What Is a Wireless Network Card?

A wireless network card is actually a terminal wireless network device. It needs to be used to access the Internet through a wireless connection network under the wireless coverage of a wireless local area network. In other words, a wireless network card is a device that enables your computer to use the Internet to access the Internet. However, with a wireless network card, you also need a wireless network that can be connected. Therefore, you need to use a wireless router or wireless AP to use the wireless network card. Connect wirelessly to the Internet to access the Internet. ^[1]

Chinese name: Wireless network card
Foreign name: wireless network adapter
Field: Computer Electronics Science and Technology

Principle: Data transmission using wireless signals
Category: Terminal wireless network equipment
Involved agreement: IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, etc.

How to use wireless network card

A wireless network card is a wireless terminal device. It is a wireless terminal device that is used for Internet access through a wireless connection network under the wireless coverage of a wireless local area network. Generally speaking, a wireless network card is a device that can access the Internet without connecting a network cable. For example, most of our digital products such as laptops, smartphones, and tablet computers have integrated wireless network cards. So how do wireless network cards work? ^[2]

Wireless network card

The following article will popularize the use of wireless network cards. The wireless network card is mainly divided into a built-in integrated wireless network card, such as a notebook, a smart phone, etc., which are integrated inside the wireless network card; the other is an external wireless network card, such as a common USB wireless network card, a PCI wireless network card, and the like. If the built-in wireless network card is damaged or the desktop computer needs wireless Internet access, then an external wireless network card will come in handy. ^[2]

For the built-in or external wireless network card in our computer, wireless network signals or AP signals need to be used. These signals are implemented by wireless routers, that is, such wireless network cards are only wireless signal receiving devices. We need to set up a router wireless network near the computer, and its biggest benefit is. The price is affordable and the signal is stable. The disadvantage is that it can only be used in a fixed place. For example, if there is a wireless router at home, then our smart phones, laptops or desktop computers with external USB wireless network cards can only use wireless Internet at home. Because the wireless network formed by the wireless router is not far away. ^[2]

Wireless network card setting method

As the price of wireless network equipment continues to decrease, the use and access of wireless networks are gradually accepted and loved by more people. However, it is not a simple matter to efficiently access the Internet through a wireless network, because in the days of long-term contact with the wireless network, we sometimes accidentally encounter some inexplicable malfunctions of the wireless network card. In the face of these malfunctions, many Friends who do nt have much access to wireless networks are often helpless and do nt know what to do to respond. In fact, many times the wireless network card does not work properly for a reason, we just need to carefully check its installation and setting operations. ^[3]

Wireless network card

Generally, the built-in wireless management mechanism can meet the setting requirements, but for users with high requirements, they want a better experience. In order to facilitate users to manage wireless networks, many brands of computers provide dedicated wireless network card management software, such as Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer and other brand notebooks have dedicated wireless network management tools, through which you can easily set up and manage the wireless network . ^[4]

If the notebook does not have a special management tool, you can also use wireless network management auxiliary tools, such as Maxidix, WiFi Suite and other wireless network management tools. ^[4]

The main classification of wireless network card

The functions and functions of wireless network cards are the same as ordinary computer network cards. They are used to connect to a local area network. It is only a device for transmitting and receiving signals. The connection to the Internet can only be achieved when the exit to the Internet is found. All wireless network cards can only be confined to the area where the wireless LAN is already deployed. A wireless network card is a network card that uses wireless signals to connect without a wired connection. Wireless network cards can be distinguished according to different interface types. The first is a USB wireless network card, which is currently the most common; the second is a desktop-specific PCI interface wireless network card; and the third is a laptop-specific PCMCIA interface wireless. Network card; the fourth is a built-in MINI-PCI wireless network card. ^[1]

The above mentioned wireless network cards can be divided into multiple types according to different interfaces. The following introduces the classification according to users: one is a desktop-specific PCI interface wireless network card. One is a PCMCIA interface network card for laptop computers. One is a USB wireless network card. This kind of network card can be used by desktop users or notebook users as long as the driver is installed. When selecting, only the wireless network card with USB2.0 interface can meet the requirements of 802.11g or 802.11g +. In addition to USB wireless network cards, there are also MINI-PCI wireless network cards that are widely used in notebook computers. MINI-PCI is a built-in wireless network card. Both Centrino models and non-Centrino wireless network card standard models use this type of wireless network card. The advantage is that it does not require a PC card or USB slot, and it saves you the trouble of carrying a PC card or USB card with you at any time. These types of wireless network cards have little difference in price and similar performance / functions. They can be selected as needed. ^[1]

