My Internet Provider gave me a modem with wireless capabilities built in. Yes I had to buy wireless cards for my other computers to pick up that signal. No big deal though. If your internet provider doesn't provide you with such a modem than yes I guess you have to go buy a router. But it wasn't even that difficult for me. I plugged in my modem and had wireless capabilities right out of the box. Hasn't given me a problem in 3 years. Once in a while the access cards on my other computers can be a hassle (occasionally losing a signal). But even that doesn't happen to often. This technology is pretty solid.
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Screw HD, every radio nerd needs one of THESE!
- Thread starter jeffryan
- Start date
R
riradio02842
Guest
jeffryan said:
Wow, I just read through this whole thread. Man, talk about a lot of symantecs here when discussing the technology involved.
In Dan's defense, wi-fi is not wireless Internet. That seems to be his point through the entire thread, and he is correct. Wi-fi is a "trade" term for the technologies that make up the 802.11x standards of wireless networks. So technically it is not wireless Internet. Technically, there is also no wired Internet. The Internet is just a public network of computers with a specific set of protocols for communication- there is no technical requirement on what medium is used to connect the computers, just the protocols involved.
See where I'm going with this Dan?
So let's be clear, so that all can understand, including Dan. This device connects to 802.11b/g/n networks that have been connected to the Internet. In most cases, this network has been created by a DSL or Cable subscriber who has plugged their combination wireless access point/router into their external DSL or Cable modem. The device can connect to unencrypted networks, along with those encrypted with WEP and WPA security protocols. You might also be able to connect this device if you live near a "hot spot", and someone else is providing the wireless network in your area. There would probably be some difficulty connecting to some enterprise level wireless networks, such as those that use a Radius type authentication server where a username and password is required, or, those that rely a user connecting to a web page first with a username/password before they receive full access to the wireless network.
There other types of wireless networks out there. Wi-max is a newer technology that works at ~2.5 GHz (in the USA) that could become what many would call "Wireless Internet". EDGE, UMTS, and EV-DO are digital mobile phone networks that are also being used to provide Internet access to mobile phones, smartphones, and computers/laptops that are equipped with the appropriate hardware receivers (as well as a service contract with a provider). "Bluetooth" is the trade name for a specific type of wireless personal area network, which allows you to interconnect devices at short distances. Even Bluetooth can be used to connect to the Internet (ie, pairing a cell phone to a laptop using Bluetooth to access the phones Internet connection). This device would not connect to any of these networks in its current incarnation.
So Dan, please lets quit it with the technicalities OK. We all know you're a smart engineer. But we're talking about an 802.11x enabled device, that does have options for security.
As for the device itself, I wish I had the money to pick one of these up. I could think of a few places where this would be nicer than a computer for tuning in to some out-of-town stations. However, I really don't think this type of device will be the death knell for radio. What will kill radio will be the iPhone 4G (yes, not 3G), and other similar smartphones. When you can load up your "Live365" or Shoutcast radio player on your phone, consistently receive a 1mbps connection, and then plug this device into your car stereo, well yeah, that will be the beginning of the end for terrestrial radio as we know it.
I can't wait.
Z
za-rex
Guest
Anyone see the new Verizon commercials where the kids going back to school have to teach their parents how to use their phones to keep in touch? That's what's happening so all this technology does mean terrestrial is screwed but it also means the demographic that isn't going to embrace this technology is basically screwed too because they're still crying for good terrestrial radio but terrestrial is telling them to take a hike because of their ages.
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