What is the point in Wireless?

I ask this question simply because I have just signed up for Sky
broadband, and despite my wife clearly stating that we didn't want
wireless (because of potential security risks) they sent us a wireless
router anyway!

What has really surprised me when I looked at the router and how it
works is that, it's not wireless. In fact a wireless router has just as
many wires connected to it as my ADSL modem!

It may not be connected to my PC, but it's still connected to the phone
line, and most importantly, connected to the mains power supply. Now, I
don't know about you, but I have considerably more USB ports on my PC
than I do plug sockets in my home, so really, having to plug it into
the mains instead of into my PC is far less convenient!

I can kind of understand the point of wireless for laptops, but I'm
just wondering; considering that a wireless router has the same number
of wires as a "wired" router, and needs separate mains power; what on
earth is the point in wireless internet?

Unholymess


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In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
Unholymess <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:


> I can kind of understand the point of wireless for laptops, but I'm
> just wondering; considering that a wireless router has the same number
> of wires as a "wired" router, and needs separate mains power; what on
> earth is the point in wireless internet?
>

Most of the point is in being able to add other computers to the
network without running a whole bunch of wire around to do it. Sounds
like in your particular circumstance, it isn't of much use. In mine,
where I have my computer, my wife has hers and each child has theirs, it
is much more convenient. I don't get kicked off mine (or have to listen
to above mentioned family members whine about needing to get on the
Internet) anywhere near as often.

Kurt Ullman wrote:
> In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
> Unholymess <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
>
>> I can kind of understand the point of wireless for laptops, but I'm
>> just wondering; considering that a wireless router has the same number
>> of wires as a "wired" router, and needs separate mains power; what on
>> earth is the point in wireless internet?
>>
>>
>
> Most of the point is in being able to add other computers to the
> network without running a whole bunch of wire around to do it. Sounds
> like in your particular circumstance, it isn't of much use. In mine,
> where I have my computer, my wife has hers and each child has theirs, it
> is much more convenient. I don't get kicked off mine (or have to listen
> to above mentioned family members whine about needing to get on the
> Internet) anywhere near as often.
>
Agreed. I have 1 x desktop and two laptops. The desktop is wireless as
are the laptops. The desktop WAS wired using cat5. However I decided to
move it and it was much less trouble getting a cheap USB Wi_Fi donlge
that running a new cat5 cable.

Clive

On Jun 19, 7:48 am, Unholymess <Unholymess.2sf...@no-
mx.wirelessforums.org> wrote:
> I ask this question simply because I have just signed up for Sky
> broadband, and despite my wife clearly stating that we didn't want
> wireless (because of potential security risks) they sent us a wireless
> router anyway!
>
> What has really surprised me when I looked at the router and how it
> works is that, it's not wireless. In fact a wireless router has just as
> many wires connected to it as my ADSL modem!
>
> It may not be connected to my PC, but it's still connected to the phone
> line, and most importantly, connected to the mains power supply. Now, I
> don't know about you, but I have considerably more USB ports on my PC
> than I do plug sockets in my home, so really, having to plug it into
> the mains instead of into my PC is far less convenient!
>
> I can kind of understand the point of wireless for laptops, but I'm
> just wondering; considering that a wireless router has the same number
> of wires as a "wired" router, and needs separate mains power; what on
> earth is the point in wireless internet?
>
> Unholymess
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> View this thread:http://www.wirelessforums.org/showth...lessforums.org

Actually, there are NOT "just as many wires" in that there may
be (0) local network cables, or typically up to (4), besides the
wirelessly-linked computers. I take it you do have ac outlets
or outlet strips available that'll handle the 10 watts or so. :')

And ... the wirelessly-connected computers can _move_
without cable constraint- very useful to some. And not just
for laptops.

Re security: use WPA with seriously long and unguessable key.
DAGS on this.

J