Brief Introduction to Network Adapter

Generally for a home network, the most important consideration is the speed you have contracted for with your Internet service provider (ISP). And network adapters as an important element in wire management, are required to connect to the Internet with or without an Ethernet cable. There are many types of network adapters, an wireless one can help people connect to the home or office network as long as the computer is in the vicinity. This article will provide some information about network adapters that may be useful to potential buyers.

 

Main Features of Network Adapters

The wireless network adapter is quite similar to a memory stick in appearance. The device will usually insert into a USB port and has a LED light that indicates operability and power. The devices can be portable and quite effective. Some are slightly larger and may be the size of a credit card. Because of their size, the devices are convenient and easy to install. More designers are coming to appreciate the compactness of network adapters.

 

network adapter

When the device is pled in, it will scan for local networks to connect to and display them for the user. Users simply have to click the name of the network they wish to join. Any credentials that need to be provided should be provided, and this is all it requires to surf the network wirelessly. Most devices only require the credentials once, and it will boot each time it’s logged in.

 

The Important of Network Adapter

Network adapters are necessary for those who desire network connectivity. Network adapters bring so much more functionality and flexibility when it comes to connecting to the Internet. Wireless network adapters are even more desirable. Designers are recognizing that network adapters are instrumental to the success of the device. Local technology companies can provide network adapters at an affordable price to clients who need the functionality and the scalability. Network adapters are instrumental to connecting single or multiple devices to the Internet.

 

Software Drivers Are Necessary

Wireless network adapters need a piece of software called a device driver. These network drivers will allow applications to communicate with the network adapter hardware. When the network drivers are communicating with the hardware, the devices operate easier. Drivers can make current and past technology more compatible. If an upgrade is necessary from a PCI card or a PCMCIA, USB devices with update driver software is the preferable choice.

 

Backwards and Forwards Compatibility

Laptop computers will come equipped with a built-in WiFi card. When the wireless standards change and a new card is required, network adapters are usually backwards and forwards compatible. This is desirable if you want the newer and faster standard. For instance, most network adapters will support both the 802.11g standard and the 802.11n standard to ensure that they are both backwards and forwards compatible.

 

However to Ensure the Performance of Your Network Adapter

The network interface is where the data hits the computer. It’s the port or WiFi adapter that receives the data from the air or cable and translates it into something the computer can understand. No matter how fast the data arrives at the interface, it will only pass through as fast as the interface can process it. Many things can slow it down.

It’s important to remember that an interface that is capable of higher speeds than your network provides will not help things go faster. Spending money on a Gigabit network card won’t give you 1000 Mbps if your ISP is only supplying 25 Mbps.

Furthermore, a Ethernet cable in a cable management systems used to achieve the connectivity will also pose threat to the internet speed. Ethernet cables are presented in different categories. The most commonly used is Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6. CAT 5, rated at 100 Mbps; CAT 5e rated at 1000 Mbps; and CAT 6 rated at 10,000 Mpbs. CAT 5 is fine for most internet access through DSL or cable, while CAT 5e works well on connections over 100Mbps, as well as Gigabit business networks and home fiber optic connections. CAT 6 is probably overkill for most home networks, but is useful for business networks over 1 Gbps.

Other than cables used in home network, there are other factors that can throttle the performance of your network. Therefore, to use an external test server tests not only your home setup, including your adapter, but everything between you and the server doing the test.