With Wireless Routers gaining popularity nowadays, more and more people are finding ways to either use the signals for free or using other people’s identity to do things online. These are possible because the router uses radio signals to transmit your information, in which anyone within the signal’s range can have access to if it is not secured. Thus, in order to buck up on your Internet security, here are some things you could do.

First, you could make your Wi-fi not visible. This can be done by logging into your base station management Website, and then have the SSID Broadcast disabled. This way, anyone looking for a wireless network will not be able to see your network in the list. By doing this, passers-by and neighbors cannot take advantage of your network, especially since they cannot see or detect it in the first place.

Another thing you can do is to set the range which your wireless network can reach. This means, if your router can reach maybe two block away, set it so that it can only reach the far end of your house or apartment. This can be done by purchasing the right router, in which signal range in limited to the intended space, or you can reduce the transmission strength by removing or readjusting the router’s antenna so that it will focus its strength accordingly.

Other than that, you can disable the remote admin. When it in enabled, you will be able to access the router through the means of Internet. Thus, disabling it means you can only access the router from the router itself. The disabling can be done by logging onto your base station Website, and then choosing to disable it.

One of the most obvious and simplest thing to do is o select a password that is difficult to crack. Do not use very common passwords, like your name, birth date, easy string of numbers, or anything extremely common. Try to use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, which is much harder to figure out. Changing your password can be done by logging onto the base station Website and change the password from the default one.

There are many other ways to boost up Internet security, but here are some of the ones you can do with your wireless router.

By: Chris Cornell

The wonderful world of the internet is made accessible to you through the internet connection provided by your internet service provider. Availability of infrastructure, cost and purpose for which the internet is going to be used would determine the type of connection you would go for.

In the earlier days, the telephone line was used to access the internet through a Dial-Up access program. That was because digital communication equipment was not still available and this sufficed to meet the basic needs of communication since it was also economical. However, it was also slow and you could not exchange photos or video files.

Then came the ISDN connection or the Integrated Services Digital Network through which you could speak, see video and exchange data over the digital telephone line with speeds ranging between 64Kbps to 128Kbps. The Broadband ISDN is also a similar facility, the only difference being that data travels through fiber optic lines.

Thanks to digital technology, the DSL or Digital Subscriber Line became a very popular option. This is being offered in two types – ADSL and SDSL depending on the requirement of the home subscriber. The ADSL requires a modem that is specific to its use and the SDSL allows the subscriber to send more data over the already existing copper telephone lines, though it is not possible to use the same line for speaking as well as accessing the internet simultaneously.

Modern homes however make use of yet another technology called the Cable Modem which uses Cable TV lines and can provide good bandwidth.

With most users now having a laptop, the need for wireless internet facility became apparent. This need is now being served through high speed wireless internet service providers so that you can connect to the internet through the use of a data card. There is no need to carry cumbersome wires and the usage is easy through the plug-in system.

People therefore are mainly using two types of internet connections. They use the wired broadband connection for their desktops at home and use the wireless data card connection for their laptops when they travel.

By: Nick Dawkins

As you devour this article, remember that the rest of it contains valuable information related to satellite antenna and in some way related to antenna video accessories, 3g mobile phone, broadcast antenna or omni-directional FM antenna for your reading pleasure.

The main use of car TV antennas is to help improve your car TV’s picture quality by strengthening the antenna ability to pick up TV receptions. Apart from better picture quality, car TV antennas also let you watch more channels. As most tuners for car TVs don’t come with a built-in antenna, they would have to be bought separately. Their integration with your car TV also significantly amplifies the ability of your tuner to pick up channels with easy even when you are on the road.

A satellite dish can also provide more channels than an analog antenna or a HDTV antenna can provide. All the channels will all come in crisp and clear with no chance of a ghost image. Figuring out the best antenna to get HDTV can be tough, but with this great guide, finding out how to get HDTV without cable or satellite is easy as pie.

If this article still doesn’t answer your specific satellite antenna quest, then don’t forget that you can conduct more searches on any of the major search engines like Search Yahoo Dot Com to get specific satellite antenna information. Wireless external antennas can be purchased from vendors such a hyperlink and radio lab company. They have many different connectors which hyperlink has divided by vendor wireless access points or routers. You will need to purchase a wireless adapter with external antenna connectors. Another good vendor to purchase from is Fab-Corp. You can purchase many different types of wireless adapter either the PCMICA or USB.

