Zero in on the right wireless network for you

Here's what you need to know about wireless networking, from the standards and technologies to the best products for your home or office.

With so many possible ways to build a network, it pays to home in on the solution that best suits your needs before you buy. These user profiles will start you off in the right direction.

Usage types: Home network | Home-office network or telecommuter | Online gaming and entertainment | Hot-spot hopper | Internet services provider | Bluetooth broker

Home network

You can get ample bandwidth for sharing a broadband Internet connection without spending much. Even the slowest wireless gear is several times faster than cable or DSL. You may prefer to buy a kit that includes all of the basic networking gear, but you can also buy the components separately and connect them together. Exactly what you need will depend on how many systems you want to connect and where they are located.

What you need	What it does
Cable/DSL broadband router	Connects your Internet service to your network
Wireless access point	Connects wireless adapters to your network
Wireless adapter	Connects computers to your wireless network
Power-line adapter	Connects computers to your power-line network

Home office network or telecommuter

If you use your home as an office, you need a robust network with reliable security. Wireless routers typically offer some protection, but a software firewall can provide an additional safeguard for your data. If you need to access your network from remote locations on business trips, you may even want to invest in a hardware VPN (virtual private network) firewall so that you can securely access your home network over the Internet.

What you need	What it does
VPN firewall	Protects your network from attacks over the Internet
Cable/DSL broadband router	Connects your Internet service to your network
Wireless access point	Connects wireless adapters to your network
Wireless adapter	Connects computers to your wireless network
Power-line adapter	Connects computers to your power-line network

Online gaming and entertainment

If you want to transfer large files over the network while streaming audio from a computer to your stereo, or if you like to play bandwidth-intensive, multiplayer games, then set your sights on a high-bandwidth solution, such as 802.11n, Ethernet, 802.11a, or dual band.

What you need	What it does
Cable/DSL broadband router	Connects your Internet service to your network
Wireless access point	Connects wireless adapters to your network
Wireless adapter	Connects computers to your wireless network
Power-line adapter	Connects computers to your power-line network
Digital-media adapter	Connects TVs and stereos to your network

Hot-spot hopper

Business travelers can now stay connected anywhere using wireless hot spots. Whether you are in an airport, a cafe, a public park, a shopping mall, or a parking lot, you may find yourself smack-dab in the middle of a public or commercial hot spot. With the right gear, hot-spot hopping is easy. Opt for a PC Card with a sensitive antenna, an external antenna connector, or a high-power output, and find out which wireless ISPs are available in your area. Or do away with hot-spot hunting altogether and get a cellular modem card that taps into the cellular providers' data networks. You can be online on the bus, in your car, or in the park--wherever you can get a cellular signal.

What you need	What it does
Wireless notebook	Connects to hot spots with its built-in adapter
PDA with built-in Wi-Fi or CompactFlash adapter	Connects to hot spots with its built-in adapter
Wireless adapter	Connects notebooks to hot spots
Range-extending antenna	Increases the range of your wireless adapter
Wireless Internet service	Gives you Internet access at a variety of locations
Cellular modem card	Connects to the cellular data network anywhere you can get a cellular signal

Internet services provider

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to connect two or more houses wirelessly or to share an Internet connection with an entire building or neighborhood. Whether your objectives are philanthropic or commercial, building a hot spot can be done for less than the cost of a high-end notebook.

What you need	What it does
Shareable or resalable Internet service	Allows you to connect the general public to the Internet
Wireless access point with removable antenna	Allows you to tailor your coverage area
Wireless adapter	Allows your clients to connect to your service
Range-extending antenna	Increases the range of your wireless access point
Power over Ethernet injector	Lets you power an access point on a mast

Bluetooth broker

You don't need a full-blown local-area network to sync up your PDA with your computer or to transfer photos from your notebook to your printer. Bluetooth is designed for just such casual, close-range connections.

What you need	What it does
Bluetooth adapter	Connects to other Bluetooth devices
Bluetooth printer kit	Connects your printer to other Bluetooth devices
Bluetooth-enabled notebook	Connects with other Bluetooth-enabled devices
Bluetooth-enabled PDA	Connects with other Bluetooth-enabled devices

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