Are Wireless LANs Viable?

From AllBusiness.com*

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    Like a local area network (LAN), a wireless network lets computers share Internet access and files. A basic wireless network is a set of computers, usually laptops, equipped with special network adapters that use the 802.11b wireless networking standard. Individual computers on the wireless LAN communicate with a central base station that serves as the equivalent of an Ethernet hub, directing traffic between different computers.
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    Wireless networking has become increasingly popular among both home and business users. Wireless networks are easy to set up, and they don't require messy cables or wall outlets. They also allow users to move around the office without losing contact with the network. An employee can take their laptop computer into a meeting room, for example, without losing access to the company's file server or their Internet connection. Once employees get used to this sort of network access, they'll probably wonder how they worked without it.

    The traditional drawbacks to wireless LANs -- namely, cost and speed -- are finally falling away. Wireless network interface cards (NICs) and base stations still cost more than wired NICs and hubs, but prices are dropping as demand continues to rise. And the new wireless standard, 802.11n, promises to be up to 10 times as fast as the current "b" standard.

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