It does not matter which satellite radio provider you choose, the antenna should have a magnet on one end. This works great while attaching it to sheet metal on the external side of the vehicle. The sheet metal actually helps the reception by turning the whole vehicle into an extension of the antenna. The antenna uses the antenna currents of the vehicle to boost the reception power of the antenna.

Optimal reception will be received if you can remove all or as many interferences as possible from the transmitter and your HDTV antenna. This is the reason for the popularity of the outdoor antenna. The outdoor antenna that is most popular is the medium directional antenna, because it’s not too large and has characteristics that prevent or reduce interference. There are also large and small HDTV antenna that may fit your needs.

We were thrilled to know that many people found this article about satellite antenna and other Pringles Wi-Fi antenna, field service software, and even antenna GHz helpful and information rich.

By: Deepak Kulkarni

Wireless signal boosters are used to boost the signal and performance of wireless devices. They are attached to the antenna area of routers to make signals more powerful, as well as increase the range. And they eliminate the need for all those cables. These devices save on wiring costs, drive signals to remote areas, and cover large areas such as outdoor areas, warehouses, wireless spots, and public places. Many options exist in the market today.

Cisco’s Linksys WSB24 Wireless-B Signal Booster increases the range of Linksys 802.11b Access Point or Wireless Access Point Router, provides stronger signal by reducing retransmissions, and saves on wiring costs. It offers easy installation: simply stack the booster on the Access Point, connect the booster’s twin cables to the Access Point, and it’s ready to go. It’s form factor is external; hardware platform is PC; connectivity technology is wireless; networking feature is repeater; and data transfer rate is 11 megabits per second.

Another wireless signal booster is the Zonet ZWA2100. It offers easy installation and no software is required. It is compatible with wireless 802.11 b/g devices. The operating range is 2.4-2.5 GHz; operating mode is bi-directional and half-duplex time; input is 6mW to 100 mW; output is 500 mW nominal; impedance is 50 Ohm; transmit gain is 12dB nominal; receive gain is 10dB typical; and it does have DC surge protection.

Mini Gadgets also offers a wireless signal booster. The W-XTEND model can boost ranges up to 500m. It has an internal Li-lon battery that, when fully charged, provides up to 4 hours of boost. Technical specifications include receiver frequencies of 2370, 2414 MHz; transmitter frequencies of 2468, 2510 MHz; antenna type is directional/omni, and an operating time of 4 hours.

The Hawking HSB1 is a wireless signal booster for 802.11b and 802.11g WiFi networks. It simply connects to the antenna connector of a wireless device and can boost output to 500mW. The specifications on this booster are as follows: device type is wireless access point; form factor is external; connectivity is wireless; data transfer rate is 54 mbps; frequency band is 2.4 GHz; maximum indoor range is 1200 ft.; maximum open space range is 3800 ft.

By: Sanno Zaye

It used to be that cable Internet service was considered the gold standard, the best that you could get. But these days Verizon FiOS is surpassing cable Internet service as the industry standard for the best service available. The cutting edge technology being used by Verizon is raising the bar for other companies in the industry.

Have you thought about switching to the new Verizon FiOS Internet service but haven’t really made up your mind yet? If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you want to switch from cable Internet service to Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service, here are 5 reasons you should take the plunge and switch:

1. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service is faster

Most cable companies offer a maximum speed of 8 mega bytes per second, and you can expect to pay lot even for that speed. With the Verizon FiOS service you can get speeds of 5 mega bytes per second, 15 mega bytes per second or an impressive 30 mega bytes per second depending on what speed you need. And you will pay about the same prices as you’d pay for the 8 mega byte per second speed from the local cable company.

2. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet Offers Online Flexibility

Do you want to be able to watch videos and TV shows online, download your favorite music, watch movies from online movie rental sites and take advantage of all the other multi-media applications on the Web? Try doing it with a cable Internet connection and you’ll get frustrated fast. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service has the power to handle multi-media on the web without slow loading time and interrupted streams.

3. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet – More Value for Same Cost

In most places Verizon FiOS Internet plans cost about the same as local cable companies charge for their slower Internet connections. If you take advantage of some of the pricing deals and service bundles that Verizon offers (Verizon FiOS Triple Play), you can get an Internet service that is much faster than cable for less than the cost of cable. If you decide to get Verizon FiOS TV, digital phone service and Internet service bundled together you can save a lot of money with the Triple Play bundle.

