Reference Guide

Wireless Wide Area Network

Also known as Mobile Broadband, this service is generally provided by the phone companies for use on mobile devices. A mobile device or

laptop must support WWAN technology to connect to this network.

Wireless Personal Area Network

Devices are generally connected wirelessly using Bluetooth, RF, Near-Field Communication (NFC), and so on. This type of network

generally operates within a few feet of the devices. To connect your computer or tablet to the internet, see

Connecting to the internet.

Modem

Modems allow you to connect your computer or router to the internet. Modems can be analog (dial-up) or digital (DSL or cable). DSL or

cable modems are generally provided by your internet service provider.

• Dial-up modem—Electronic devices that convert analog phone signals into digital signals that the computer can process and digital

computer signals into analog signals that can be transmitted over the telephone lines. Dial-up modems can be internal or external.

• Digital modem—Used to send and receive data to and from a digital telephone line, like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) or Integrated

Services Digital Network (ISDN).

Router

A router is a device that forwards data between computer networks. The most familiar type of routers are home and small office routers

that allow you to share your internet connection between multiple devices at the same time.

Routers can be wired or wireless. A wired router allows you to connect your computer using a Ethernet (RJ45) cable. Most wired home

routers have four ports allowing you to connect up to four computers to the internet at the same time. A wireless router uses Wi‑Fi

technology allows you to wirelessly connect your phones, tablets, computers, and other devices to the network.

Wireless routers can connect to several devices at the same time. For more information, see the documentation for your router.

Network‑Interface Controller

Network‑Interface Controllers (NIC), also referred to as network adapters or Local‑Area Network (LAN) adapters, connect to a network

using an Ethernet cable. NICs can be internal (integrated to the system board) or external (expansion cards). Most new computers have

integrated network adapters.

Wireless Local‑Area Network adapter

WLAN adapters use Wi‑Fi technology and allow your devices to connect to a wireless router. Your computer may have an internal

(expansion cards or integrated to the system board) or an external WLAN adapter.

Wireless Wide Area Network adapter

Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) controllers allow wireless connectivity through cellular tower technology. This technology is mainly

available on phones, tablets, and business-class laptops. A SIM card and a service contract may be required for WWAN connectivity.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth allows you to connect other Bluetooth-enabled devices to your computer or tablet, over a short distance. Bluetooth devices

may include phones, headsets, keyboard, mice, printers, and so on. Bluetooth adapters can be internal (expansion cards or integrated to

the system board) or external.

More sophisticated routers, such as enterprise routers, connect large business or ISP networks up to the powerful core routers that

forward data at high speed along the optical fiber lines of the internet backbone.

About your computer