Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Wireless shopping experience:
1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Wireless offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Wireless at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.
2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about
3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Wireless? Wrong! If the Wireless is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.
4. Questions - Got a question about Wireless then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....
5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Wireless? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Wireless and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.
6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Wireless wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.
7. Feedback - happy with your Wireless then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.
8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Wireless site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site
9. Contact - got a question about Wireless, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.
10. Payment - ready to pay for your Wireless, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.
The term
wireless is normally used to refer to any type of electrical or
Electronics operation which is accomplished without the use of a "hard wired" connection.
Wireless communication is the transfer of
information over a distance without the use of electrical conductors or "wires". The SINTEF Group, The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology The distances involved may be short (a few meters as in television remote control) or very long (thousands or even millions of kilometers for radio communications). When the context is clear the term is often simply shortened to "wireless". Wireless communications is generally considered to be a branch of
telecommunications.
Information technology. It encompasses
Mobile phones,
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and
wireless networking. Other examples of
wireless technology include Global Positioning System units,
Garage door opener, wireless
Computer mouse and
Computer keyboards,
satellite television and cordless telephones.
Introduction
Wireless operations permits services, such as long range communications, that are impossible or impractical to implement with the use of wires. The term is commonly used in the telecommunications industry to refer to telecommunications systems (e.g., radio transmitters and receivers, remote controls, computer networks, network terminals, etc.) which use some form of energy (e.g. radio frequency (RF),
infrared light, laser light, visible light, acoustic energy, etc.) to transfer information without the use of wires.ATIS Committee T1A1 Performance and Signal Processing. ANS T1.523-2001, Telecom Glossary 2000 http://www.atis.org/tg2k/ Information is transferred in this manner over both short and long distances.
Wireless communication may be via:
- radio frequency communication,
- microwave communication, for example long-range line-of-sight via highly directional antennas, or short-range communication, or
- infrared (IR) short-range communication, for example from remote controls or via IRDA,
Applications may involve Point-to-point communication (telecommunications), Point-to-multipoint communication (telecommunications), broadcasting , cellular networks and other
wireless networks.
The term "wireless" should not be confused with the term "cordless", which is generally used to refer to powered electrical or electronic devices that are able to operate from a portable power source (e.g., a battery pack) without any cable or
cord to limit the mobility of the cordless device through a connection to the mains power supply. Some cordless devices, such as cordless telephones, are also wireless in the sense that information is transferred from the cordless telephone to the telephone's base unit via some type of wireless Link (telecommunications). This has caused some disparity in the usage of the term "cordless", for example in Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications.
In the last 50 years, wireless communications industry experienced drastic changes driven by many technology innovations.
History
The term "wireless" came into public use to refer to a radio receiver or transceiver (a dual purpose receiver and transmitter device), establishing its usage in the field of wireless telegraphy early on; now the term is used to describe modern wireless connections such as in cellular networks and wireless broadband Internet. It is also used in a general sense to refer to any type of operation that is implemented without the use of wires, such as "wireless remote control", "wireless energy transfer", etc. regardless of the specific technology (e.g.,
radio, infrared,
ultrasonic, etc.) that is used to accomplish the operation.
Early wireless work
David E. Hughes, eight years before Hertz's experiments, induced electromagnetic waves in a signalling system. Hughes transmitted Morse code by an Electromagnetic induction apparatus. In
1878, Hughes's induction transmission method utilized a "clockwork transmitter" to transmit signals. In
1885,
Thomas Alva Edison uses a vibrator magnet for induction transmission. In 1888, Edison deploys a system of signalling on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. In 1891, Edison attains the wireless patent for this method using inductance ().