4. Less Down Time with Verizon FiOS Internet

When there are a lot of users on an Internet connection that connection will slow down or you could get dropped off the Internet all together. That happens a lot to cable Internet users because cable companies use copper wires as the base structure of their network. These wires can’t support having a lot of users at once. The Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet service uses fiber optic cables that can accommodate a lot more users, so it’s very rare for anyone to get dropped or for the Internet connection to go down.

5. Verizon FiOS High Speed Internet is the Future

Soon all the satellite and cable companies will be forced to switch to a fiber optic network similiar to the Verizon FiOS network in order to stay competitive, so why wait? Fiber optics is the future of Internet and TV technology and Verizon can give it to you for about the same cost as cable.

By: Russell Blanc

Now-a-days in the field of communication internet is in a unique position especially wireless internet. It has totally changed our movement. Without it we can’t go even a single hour. We can know various type of information; buy things sitting at home with the help of internet. About 20-30 years ago, a computer was necessary to get access in the internet and that computer was like a bulky machine. But with the passage of time the geniuses of Silicon Valley have invented laptop computer which is easier to carry and use in office, home or on journey. In that time a telephone line was necessary that created annoying dialing sound. But today this type of internet uses latest technology that needs no wire. As a result people can use their laptop, play games, watch movies, study, and listen to music at any place at any time through internet. They can get the world in the screen with one click in a second.

At present wireless internet access is not only limited to computers, different kind of electronic devices are being used to get connected to the internet. DVD and Blue-Ray player, Video camera, mobile phone etc are notable. But among these devices mobile phone is the best. Recently 3G and 4G handsets are available in the market. Most of the people are trying their best to get a latest mobile phone with all the privileges so that they can surf, watch satellite programmers, chat and listen to music in their hand. So the service providers should provide the necessary service to enable wireless internet access to these phones.

In the near future it seems that 4G is the best way to go for this kind of connection for mobile phone users. Today is the market of latest iPhone which is selling like hotcake because in it 4G wireless technology is integrated. It gives fast download and uploads data transfer rates. It doesn’t take long time to download games, music and movies whereas the cable internet connection takes time. Besides, one can carry it wherever he wants to go. Wireless internet technology has come a long way and certainly it can be said it will go a long way. The world people have come very closer and are sharing their views with each other that are on it.

Now-a-days, Point Distribution, Hot Spot, Cellular, Mesh, Satellite etc Wireless Internet connnections are available. It just varies from user to user. But in all cases its benefit is beyond description. Even sitting in a very rural area of any country of the world a person can get his desired news within a second from his internet connection. It creates a connection between employers and employees in online business. Not only that the benefits of having internet connection especially wireless internet connection are too many to count.

By: Kamrul Jaman

Why Not Asynchronous?

To understand the benefits of a synchronous protocol, it helps to first look at the disadvantages of an asynchronous protocol. When a node using an asynchronous protocol such as 802.11 wants to transmit a frame, it normally will simply transmit the frame after it senses the channel is idle for a period of time (which is called Carrier Sense Multiple Access, or CSMA). If a collision is determined, due to the lack of an acknowledgment frame, the frame is re-transmitted after waiting an amount of time that increases exponentially for each retransmission. In order to minimize the impact of a collision and to maximize the chance of a successful reception of the data frame, 802.11 includes an optional collision avoidance (CA) function where a short Request-To-Send/Clear-To-Send (RTS/CTS) exchange is first performed, which causes devices overhearing those frames to not access the channel for a period of time. This collision avoidance function may be beneficial in some situations, but it comes with a large overhead and introduces problems of its own, and the impact of these problems is greatly increased in a long-range outdoor system. Some of the problems associated with carrier sensing (CSMA) and collision avoidance (CA) protocols include:

