or donate the old one. If you’re getting rid of a computer, remove the hard drive or completely reformat it, so that no one else can get your personal information from it.