How Does Wireless Internet Work?

Many people look at the subject of wireless Internet and are amazed that it works at all! But if we put a few basic components together and connect them properly it is possible to have a worldwide conversation without being hooked up to cables and wires.

With the new technology available in the last years of the 20th century and the first decade of the new century, Internet users have enjoyed very good service at relatively high speeds. Residential users can now move information at rates of 2 megabytes per second and even faster.

Because of the new and stable technology, people have discovered that wireless Internet can be just as reliable as service through cables or by satellite. If a computer can receive a signal from a remote wireless tower or from the wireless router in the home we can work and play almost anywhere.

But how does this “magic” take place? First of all, it really isn’t magic. Yes, wireless Internet systems are a bit more complex than previous systems. But there is a basic explanation for how this works that should satisfy almost anyone who is interested.

To begin the story, there are standards of communication used by most service providers, sort of like a common language that allows the equipment to connect and understand. A base station is established by the company that will provide access to the rest of the world through the Internet. The individual or business wanting to use the service has to have an antenna that will receive the signals (similar to receiving radio signals that allow us to hear music and talk shows).

The company providing the Internet service has computers and software programs on its end. For their participation the user needs identification (user name) and the password that will allow them to connect to the company’s system.

The company gets Internet signals/information through a relay system from other towers, from satellites and from cable. This information can be sent out from their tower to the receiving antenna at the user end or through cable to a wireless router in the home or office.

In basic terms, the home or business computer is receiving the information through broadcast signals sent from the base station of the providing company. Of course, the signals have to be at the correct frequency so that users on one system don’t interfere with another system. This is similar to the different radio stations that can be “tuned in” on one radio in the home.

In the new world of Internet activity computer users can receive data, voice and music, all through signals sent through the atmosphere. Wires and cables have been replaced in many cases, giving all of us much more freedom to move around. Not only do we have the opportunity to receive information through a physical cable connected to our computer, we can converse with the world through tiny receiving “cards” inside computers and through home routers that have a small antenna to receive signals.