Your Introductory Guide to Wireless Broadband

Oftentimes referred to as fixed wireless broadband, wireless broadband is rapidly becoming the hottest new thing in high-speed broadband access. Operating at frequency bands less than 6 GHz, wireless broadband yields Internet connection speeds ranging from as little as 256 Kbps to as much as 10+ Mbps.

There are various types of wireless broadband connections due to its sole reference to a high-speed Internet connection that does not require a physical connection through which data is sent / received. (Although the final connection doesn’t require a physical connection, the wireless ‘backbone’ network generally uses cables.)

Some of the various types of wireless broadband Internet includes some of the following:

• Wi-Fi
• Satellite broadband
• Wireless DSL
• Wireless Digital Cable

Wi-Fi is considered by many to be the future of broadband Internet as it allows for widespread wireless connectivity. Wireless DSL and wireless digital cable are the most affordable and most commonly used forms of wireless broadband.

How Does Wireless Broadband Work?

Wireless broadband technology is somewhat similar to cellular technology in that it uses radio waves to transmit and receive data across the air waves without having to rely on any type of physical connection. Simply put, wireless broadband refers to the spreading of an electromagnetic wave through empty space by an antenna which is connected to some type of base station.

The most obvious upside of a wireless broadband network would be the ability to provide broadband Internet access for an entire region without having to string thousands of miles of fiber, coax or twisted pair wiring. It would become a lot more cost effective to provide broadband Internet access to rural locales.

Benefits of Wireless Broadband

The most noteworthy benefit associated with a wireless broadband Internet connection is the freedom it affords its users. If you have a desktop computer with wireless capabilities, this benefit is little more than 1 less wire plugged into the back of your tower. Wireless broadband is designed primarily for the laptop user. Laptop owners can access the Internet from literally any point within the signal range. Take your computer outside to do some online shopping and some email. Work from your bed without worrying about getting out your 50 ft Ethernet cable out.

Another benefit for laptop users is the ability to take your laptop around town and receive wireless broadband Internet connections from various coffee shops, restaurants, airports, etc., catering to their tech-savvy customer base.

Types of Wireless Broadband Infrastructure

There are 2 basic types of wireless broadband infrastructure, those being ad-hoc mode and infrastructure mode:

Ad-hoc mode – Otherwise referred to as peer-to-peer, allows wireless broadband devices to communicate with one another directly, without a bridge of any kind. This type of connection is most commonly used to network 2 PC’s, generally allowing 1 to use the Internet connection established by the other.  

Infrastructure mode – As opposed to the peer-to-peer type of wireless connection, the more standard infrastructure mode does operate using a bridge connection through which it communicates with a wired Ethernet network.