In the history of wireless technology, the demonstration of the theory of
electromagnetic waves by Heinrich Rudolf Hertz in 1888 was important.{{cite book | last = Story
| first = Alfred Thomas
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = A story of wireless telegraphy
| publisher = New York, D. Appleton and Co.
| date = 1904
| location =
| url =
| doi =
| id = -->
Eugenii Katz, "
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz". The theory of electromagnetic waves were predicted from the research of
James Clerk Maxwell and
Michael Faraday. Hertz demonstrated that electromagnetic waves could be Transmission (telecommunications) and caused to travel through space at straight lines and that they were able to be Receiver (radio) by an experimental apparatus. The experiments were not followed up by Hertz and the practical applications of the wireless communication and remote control technology would be implemented by
Nikola Tesla.
The electromagnetic spectrum
Light, colors, AM and FM radio, and many popular electronic devices all work on the electromagnetic spectrum. In the US the frequencies that are available for use for communication are treated as a public resource and are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This determines which frequency ranges can be used for what purpose and by whom. In the absence of such control, chaos might result if, for example, airlines didn't have specific frequencies to work under and a
ham radio operator was interfering with the pilot's ability to land an airplane. Wireless communication spans the spectrum from 9 kHz to 300 GHz.
Applications of wireless technology
Security systems
Wireless technology may supplement or replace hard wired implementations in security systems for homes or office buildings. The operations that are required (e.g., detecting whether a door or window is open or closed) may be implemented with the use of hard wired sensors or they may be implemented with the use of wireless sensors which are also equipped with a wireless transmitter (e.g., infrared, radio frequency, etc.) to transmit the information concerning the current state of the door or window.
Television remote control
Some televisions were previously manufactured with hard wired remote controls which plugged in to a receptacle or jack in the television whereas more modern televisions use wireless (generally infrared) remote control units.
Cellular telephones
Perhaps the best known example of wireless technology is the cellular telephone. These instruments use radio waves to enable the operator to make phone calls from many locations world-wide. They can be used anywhere that there is a cellular telephone site to house the equipment that is required to transmit and receive the signal that is used to transfer both voice and data to and from these instruments. (For more information see
Mobile phones).
Wireless communication
Wireless is a term used to describe telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or the entire communication path. Common examples of wireless equipment in use today include:
- Cellular phones and pagers: provide connectivity for portable and mobile applications, both personal and business.
- Global Positioning System (GPS): allows drivers of cars and trucks, captains of boats and ships, and pilots of aircraft to ascertain their location anywhere on earth.
- Cordless computer peripherals: the cordless mouse is a common example; keyboards and printers can also be linked to a computer via wireless.
- Cordless telephone sets: these are limited-range devices, not to be confused with cell phones.
- Satellite television: allows viewers in almost any location to select from hundreds of channels.
Wireless networking is used to meet a variety of needs. Perhaps the most common use is to connect laptop users who travel from location to location. Another common use is for mobile networks that connect via satellite. A wireless transmission method is a logical choice to network a LAN segment that must frequently change locations. The following situations justify the use of wireless technology:
- To span a distance beyond the capabilities of typical cabling,
- To avoid obstacles such as physical structures, EMI, or RFI,
- To provide a backup communications link in case of normal network failure,
- To link portable or temporary workstations,
- To overcome situations where normal cabling is difficult or financially impractical, or
- To remotely connect mobile users or networks.
Environmental concerns and health hazards
Recently there have been concerns risen and research conducted concerning usage of wireless communications and its possible relation to poor concentration, memory loss, nausea, premature senility and even cancer. "Electromagnetic fields". World Health Organization. Last retrieved September 24, 2007. "Consensus Statement on Electromagnetic Radiation (Draft)". Collaborative on Health and the Environment. October 10, 2006. United Kingdom National Physics Laboratory report.
Categories of wireless implementations, devices and standards
- ;Cordless telephone:DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications)
References
See also
General: History of radio,
Timeline of radio, Digital radio,
Radio resource management (RRM)Wireless:
Wireless telegraphy, Wireless campus, Wireless energy transfer, True wireless,
Wireless securityOther: Personal area network,
comparison of wireless data standards
External links
Patents
- , S. Loewe, "Wireless Receiving Apparatus"
- , E. E. Clement, "Radiophone desk set"
The term
wireless is normally used to refer to any type of electrical or
Electronics operation which is accomplished without the use of a "hard wired" connection.