Acknowledgment Overhead: This is compounded over long distance links due to propagation time. Exponential Back-off: This is compounded in outdoor networks, where re-transmissions are common due to interference, which causes latency to increase exponentially. “Hidden Nodes”: This is a classic problem with 802.11 CSMA, where carrier sensing at the transmitter does not sense interference at the receiver. This is greatly compounded in outdoor networks, where obstructions and long distances between the transmitters normally results in them not being able to hear each other. “Exposed Nodes”: This is a classic problem with 802.11 CA, where the RTS message between a transmitter and receiver causes other potential transmitters to become idle when they could have transmitted successfully to a different receiver. This is greatly compounded in a mesh network, where there are normally many active receivers. CA Overhead: The collision avoidance overhead due to the RTS-CTS-Data-ACK exchange requires 4 propagation times, which results in large overhead on long-distance links. CSMA Failures: In a small office or cafe, all stations can normally hear each, which allow them to properly carrier sense and avoid collisions. In an outdoor wireless network, many stations can not normally hear each other, resulting in collisions that cause nodes to experience exponential back-off. Ad-hoc Architecture: When connecting to an access point in a small office or cafe, all communications occur between the stations and the access point (which is called infrastructure mode) and not directly between stations. This means that most of the transmissions will never collide since all downlink transmissions are from a single device, the access point. In a mesh network using either ad-hoc mode or infrastructure mode there are many simultaneous transmitters and receivers, and all transmissions may collide. Unfairness: Another classic problem with 802.11 is MAC layer unfairness, and the problem greatly increases in outdoor networks. Due to the increasing back-off during retransmissions, nodes with fewer retransmissions are more likely to gain access to the channel than nodes that are retransmitting. Additionally, nodes that sense the channel becoming idle earlier are more likely to get access to the channel, and over long distances this results in unfairness to some nodes due to their location.

These problems are basic issues with asynchronous protocols such as 802.11, and all of these problems are drastically increased in outdoor wireless networks. Most people have experienced performance problems related to these issues in offices or cafes, but in outdoor mesh networks the impact of these problems is greatly increased, sometimes resulting in a complete collapse of the MAC layer.

Why Synchronous?

The most obvious reason to choose a synchronous protocol for an outdoor wireless network is to coordinate communications over large coverage areas. Scheduling transmissions not only enhances the efficiency of spectral utilization but also enhances quality of service (QoS) through latency controls, rate control, and traffic prioritization. There are some crude ways to implement scheduled transmissions without being synchronous, such as by simple polling. In fact, 802.11 includes an optional Point Coordination Function (PCF) that uses polling (and 802.11e extends this functionality in its optional Hybrid Coordination Function). Additionally, 802.11 even includes some synchronous features in its base specification, specifically its Time Synchronization Function (TSF), which allows devices to periodically align their clocks that can then be used by functions such as power-save where a sleeping device can periodically wake up at the right moment to see if there is data for it. However, there are many reasons that 802.11 is not considered a synchronous protocol. Some features traditionally associated with synchronous protocols, such as WiMAX or SkyPilot’s SyncMesh(TM) protocol, include:

Contention-less Data Transmissions: 802.11′s base Distributed Coordination Function (DCF) normally puts data in contention, meaning that multiple nodes may transmit simultaneously. WiMAX and SyncMesh schedule data transmissions within time slots, avoiding the contention of data, allowing more bounded latency. Ranging: DOCSIS (the cable modem standard), WiMAX, and SyncMesh all include a time ranging function, which determines how far apart nodes are in order to compensate for RF propagation at the speed of light. This maximizes efficiency, since inter-frame spaces then do not have to allow for the time of the RF propagation. Synchronous protocols that do not support ranging suffer from this overhead and polling protocols pay the propagation penalty twice. While the speed of light is normally considered fast, on long distance links the 10s of microseconds start to add up, especially as frame transmission times decrease at higher bandwidths and modulations. Periodic Time Slot Grants: SyncMesh’s synchronous nature enables the ability to grant recurring time slots. This means that nodes can be granted extended rights to communicate on certain time slots, which increases efficiency. Asynchronous protocols do not provide this. Periodic time slot grants are useful for providing higher classes of service for applications like Voice over IP (VoIP). Clock Precision: The features of a synchronous protocol benefit from very precise clocks, which means continually adjusting for phase between time sync messages (or signals from an external clock source) or using very frequent sync messages (SyncMesh performs the former since it is more efficient).