Wireless network card

WLAN Introduction to wireless network card WLAN

Since its birth, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) has developed rapidly due to its superior flexibility and convenience, and has broad development prospects. The so-called WLAN refers to the use of radio frequency (RF) or infrared (Infrared: IR) technology to wirelessly connect two or more computer devices that need to exchange data. It generally consists of a wireless network card, a wireless access point (AP), a computer, and related equipment. Among them, AP is the abbreviation of Access Point, which is generally translated as "wireless access node". It mainly provides wireless workstations to and from wired LANs. Access to wireless workstations, through which wireless workstations within the coverage of the access point can communicate with each other. ^[5]

802.11 Wireless network card 802.11 standard

The IEEE 802.11 standard series is the mainstream of today's WLAN implementation technology. It is relatively simple, reliable in communication, flexible, high-throughput, and fast to install. It also has gradual and inherited technology development, which makes it easier to upgrade. ^[5]

Wireless network card

The original version of the 802.11 standard series was officially approved by the IEEE in 1997, and it is the first internationally recognized protocol. In the initial version, the medium access control layer (MAC layer) and the physical layer were defined, and the total data transmission rate was designed to be 2Mbps. The communication between the two devices can be carried out in a free and direct (ad hoc) manner, or it can be carried out under the coordination of a base station (BS) or an access point (AP). In order to resolve conflicts and achieve good communication quality in different communication environments, CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multi Access / Collision Avoidance) hardware communication methods are used. After that, the IEEE successively released several improved versions, including 802.11a in 1999, which defined a physical layer with a data transmission rate of 54 Mbps in the 5 GHz ISM band; 802.11b, which defined an ISM band in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. The data transmission rate is 11 Mbps at the physical layer. And later 802.11c to 802.11m series of standards. Among them, 802.11g reached a transmission rate of 54Mbps in the 2.4GHz ISM band. And the 802.11n under development is up to a transmission rate of 600Mbps. ^[5]

Wireless network card troubleshooting

Many laptops now come with wireless network card devices. In the absence of a wired network, wireless network cards can help us access the Internet more flexibly. However, wireless network cards often strike easily after working for a while. When many people encounter strikes, they are often in a hurry and do not know how to respond. To summarize some of the coping strategies in this regard are as follows: ^[6]

The wireless network card is not recognized

1. Whether the network card is inserted properly

At present, the wireless network card mainly has three interface types: PCI, USB, and PCMCIA. No matter which type, it must be inserted in place to ensure that the network card is in close contact with the computer slot or port; if it is not inserted, the wireless network card cannot be blocked. The system recognized it. Therefore, when you encounter a fault that the wireless network card cannot recognize, you may wish to check whether the network card is closely connected to the computer according to the type of interface card. ^[7]

2. Whether the USB port is enabled

When installing a wireless network card with a USB interface, if the computer's motherboard USB port is set to disable in advance, no matter what measures you take, the wireless network card will not be recognized correctly. Therefore, checking whether the motherboard USB port is "enabled" is one of the important measures to exclude the USB wireless network card from not recognizing it. ^[7]

IP Wireless network card cannot assign IP

First check whether the connection between the wireless workstation and the wireless access point in the local area network is successfully established. Sometimes when the wireless receiving signal is strong, the wireless access point can also refuse the connection or identification request of the wireless workstation. For example, if the wireless access point is in a busy state or its communication rate and other Internet parameters do not match the wireless workstation, it will refuse to establish a communication connection with the wireless workstation. ^[8]

If the wireless workstation has successfully passed the wireless access point identification verification, but the wireless network card still cannot obtain a valid IP address from the built-in DHCP server of the wireless access point, we need to check the built-in wireless access point. Whether the DHCP server is working properly. ^[8]

Wireless network card Bluetooth signal interference

Sometimes when you use a Bluetooth headset or mouse, you may not be able to access the wireless network. The root cause may be the mutual interference between the Bluetooth signal and the wireless network card signal. In order to solve the problem, you can set the communication frequency of the wireless network card and the wireless router. Set to 5GHz so that these devices do not interfere with each other. Many wireless network devices now support 5GHz operating frequency. For XP users, the wireless network card can be used very smoothly, but after upgrading to a system such as Windows 7/8, it will face the problem of being unable to drive the driver, resulting in the wireless network card not being used smoothly. The solution is not complicated. Open the "Compatibility" panel in the driver installer's properties window and select the option "Run this program in compatibility mode" to install the driver smoothly. ^[9]