Many people when they think of wireless think of their cell phones. Unfortunately, in the US the wireless cellular network does not easily or cheaply support data transmission. So, if you have set up a wireless network in your home or go to your local cafe to use your laptop while sipping coffee then you may be aware of the 802.11b and 802.11g wireless networks.

The latest improvement that has been announced is the 802.11n. Vendors are starting to ship both the base stations and the wireless 802.11n cards that will slip into a laptop. Unfortunately, there is no final standard and don't expect one until 2006. So, don't rush out to buy one unless you don't care if you have to replace it in a couple years.

The main benefit of this new technology is that it has higher speed (6 times 802.11g) and is intended to eliminate the dead spots. Vendors never seem to be willing to wait, so a number of companies have announced MIMO (multiple in, multiple out). MIMO means that with the older technology the base station transmit a single data stream, while MIMO send out multiple data streams from multiple antenna.

NetGear and Linksys Products

If you have set up a wireless network at home and your laptop does not currently work everywhere in your home or other desired location you might consider these new products.

We often get calls from people wanting to connect wirelessly. Since cell phones have become ubiquitous and very inexpensive, people often feel that they should be able to do the same thing with their laptops.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. Sending files from your laptop to another computer over the cell phone network is not as straightforward as it would appear at first glance.

The first question to ask yourself is what you intend on doing when not connected to a "land line" (hard wired network). Obvious choices would be sending and receiving e-mail, and browsing the web. Where will you be located when needing to use the laptop wirelessly? Nationwide, or in one geographic area; at the airport, at Starbuck's, at the local library or University or at home? Next you need to determine your budget. If the company is paying for this they most likely have figured out the options and will tell you exactly what you can and can't do. If you are paying personally, then you need to figure out how important wireless is and what the costs are.

There are some areas of the country where the only wireless option is cellular. There are some great wireless options offered to people that live in Dallas, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, New York, and other major metropolitan areas, but not in rural America. This is where cellular may be the only option and service may be spotty at best.

Cellular is slow and awkward. Cellular data transfer rates are much slower than 56Kbps modems. Many ISPs (Internet Service Providers) can't handle lower speed connections, so you will most like have to find a new ISP. This type of connection might be ok for e-mail, but would be painfully slow for browsing the web.

The nationwide cellular providers are: Nextel Communications, T-Mobile US, Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless, and Cingular Wireless (formerly AT&T Wireless). You should contact them to find out what types of wireless data services they provide and how much it costs. Call your current ISP and cellular phone provider to find out the options they provide. This could also be an opportunity to investigate your cellular provider's offerings. Most providers have become extremely competitive and offer package deals. Some providers package regular local calling service, with nationwide calling service, with cellular telephone service, with wireless services. They want to be your "one stop shop". Once people decide they often will stick with a provider for many years and the providers know that. Don't be afraid to negotiate with them either.

September 2007 Sprint is offering the Pantex Wireless PX-500 PCMCIA card. It is $59.99. The monthly service is $59.99 and there is a one time $49.99 charge. Sprint Wireless Laptop Services You need to check to see where they provide coverage. Coverage

Once you've found the deal of a lifetime, you will need a PCMCIA card for your laptop or you may be instructed to connect a cable from your cellular telephone to your laptop.

When considering a PCMCIA card, you need to make sure that your cellular provider supports the protocol (communications mode) of the card you choose. Most providers offer a list of compatible devices or recommend one over another. The PCMCIA card should support both Analog and Digital mode if you wish to be always connected.

If you wish to connect via your cell phone then you need to investigate the specific interface to connect the laptop to the specific phone you are using.

Wireless is not ubiquitous in the US. Meaning it is not available everwhere and the costs vary greatly.

If you want to unwire your laptop at home, then you need to create a wireless network. That means you need hardware to transmit the wireless signal from your desktop or your existing network over the airwaves to the laptop. A wireless network consists of a wireless Access Point (AP) and a wireless card for your laptop.

If you want go wireless while on the road, in airports, or while visiting your local university, it is possible. You will need to find access points where there is a signal for your laptop to capture. Someone will have created the network and an 802.11b or 802.11g PCMCIA card in your laptop should be all you need to connect. Many coffee shops or "Internet Cafe's", offer free wireless service for their patrons.

In order to connect your laptop to a wireless network, you have to physically be "in range" of a compatible Access Point. Typical indoor ranges are 150-300 feet and outdoor ranges are can be up to 1000 feet, but this depends upon the environment. Things that interfere with the wireless signal, referred to as the RF (radio frequency) signal, are steel enclosures such as found in some elevator shafts and some buildings. Another type of interference can be caused microwave signals.

You will need a wireless PCMCIA card for your laptop in order to connect to a wireless network. This is a credit card sized device that slides into a slot in a laptop. Fortunately, there is a standard and the two commonly available cards are the 802.11b and 802.11G. In 2000, 802.11b became the standard wireless ethernet networking technology for both business and home. With a realistic throughput of 2.54Mbps, it is fast enough for most network applications and tolerable for file transfers. 802.11g communicates at 54Mbps. We sell these cards at http://www.usedlaptops.com/accessories.htm for $30 and $40 respectively.

Connection to the cellular network is a possibility, but you need to check the costs for both the connection, the details about how to connect and the airtime costs from your cellular provider. Cellular connectivity is a different technology than RF connectivity and it might be too expensive for your budget. As always, do your research.