Wireless Modem

Back in the early 1990s there in order to connect to the internet while you were out and about away from your home or business you used a large box known as a wireless modem to connect through a cellular provider to the internet.  These devices were often used by shipping companies and police officers in order to keep in contact with their dispatchers.  These days wireless modems are no longer in use however the term is still used to describe several different distinct types of technologies.

Wireless modems functioned much like a dial up modem but instead of connecting to a phone line used a cellular network signal to perform the same functions that a dialup modem would perform, dialing a dial up number and then sending the data through an analog signal to the dial up network.

Cellular Network Wireless Cards

Often times Cellular Networks Wireless cards are often erroneously referred to as wireless modems by those that have been in the cellular communications business for an extended period of time.   These devices are not modems as they do not convert analog to digital and vice versa which is what a modem actually does. 

802.11 Wifi Cards

Often times 802.11 cards used in notebooks, laptops and desktop computers are also falsely refered to as wireless modems.  These are not wireless cards but allow your computer to either connect to a 802.11 b, 802.11 g or 802.11 n based wireless network.  These wireless networks are often used in homes, businesses or schools to make it much easier for people to access the internet without having to physically plug a cable into an outlet or socket.

Wireless Routers

Often times the wireless routers which act as the hub for the above 802.11 networks are also mistakenly referred to as wireless modems.  These devices are actually routers which act much like a router for a physical Ethernet based network.  Often times they are connected to a modem for a cable or Digital Subscriber Line service provider which than connects the router to the internet. 

Know Your Technology

When you are shopping for different forms of wireless technology it is important that you do your research and know what you are looking for.  You could have been searching for a 802.11 wifi router and ended up getting a cellular network wireless card if you walked into a business and asked for a wireless modem.

It is also a good idea to do your research to make sure that you are getting a decent price for what you are buying.  Often times the cheapest prices are found through internet based stores such as Amazon.  Brick and Mortar stores often charge a substantial markup of up to twenty five to thirty percent.  If you shop through some online retailers such as Amazon you can also get free shipping in addition to not having to pay for the mark up.  Be sure you do your research though to make sure you get something that you’re looking for.