Wireless communication is the transfer of
information over a distance without the use of electrical conductors or "wires". The SINTEF Group, The Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research at the Norwegian Institute of Technology The distances involved may be short (a few meters as in television remote control) or very long (thousands or even millions of kilometers for radio communications). When the context is clear the term is often simply shortened to "wireless". Wireless communications is generally considered to be a branch of telecommunications.
Information technology. It encompasses Mobile phones,
Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and wireless networking. Other examples of
wireless technology include
Global Positioning System units,
Garage door opener, wireless Computer mouse and Computer keyboards,
satellite television and cordless
telephones.
Introduction
Wireless operations permits services, such as long range communications, that are impossible or impractical to implement with the use of wires. The term is commonly used in the telecommunications industry to refer to telecommunications systems (e.g., radio transmitters and receivers, remote controls, computer networks, network terminals, etc.) which use some form of energy (e.g. radio frequency (RF), infrared light, laser light, visible light, acoustic energy, etc.) to transfer information without the use of wires.ATIS Committee T1A1 Performance and Signal Processing. ANS T1.523-2001, Telecom Glossary 2000 http://www.atis.org/tg2k/ Information is transferred in this manner over both short and long distances.
Wireless communication may be via:
- radio frequency communication,
- microwave communication, for example long-range line-of-sight via highly directional antennas, or short-range communication, or
- infrared (IR) short-range communication, for example from remote controls or via IRDA,
Applications may involve
Point-to-point communication (telecommunications),
Point-to-multipoint communication (telecommunications), broadcasting ,
cellular networks and other wireless networks.
The term "wireless" should not be confused with the term "
cordless", which is generally used to refer to powered electrical or electronic devices that are able to operate from a portable power source (e.g., a battery pack) without any cable or
cord to limit the mobility of the cordless device through a connection to the mains power supply. Some cordless devices, such as cordless telephones, are also wireless in the sense that information is transferred from the cordless telephone to the telephone's base unit via some type of wireless Link (telecommunications). This has caused some disparity in the usage of the term "cordless", for example in
Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications.
In the last 50 years, wireless communications industry experienced drastic changes driven by many technology innovations.
History
The term "wireless" came into public use to refer to a radio receiver or transceiver (a dual purpose receiver and transmitter device), establishing its usage in the field of wireless telegraphy early on; now the term is used to describe modern wireless connections such as in cellular networks and wireless broadband Internet. It is also used in a general sense to refer to any type of operation that is implemented without the use of wires, such as "wireless remote control", "wireless energy transfer", etc. regardless of the specific technology (e.g.,
radio,
infrared, ultrasonic, etc.) that is used to accomplish the operation.
Early wireless work
David E. Hughes, eight years before Hertz's experiments, induced electromagnetic waves in a signalling system. Hughes transmitted Morse code by an
Electromagnetic induction apparatus. In
1878, Hughes's induction transmission method utilized a "clockwork transmitter" to transmit signals. In
1885, Thomas Alva Edison uses a vibrator magnet for induction transmission. In 1888, Edison deploys a system of signalling on the Lehigh Valley Railroad. In 1891, Edison attains the wireless patent for this method using inductance ().
In the history of wireless technology, the demonstration of the theory of
electromagnetic waves by
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz in 1888 was important.{{cite book | last = Story
| first = Alfred Thomas
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = A story of wireless telegraphy
| publisher = New York, D. Appleton and Co.
| date = 1904
| location =
| url =
| doi =
| id = -->
Eugenii Katz, "
Heinrich Rudolf Hertz". The theory of electromagnetic waves were predicted from the research of
James Clerk Maxwell and
Michael Faraday. Hertz demonstrated that electromagnetic waves could be Transmission (telecommunications) and caused to travel through space at straight lines and that they were able to be
Receiver (radio) by an experimental apparatus. The experiments were not followed up by Hertz and the practical applications of the wireless communication and remote control technology would be implemented by
Nikola Tesla.
