A wireless local area network (WLAN) card is a device that allows a computer to connect to wireless networks. Used by computer users and businesses to connect multiple devices to a wireless transmission network, a WLAN card may also be called a wireless card or a Wi-Fi card. A WLAN differs from Ethernet-based cards in that the WLAN hardware allows the computer to connect to a wireless network without using connecting cables. Wireless cards may look like a card with connector pins on the end, but they also come in portable forms that look like pin units.
A wireless router, part of a WLAN.
Many people and businesses use a configured WLAN card on a daily basis, usually to connect to a home or work network. Most wireless networks use a technology called frequency division multiplexing to transmit data. Wireless networks are sometimes called Wireless Local Area Networks (LAWNs). Wireless networks often use a modem to provide Internet access to WLAN-enabled computers. Typically, a computer with a wireless card communicates with a router connected by wires to a wired modem with Internet access.
Pluggable WLAN cards connect via a USB port.
A WLAN card can be installed as a permanent piece of hardware inside a computer or it can be a piece of peripheral hardware connected to an external port on a computer. Pluggable WLAN cards typically connect to your computer through a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port. New laptops often come with WLAN devices already installed. Some manufacturers refer to a laptop with built-in WLAN capability as a WLAN laptop. Examples of common WLAN card manufacturers include D-Link®, Linksys®, HP®, and Netgear®.
Some computers are designed so that anyone can easily install hardware WLAN cards, while other computers, especially older ones, have slightly more complicated installation processes for installing integrated WLAN cards that may require the help of an experienced technician or a friend. . . To run a newly installed WLAN card, most computers require the installation of a software driver package. A WLAN card driver tells the computer how to communicate with the WLAN card. Wireless hardware manufacturers often include driver discs in the package with a new WLAN device or for download online.
A wired local area network (LAN) generally has faster data transfer than wireless networks, but the cables require the computer user to stay within the cable length of the network hardware. With a wireless network, users can stay connected from anywhere they want within the transmission range of the wireless network hardware. WLAN cards sometimes have Ethernet LAN capabilities as a built-in feature. Wireless cards without an Ethernet plug are often installed alongside Ethernet cards to give the computer the ability to connect to wired and wireless network connections. A wired LAN connection can be useful for troubleshooting network connectivity issues, and can also help set up a computer to connect to a network for the first time.
Newer laptops often come with built-in WLAN capabilities.
