What Is the Difference Between a Wireless-N & a Wireless-G Card for a Laptop Computer?
Notebook computers keep us connected on the go. Local libraries, coffee shops and airports host hotspots for wireless Internet. Installing a Wi-Fi card into a laptop enables a wireless connection to these Internet hotspots. Two of the most common Wi-Fi card types are wireless G and N.
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Wi-Fi
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The wireless standard WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) IEEE 802.11 radio frequency is used as a basis for the connectivity of a computer network. Wi-Fi standards are 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g with 802.11n still in draft form.
Wireless Cards
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Wireless cards for notebooks are connected via PCM/CIA. Installing is straightforward. Simply insert the card into the PCM/CIA slot and install the drivers.
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Wireless G
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Wireless G offers speeds of up to 54 Mbit/s and a range of around 100 feet. Wireless G cards are typically inexpensive and are backwards compatible with wireless B standards.
Wireless N
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Wireless N adds MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) which uses multiple antennas both on the router and on the Wi-Fi card itself to improve connectivity, range and performance. Though still in draft form, wireless N products are backwards compatible with older standards.
Wireless G vs. N
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Because of the increase in speed, range, and backwards compatibility, wireless N is a much better choice when shopping for a Wi-Fi card. To achieve the full potential of wireless N, a wireless N router must be coupled with the card.
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