These advanced MAC features are just some of the benefits of using a synchronous protocol, but there is another equally important, if not more important, reason to use a synchronous protocol for broadband wireless mesh – to dynamically point antennas. One of the most effective tools an RF engineer uses to improve a wireless link and to minimize a link’s impact on others is the use of directional antennas. The benefits of directional antennas include:

Increased link budget (both on transmit and receive), resulting in higher modulation and longer range Decreased interference susceptibility from external sources Decreased interference to other systems Increased power due to point-to-point regulations in many countries

However, the challenge with using directional antennas is just that – they are directional, which requires manual pointing and alignment. In mesh networks, it is advantageous to have 360? omnidirectional coverage. 360? coverage from every node provides easy installation, maximizes redundancy, and avoids expensive and time-consuming system engineering of the mesh. To provide a node with 360? coverage using directional antennas, multiple antennas are needed, and as the gain of the antennas increases the number of antennas needed to provide 360? coverage also increases. This basic relationship applies no matter what antenna technology is used, from fixed sectors to beam-forming arrays – each of these antenna designs focuses RF energy, and as the antenna gain increases, the RF energy is more focused, decreasing the coverage angle. And while some advanced beam-forming techniques do not use fixed antenna sectors, the RF energy is still focused in a particular direction, so the beam direction needs to be varied in order to provide 360? coverage. So, most 802.11 mesh networks with directional antennas use manual pointing, where 360? coverage is not provided, and the network must be engineered link-by-link. There has been some research around dynamically pointing antennas with 802.11, but its asynchronous nature prohibits antenna pointing coordination. One challenge with an asynchronous protocol is that some of the transmissions need to be made with omnidirectional antennas (such as omnidirectional Request-To-Send messages), since transmissions are not naturally pre-coordinated. While such a method may allow for higher modulation transmission of the actual data frames, it suffers from decreased range, increased interference, and increased overhead due to the coordination (the latter can be very significant in an outdoor wireless system due to high modulations and the speed-of-light propagation). Alternatively, an asynchronous system could simply use a directional antenna only for transmissions, and use a separate omnidirectional antenna for receptions. The challenge here is that interference is an issue with the receiver, and an omnidirectional receive antenna neither increases the desired signal nor decreases the interference or noise. So, range and link modulation are limited due to the lack of receive antenna gain. Additionally, when only a single side of a link uses a directional antenna, it is not normally classified as a point-to-point link, and many regions limit the effective output power of the link. By using a fully synchronous protocol, such as SyncMesh, where every communication is coordinated (even bandwidth request opportunities and network entry points), antennas can be pointed on both transmit and receive. This provides all of the benefits of a system consisting entirely of point-to-point links, while still providing the redundancy and simple installation of an omnidirectional system. While these benefits are significant, there are some challenges around creating a fully synchronous mesh protocol. To summarize so far, there are two primary reasons to use a synchronous, scheduled protocol within a mesh network: MAC layer coordination and to point directional antennas. Regarding the latter, to avoid the challenges of dynamically pointing antennas, some multi-antenna systems use a separate radio for each antenna (or subset of antennas). This has several problems, with the most obvious problem being cost. Even though there is now the availability of inexpensive 802.11 radios, these radios have many hidden costs due to:

amplifiers increased processing power and processor interconnect increased node size increased power consumption

However, there is a bigger problem with using multiple radios – self-interference. Even if the radios each use separate frequencies and employ guard bands (which is impractical due to the limited number of channels in many frequency bands), all radios interfere on some level. This can be seen by looking at an 802.11 radio’s published adjacent channel rejection values, which is basically the amount of interference from communications on an adjacent non-overlapping channel. The problems due to this self-interference are magnified by the characteristics of outdoor wireless, such as high levels of external interference and weak signal reception due to long links and high amounts of obstruction. To address the issues of cost and limited channel availability, a reduced number of radios is sometimes used. For instance, some systems use 2 or 3 radios per node. However, a reduced number of radios means a reduced number of antennas, which means either very low gain antennas are used, or 360? coverage is not provided. Both of these restrictions are a large problem for an outdoor mesh system. To mitigate the interference issues, the most obvious solution is to provide high levels of isolation between the radios and between the antennas. Traditionally, this would mean expensive filters and large amounts of physical shielding which is expensive and increases node size. However, it is impractical to cost effectively provide a sufficient amount of isolation in a mesh node, given typical outdoor wireless scenarios where the received signal may be under -90 dBm while the transmissions might be at +30 dBm. Adjacent, or even alternate, channel rejection along with filters and physical isolation are not enough to provide anywhere near the level of isolation required. So, interference between the radios is not addressed, and results in decreased link modulation and reduction in link range, which are the two main reasons one would use a directional antenna in the first place. Another general technological issue with using a radio per directional antenna is that such a system can’t take advantage of steerable (adaptive beam-forming) antennas. Steerable antenna technology allows an antenna’s pattern to be electronically adjusted, so a radio per beam cannot be used since there are no fixed beams. All of these issues can be addressed by using a synchronous protocol to coordinate all transmissions so that a single radio can be switched among many antennas (or between beam-steering weights). And even though a single radio architecture may not seem to have the capacity of a multiple radio architecture, a multiple radio system cannot take advantage of additional radio capacity due to self-interference. And, the real bottleneck of a mesh network is almost always at the bandwidth injection point (gateway), which means the use of multiple radios in the majority of nodes in a mesh network is wasted money.