The electromagnetic spectrum
Light, colors, AM and FM radio, and many popular electronic devices all work on the electromagnetic spectrum. In the US the frequencies that are available for use for communication are treated as a public resource and are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This determines which frequency ranges can be used for what purpose and by whom. In the absence of such control, chaos might result if, for example, airlines didn't have specific frequencies to work under and a
ham radio operator was interfering with the pilot's ability to land an
airplane. Wireless communication spans the spectrum from 9 kHz to 300 GHz.
Applications of wireless technology
Security systems
Wireless technology may supplement or replace hard wired implementations in security systems for homes or office buildings. The operations that are required (e.g., detecting whether a door or window is open or closed) may be implemented with the use of hard wired sensors or they may be implemented with the use of wireless sensors which are also equipped with a wireless transmitter (e.g., infrared, radio frequency, etc.) to transmit the information concerning the current state of the door or window.
Television remote control
Some televisions were previously manufactured with hard wired remote controls which plugged in to a receptacle or jack in the television whereas more modern televisions use wireless (generally infrared) remote control units.
Cellular telephones
Perhaps the best known example of wireless technology is the cellular telephone. These instruments use radio waves to enable the operator to make phone calls from many locations world-wide. They can be used anywhere that there is a cellular telephone site to house the equipment that is required to transmit and receive the signal that is used to transfer both voice and data to and from these instruments. (For more information see Mobile phones).
Wireless communication
Wireless is a term used to describe telecommunications in which electromagnetic waves (rather than some form of wire) carry the signal over part or the entire communication path. Common examples of wireless equipment in use today include:
- Cellular phones and pagers: provide connectivity for portable and mobile applications, both personal and business.
- Global Positioning System (GPS): allows drivers of cars and trucks, captains of boats and ships, and pilots of aircraft to ascertain their location anywhere on earth.
- Cordless computer peripherals: the cordless mouse is a common example; keyboards and printers can also be linked to a computer via wireless.
- Cordless telephone sets: these are limited-range devices, not to be confused with cell phones.
- Satellite television: allows viewers in almost any location to select from hundreds of channels.
Wireless networking is used to meet a variety of needs. Perhaps the most common use is to connect laptop users who travel from location to location. Another common use is for mobile networks that connect via satellite. A wireless transmission method is a logical choice to network a LAN segment that must frequently change locations. The following situations justify the use of wireless technology:
- To span a distance beyond the capabilities of typical cabling,
- To avoid obstacles such as physical structures, EMI, or RFI,
- To provide a backup communications link in case of normal network failure,
- To link portable or temporary workstations,
- To overcome situations where normal cabling is difficult or financially impractical, or
- To remotely connect mobile users or networks.
Environmental concerns and health hazards
Recently there have been concerns risen and research conducted concerning usage of wireless communications and its possible relation to poor concentration, memory loss, nausea, premature senility and even cancer. "Electromagnetic fields". World Health Organization. Last retrieved September 24, 2007. "Consensus Statement on Electromagnetic Radiation (Draft)". Collaborative on Health and the Environment. October 10, 2006. United Kingdom National Physics Laboratory report.
Categories of wireless implementations, devices and standards
- ;Cordless telephone:DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications)
- ;Cellular systems:0G, 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G
References
See also
General:
History of radio,
Timeline of radio,
Digital radio,
Radio resource management (RRM)Wireless: Wireless telegraphy, Wireless campus, Wireless energy transfer, True wireless,
Wireless securityOther: Personal area network,
comparison of wireless data standards
External links
Patents
- , S. Loewe, "Wireless Receiving Apparatus"
- , E. E. Clement, "Radiophone desk set"
