may seem silly...

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › may seem silly...

chixsta49

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#11466 24-Jan-2007 21:04

but what is wi-fi is that broaband or different, have google and used wikipedia but doesent really tell me? like is wi-fi differnt broadband,

JAMMAN2110

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#58771 24-Jan-2007 21:08

I find it incredibly hard to believe it didNT tell you, I just googled then to check and the first thing that came up...

tonyhughes

Hawkes Bay
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#58773 24-Jan-2007 21:17

My first two searches on Google:

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&q=define%3Awifi&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=define%3Abroadband&btnG=Search&meta=

And on Wikipedia too...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadband

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wifi

WiFi and Broadband are very basic concepts. If you have to write a paper on them, I suggest reading the Wikipedia links top to bottom.

WiFi is the wireless network in my home, delivered by a WiFi access point, and recieved by my wireless enabled laptop.
Broadband is the generic term for the high speed internet access I have from Telecoms exchange to my house.
I access my broadband connection, using my WiFi link at home.
My WiFi connection has enough bandwidth to carry my broadband connection, so could probably also be called a broadband link.
Broadband could be Jetstream (a brand name for ADSL in New Zealand), cable (through Telstra), fiber optic cable, wireless (wifi and other RF methods, regular cellular (EVDO, UMTS, 1XRTT, GPRS, HSDPA etc) or an ethernet connection.

bradstewart

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#58774 24-Jan-2007 21:20

It does have it, you are right James. But that doesn't mean it actually tells you what it is in a way thats easy to understand.

Wifi is a method of transmitting data wirelessly. For example between your computer and broadband modem so you can move your PC around without the need for lots of cables.

muppet

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#58778 24-Jan-2007 21:37

Wifi is a method of having your computer connected to a network (it might be the "Internet" or just a company/home network) without needing to have cables plugged in.
I am typing this message on my laptop, the only cable it has plugged into it is the power cable. When I load up the geekzone webpage it loads over the wireless connection.

Think of it the same way as you do your TV remote control.

Broadband is "High Speed" Internet. It is a way of having your computer connected to the Internet without needing to tie up your phone line and "dial up", it's an always-on connection.

You can have Broadband just fine without Wifi, but it means the computer you use must be plugged into the Broadband network via a cable. But if you wanted to be able to move around the house easily with your computer, you can then get wifi "added" to your network, plug the cable and the Internet will keep working.

If you have just the one PC (and it's not a laptop) then I see little point in getting Wifi. You probably just want Broadband, which will make using the Internet a lot more enjoyable as websites load up a lot faster.

euanandrews

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#58782 24-Jan-2007 22:01

Laymens terms.....

WiFi.......is used within a house to connect 2 or more computers/devices together, its a 'networking standard'.....it is the connection WITHIN your house....it is not broadband so to speak...

Broadband is a term used to describe a fast internet connection, provided by an ISP (Telecom or Ihug for example).......it is the connection TO your house....and can be provided in many ways.....adsl, wireless, satelitte or cable (dont confuse wireless with WiFi)

Where you may be getting confused is with 'Wireless'.......

'Wireless' is not 'WiFi'.......wireless is the connection from an ISP...TO your house.......WIFI is a connection WITHIN your house.....both are wireless/require no wires.....but one is provided by the ISP...and the other is provided and managed by you.

Cool?

juha

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#58801 25-Jan-2007 09:01

You can actually have fast network connections with narrowband and slow with broadband. In the correct sense of the term, the "broad" and "narrow" prefixes refer to the frequency band used to transmit the data. Means a high-frequency narrow electro-magnetic beam can carry more information than a low-frequency one, depending on signal modulation of course.

Juha

Fraktul

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#58843 25-Jan-2007 17:50

There is also baseband, 100base-T (what you normally use in a LAN) for example is baseband. If you had this in your house it would be a broadband connection however :)

Broadband is it is spoken about in the media just means a fast Internet connection as others have pointed out.

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muppet

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#58855 25-Jan-2007 19:37

Of course don't forget IP over Avian Carriers....

What's that? BirdBand?