Why Not Synchronous?

We’ve analyzed the benefits of synchronous protocols and the disadvantages of asynchronous protocols in outdoor wireless networks, but what are the disadvantages of using a synchronous protocol? Here are a few disadvantages, and potential solutions:

Clocks need to be synchronized: Devices participating in a synchronous protocol obviously needed synchronized clocks. This can be provided in several ways, including external clock sources such as GPS or over-the-air clock synchronization. SyncMesh uses a combination of the two, which leverages the accuracy of GPS clocks with the low cost of over-the-air synchronization. Clocks need to be very accurate: This usually requires expensive clock crystals that are accurate over a wide temperature range. SyncMesh provides an extremely accurate clock source by utilizing an over-the-air calibration protocol along with an internal calibration algorithm that maintains accuracy even with inexpensive crystals. Inefficiencies: Many synchronous, slotted protocols are inefficient due to their simple Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) MAC layers, which assigns fixed slots to each user. To overcome this, SyncMesh uses a dynamic slot allocation scheme which assigns all slots in real time. Lack of interoperability with other systems. Since many outdoor wireless systems leverage unlicensed frequencies, multiple systems may need to share the spectrum. Carrier sensing systems may be able to (in theory) share the spectrum by avoiding simultaneous use, while more complex synchronous systems will not understand each other. However, we’ve already seen that carrier sensing has issues, and many systems ‘tweak’ the carrier sensing and back-off protocols to get an unfair advantage over other users of the spectrum. SyncMesh handles multiple users of the spectrum by pointing antennas – the high link budget point-to-point link can avoid interference from other systems, while its directional nature avoids interfering with other systems. Complexity: WiMAX-like synchronous systems are much more complex that asynchronous 802.11 systems. That is why WiMAX CPEs are more expensive than 802.11 clients, and why WiMAX base stations are significantly more expensive than 802.11 access points. SyncMesh has been developed over a period of 6 years and runs on top of off-the-shelf 802.11 silicon, which lowers cost.

By: Randy Frei

I will compare Internet speed tests for three different Internet broadband connections I’ve had the opportunity to use in Thailand. If you are going to be in Thailand, hopefully this comparison will help you to make a decision on which Internet broadband provider to choose. Of the three services tested, one utilizes a mobile wireless system that uses GSM Edge to connect to the Internet. The other two are standard ADSL services from competing companies in Thailand. All of the tests were performed using the same laptop, at approximately the same time of day. Tests were performed withing 5 KM of each other in Chiang Rai Thailand.

The first broadband type I tested was the AIS wireless Edge solution. I purchased a USB Edge card from 7-11 convenience store which are everywhere Thailand. The USB card cost me 1200 Baht (around $37 USD). The price included 20 hours of wireless time.

You can purchase additional hours to the card. Adding 20 hours of time is 150 Baht (around $4.50 USD) The USB card itself houses a SIM card just like the SIM card that goes into your phone. In fact, you can swap AIS SIM cards between your phone and USB card if you want. The USB card has software built-in and I successfully Installed it on Windows XP and Windows 7 laptops. I was not able to get the card to work with Mac OS X. The software works just like any other dial-up/3G/4G modem where you click a button to connect and disconnect from the Internet.

