Daily Bits

wireless internet

5 Things You Should Know About Your Wireless Router

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wireless router

Image via Flickr by tnarik

If you’re a gamer, you know the importance of having a fast connection. It can mean the difference of life and death in twitch shooters and can be a detriment to your team for all those DOTA 2 players out there. While wireless internet isn’t anything new, there are a few things worth knowing about your connection. Your router could be slowing you down and you don’t even know it!

WAP Explained

With WAP explained as a physical location converted into an electronic access point, this term is often used for describing wireless routers. Wireless routers serve as the physical device enabling the connection of various other devices to your home’s Internet network. A WAP enables sharing a network among multiple users, such as homes or office settings. The WAP has a wired connection to the modem, sending out a wireless signal that Wi-Fi-enabled devices recognize.[Read More]

5G Wireless Technology Soon to Come?

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Wireless TechnologyIt used to be that I was happy with 3G. It was decent, although not superfast. And for what I need to do while on the road (e.g., check email, check in on Foursquare, check Facebook, and tweet), 3G served its purpose. It still does, depending on the location. However, the places I frequent these days are just so congested that I can even barely check email on my phone at times! I guess I’ll just have to dream about the day 4G actually becomes usable here.

While I am at it, I might as well dream big, though. A new wireless technology – the predecessor of 4G – is almost completed, and if you and I are lucky, we might just get to enjoy it before we die. Not surprisingly, the technology is already being dubbed 5G wireless technology, and it is supposed to double wireless capacity as we know it today.[Read More]

TRENDnet Launches GREENwifi Technology

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trendnetThe Consumer Electronics Show always grabs the attention of tech enthusiasts the world over, and this year is no different.  While not everything that is showcased is worth noticing, one can’t deny that some of the most interesting things can be found at the CES.  Take TRENDnet’s newest technology dubbed GREENwifiTM for example.  It holds the distinction of being the first embedded green wireless technology.

GREENwifiTM is part of TRENDnet’s already existing environment-friendly solutions, GREENnetTM. This networking technology is a wired switch-based solution that saves considerably on energy consumption by determining and providing the right amount of power to each connected device. When calculating the amount of electrical power to supply, the technology takes into consideration things such as the length of the Ethernet cable.

The new wireless technology is based on the same principles being used in the wired set up, with a few specific differences. The allocated power is significantly reduced in the following cases.

  • When the wireless device is not connected to another device (such as a wireless router not being connected to a laptop)
  • When the wireless device is connected but idle

Another consideration is the wireless signal strength.  For example, if a laptop is very near the router and is receiving a strong signal, the router will reduce its power consumption.

Based on tests that TRENDnet has conducted, the whole system can offer up to 50% on savings.  This is quite a feat, especially considering the amount of time that the average person spends on the Internet these days.

Google Gunning for Usage of ‘White Space’ in TV Spectrum for WiFi

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After losing out on the 700 MHz spectrum bid that is in reality a major victory for Google in getting mobile devices open to applications from various vendors, Google is now gunning for the white spaces between the TV frequencies.

In a letter sent to the FCC, Google has asked for utilization of the unused and unlicensed white space for once in a life time opportunity to provide free wireless internet connectivity solutions.

Google is aggressively trying to take wireless internet to the masses. More users means more content which would mean more search for relevant content. There are certain
issues in the way of getting the spectrum ready for wireless internet, chief among them being opposition from TV operators who argue that using the frequencies could cause interference with the other television signals.

An excerpt from BusinessWeek:

In a March 21 letter, Google outlined the benefits of auctioning the unused television irwaves in real time to wireless Internet providers and others. Google’s proposed “dynamic auction”, which sounds similar to search ad auctions, would allow WiFi providers to bid on elevision signal airwaves that are currently not in use, awarding the space to the highest bidder at the time.
Google argues that opening up the “white space” would greatly expand Internet access and the capacity of Internet services. “This would be akin to a faster, longer range, higher data rate WiFi service — WiFi 2.0 if you will,” wrote Richard S. Whitt, Google’s Washington Telecom and Media Counsel.

Google is counting on use of spectrum sensing technologies to minimize the impact of interference with other signals. With its upcoming Android platform, expect more from the Mountain View firm as it seeks to make wireless internet accessible ubiquitous across devices. Making the accessibility of the spectrum for third party applications was a major victory for Google. The measure has the potential for getting a lot more applications in to the mobile application space.

With mobile devices the interface and the functionality has stark differences as opposed to software on the internet accessed via devices with more screen real estate. The limitations on the user interface front and the display area imply that a lot more room is there in innovation such as seen in the iPhone. Use of gestures of user navigation were one such development. Making anytime anywhere internet available on devices will be a precursor to an era of applications running off the Web and delivering optimized to the device that the user chooses. And the 24×7 availability of services means that there is more to be squeezed out from an ad-supported business model.