By James Z
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This guide will show you the necessary steps to buying a wireless modem for a desktop.

In today's world, wireless technology is popping up more and more. If you've been to the local library or even the coffee shop on the corner, chances are, they have wireless Internet set up. However, you too can bring this technology to your own home. This guide will show you the necessary steps.

Before we start deciding, we are going to outline 4 important factors which will affect your decision:

  • The size of your home
  • The speed of your Internet connection and what you are doing
  • Technical skill and cost
  • The desktop computer itself
Step 1:

The size of your home:

In the world of wireless technology, the location size is very important. Wireless modems come in different wireless modes being: A, B, G, and N.

Currently as of this writing, G and N are the two most popular forms of wireless modes.

However, what are these modes exactly? These are simply the standards of the wireless data that the modem transmits. They offer different features and speeds.

If you're buying a wireless modem for a standard size house at roughly 2,000 square feet, then wireless G will most likely satisfy your needs. It provides decent coverage throughout the house.

NOTE: This doesn't include your yard.

However, if you are someone with a larger home, or someone who enjoys working in their backyard, Wireless N is the way to go. Wireless N is the newest standard of wireless technology which is 12x the speed and coverage of wireless G.

Step 2:

Speed, speed, speed:

What you do also affects what modem you buy. Even amongst the different wireless standards, there are different flavors. 

If you are someone who just uses the Internet simply for occasional movie watching and checking the Internet/email, a standard wireless G/N will cover your needs.

If you are a heavy gamer who plays World of Warcraft, a stable and fast connection is a must. Features such as dual band would greatly benefit the gamer.

Step 3:

Skill and price:

The price is perhaps the most critical or least critical component of your decision depending on who you are. When purchasing a router, there are several brands who offer the same thing. However, name brands such as Linksys and D-Link would obviously charge more for their products. Why? For the support. If you are someone who is tech savvy and can go about troubleshooting your own network problems, you can save some cash by going with lesser known brands such as Belkin who offers the same product with often the same features for a lesser price. However, someone new to the idea of networking may be better off with Linksys or bigger brands as their support is more often than not, more responsive.

Step 4:

Computers:

Also, take into consideration the number of computers that will be joined on your network. Most modern day wireless networks support numerous computers on a wireless band; however, they are limited to 4 Ethernet ports on average. If you are someone who is adding a desktop computer with 1-2 laptops thrown in the mix, any modem today will be able to accommodate you. However, if you are like me (7 computers on a network) a higher end model with more ports is a must.

Before you go out and buy, also consider the adapter for your dekstop. Some desktops today often come with a wireless adapter built in so no worries there. However, older models may not, so you will have to buy an adapter seperately. Be sure that the wireless standards on the modem (A/B/G/N) match with the adapter you are buying.

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