Why test Edge and not 3G? Well, Thailand is currently caught up in legal problems with wireless carriers about allocating 3G frequencies so the current 3G offerings are very limited. Edge is the best option for nationwide coverage unfortunately. In fact, Thailand might be better off leapfrogging 3G and going straight to a 4G technology such as WiMAX or LTE. I wrote an article for Network World magazine in 2009 regarding a Cisco pilot program testing WiMAX at a University in Northern Thailand. I’ve had the opportunity to see 4G in action both in Thailand and In the United States and in both locations, I came away very impressed…much more of a true competitor to DSL than 3G wireless.

That being said, if you travel frequently, the AIS Edge is not a bad option…as long as you do not require much bandwidth. AIS claims a maximum download speed of 512 Kbps, in my tests I received 115 Kbps download and 63 Kbps upload speeds. Not very impressive but it does the job when just browsing the Internet. I even was able to do a Skype video call using this card although the video quality was pretty bad. Audio calls worked fine.

The second speed test I attempted is a DSL connection from TOT in Thailand. Most people that have DSL opt for the lowest offering which is 4000 Kbps download and 512 Kbps upload. Currently, the monthly cost for this service is 590 Baht ($18 USD) a month which includes a DSL modem/router The speed test showed a much lower download number receiving approximately 1779Kbps down and 371Kbps up.

Lastly, I tested a second popular DSL carrier in Thailand called 3BB. The ADSL tested is identical to the TOT offerings being 4000 Kbps download and 512 Kbps upload speeds. The monthly price for the service with an included DSL modem router is also the same as TOT at 590 Baht per month. Unlike the TOT service test, the 3BB download speeds were spot on. In terms of upload speeds, 3BB was a little bit lower than the TOT ADSL connection that was tested. The 3BB speed test found speeds of 4060 Kbps down and 310 Kbps up.

Please keep in mind that this is just one persons test. Your results might vary depending on location and time of day. Based on these tests, if I were to choose a DSL provider, I would go with 3BB for the far superior download test. If I really relied on frequent uploads, I would choose the TOT DSL connection. Lastly, if I needed a mobile Internet solution, I would have to go with AIS’s Edge…although 3BB’s upload speeds were fairly close and seem to burst at higher speeds.

By: Andrew Froehlich

The existence of the USB wireless card owes itself to an ever-growing focus on technology that is conveniently mobile. Phones are smaller, cameras are smaller, computers are smaller… and more and more, you can use them everywhere, with a greater number of features packed into them. People want to be able to do everything they used to do at home, only anywhere. And USB wireless devices enable that to an extent never before seen. USB devices were previously confined to simply being easy file storage devices, much like a portable hard drive. But they’ve grown sophisticated enough to be handle more complex behavior now, and that includes enabling internet access on the fly.

USB devices have always been very simple forms of technology. Plug them in and go, no matter what computer you’re on. So long as the computer has a USB port, you’re good to go, and modern computers come with multiple USB ports for just this reason. So, we have a basic form of technological storage that can fit into any computer whenever you like, and it can be carried around in your pocket more easily than even a wallet when not in use. Great. What’s the next logical step? Instead of using it for mere file storage, use these USB devices to enable specific activities that a computer otherwise wouldn’t have access to. Thus, we have internet on any computer that wouldn’t be able to naturally connect to the internet in and of itself. Suddenly, instead of using a COMPUTER for the internet, you keep your internet in your pocket!

Instead of being tied to a particular computer for the internet, you can use the internet with any computer. Instead of needing to buy a permanent fixture for multiple computers, you just plug in the net when you’re going to use it. This saves you money and allows you to get online only when it’s necessary. When you’re not plugged in, your computers aren’t online either, which keeps them safe from hacking attempts and misuse of bandwidth. It’s secure, it’s cheap, but above all else it’s something you take with you and use wherever and whenever you feel like using it.

USB devices enabling internet access work on a simple plug and play method of operation. All you have to do is plug them in. They automatically search for internet connections within range of your current location so you don’t have to do any work beyond waiting a few seconds for it to find the right connections. They weigh so little and are so small that you’re likely to forget you even have one on you in the first place. Truly, these modern miracles of internet technology are the epitome of the relentless and insatiable consumer desire to not be dependent on a physical location or bulky machine to get anything done. It’s all about what you can take with you and use with no special preparation nowadays. So if you’re a businessman on the move a lot, or even just someone who likes to travel and surf the web simultaneously, give these beauties a try.

By: Jennifer Waller