All About The Wireless Internet Cards

Wireless internet card or wireless network adapter connects a computing device to the wireless network. There are WiFi cards for laptops, desktops, PDAs and other devices that need a wireless network connection.

There are lots of different kinds of wireless networks.

1) Mobile internet
As addition to voice calls, mobile network operators are offering mobile wireless internet. You could reach internet with your mobile phone, or with your personal computer using special mobile cards. There are various different technologies for mobile wireless internet connection - GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, LTE.

2) WiFi
For WiFi internet connection you need to use Wi-Fi providers or you could use broadband wireless modem connected to you DSL, cable or satellite provider. Your home wireless network is made of computers or other devices connected with their wireless internet adapters to the WiFi router.

3) Internet access using WiMAX solution
WiMAX - Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access or Wireless MAN works in big distances. This technology covers much bigger areas than WiFi.

In this article I will talk most about wireless adapters that connects to the WiFi routers.

Wireless internet cards connect devices to the wireless LAN network or the WiFi network. On web you could find the alternative names WiFi card and wireless network adapter. Wireless network adapters support one or more 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11n WiFi standards.

There are few different kinds of Wireless network adapters on the market:

- WiFi cards for laptops
- PCI WiFi Network adapter for desktop computers
- PCMCIA WiFi adapter
- USB Wireless Network adapter
- WLAN compact flash adapter

These WiFi adapters can work also on different devices except classical computers like:

- Xbox 360 adapter
- Nintendo WiFi
- Credit card terminal
- Internet printer adapter
- Wireless internet camera
- Internet radio
- WLAN compact flash card
- PDA WiFi
- Archos 605 WiFi
- SD WiFi

There are many different vendors producing WiFi cards:

- Verizon WiFi card
- Sprint wireless card
- Belkin wireless G notebook card
- Atheros wireless LAN

Here I will explain you in details the most common kinds of wireless internet cards:

PCI Wireless Network Card

WiFi PCI adapter connects to a desktop computer's PCI bus. PCI bus is inside the computer, so you need to open a computer and put the WiFi PCI adapter. PCI - Peripheral Component Interconnect is a standard for connecting devices to a computer CPU. PCI forms a common interconnection called bus. The bus connects all connected devices to share communication. PCI is the most common bus for desktop computers.

WLAN compact flash card

WLAN compact flash card or WiFi compact flash is combination of flash memory and wireless internet adapter. You could find the alternative name WiFi CF card or WLAN CF card. In one adapter you can have the wireless connectivity for your computer and a memory card for your pictures and other files you need.

Many computers have only one card slot so you need to decide are you going to use it for WiFi connection or for storage. PDA devices have even less card slots. This is the biggest problem of using the WiFi CF cards.

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