Today's post is all about Connections. Let's face it, it's a wireless world out there now, and while there are countless gadgets out there that will work without wires, they don't go about it the same way. Lets try and clear up some of the confusion around just how that's done.
WiFi- No, that's not pronounced "Wiffy", both syllables rhyme with "Eye" and it's a common method of networking computers. You'll see this sold in varieties of B, G, N, and probably some other letters further down the alphabet in the future. Basically, what you need to know is this: the later the letter appears in the alphabet, the faster it runs, and the farther it reaches. WiFi G will cover most homes with a reasonable speed for most people, and N will cover an area twice as wide, and run even faster. To use this type of connection, you'll need two things; a wireless router, and a wireless card. Many new devices have a wireless card built it, but not all, so if you find yourself unsure, see if you can find a manual for it. Wireless routers are the brains behind a WiFi network, they allow WiFi devices in the area to communicate with each other, and if the router has been set up correctly, it will allow those devices to access the internet as well.
Bluetooth- This is not a cause to see the dentist, but yet another way of connecting devices without wires. A phone that is equipped with Bluetooth will typically allow you to use a hands-free Bluetooth headset with it, or a Bluetooth equipped vehicle, but depending on the manufacturer, can connect it to other devices as well for various other tasks. If you've got a mess of wires around your desktop computer at home, a Bluetooth mouse may be a good option for you.
Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6/Ethernet Cable- This is basically just a network cable that looks like a thick phone cord. This will physically connect devices to each other, and is the standard for local area(small) networks. If you've got a broadband("high speed") connection at home, you've got at least one of these set up. These are inexpensive, and common. Just make sure you plug them into the right spot, marked with three small boxes and an upside-down "T" connecting them, and not into a phone outlet.
MiMo- You'll probably see this term listed on a number of WiFi devices, and it stands for Multiple Input, Multiple Output. An analogy of how this works is this: If I have two truckloads of stuff to deliver to Nashville and I want it there quick, I'll send two trucks. MiMo works like that, rather than treating each device as only one, it creates a second connection to the same device to double up the speed at which they can share information. There probably aren't too many people out there that can really use this feature, and chances are, if you're reading this blog with any regularity, you aren't one of them.
That's all for now, check in again for further additions to the Tech Glossary.
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