wireless vs wired

[SRS]

We currently have Hinet wired internet access. There are three computers in three rooms here. One of the other person that lives here would like to get wireless through friends that live in the same building. What are the advantages and disadvantages to wireless Internet? What about the costs as opposed to continuing with Hinet?

[TheLostSwede]

Uhm, I think you've got it slightly wrong.
I think the discussion is about the fact that the other people in the house has a wireless router that he/she can connect to.
Strictly speaking, any kind of wired internet connection (as in from the router/modem onto the internet) is faster than any wireless option currently available in Taiwan (3G/WiMAX). It wouldn't make much sense sharing a wireless internet connection using 3G or WiMAX and the cost isn't competitive either.
If you want to be able to connect everyone's computers wirelessly to the internet though you just need to get a wireless router which is then connected to the Hinet box.

[finley]

What you want to do is piggyback off someone else's internet router, in another apartment, right? You could do that simply by dangling a CAT5 cable out of their window and into your building (assuming that's physically possible without making a mess or leaving a window jammed open).

Attempting it wirelessly probably wouldn't work well: WiFi operates on microwave frequencies which behave a lot like light - they're not good at getting through 4 inches of concrete. OK, you might get a signal, but it'll be weak and the effective bitrate will be much reduced.

[Taiwan_Student]

Has wireless finally reached the point where I can speed down National Highway 1 or three and enjoy NPR or the BBC? I had a month long trial of Wimax by the way, about a year ago. I live in rural Pingdong county and it worked great, on the sixth floor of the hospital or in one corner of McDonalds. When the signal was there.. fantastic. Weak signal no way Then there were not many towers that carried it.

[TheLostSwede]

Ok, people, please, what is "wireless"? There are a ton of different ways to connect to the internet "wireless", but unless you're able to explain what kind of technology you're talking about, it's impossible to offer any kind of advice or suggestions.

If we're talking about 3G/3.5G/3.75G/HSPA/HSDPA (all the same thing more or less, but at different speeds) then the coverage in Taiwan is pretty good, but there's no blanket coverage and I'd say very few countries if any offer that. As for WiMAX, it's really much hit and miss as far as the coverage maps I've seen and it's not a technology that would replace a 3G connection if you travel outside the major cities or to other countries. LTE or 4G is as yet not available in Taiwan. Wi-Fi is fairly wide spread at least in Taipei via WiFly, but the range is quite limited, but the upside is that you don't need any special hardware to connect and it's relatively cheap (said to become free).

[Dr. McCoy]

We have the ADSL Hinet and got a wireless off of that and put it on a router. I use the wireless on my computer and can't tell any difference in speed. We use it for the iPad and iPhone. We got too many i things. I like the wireless.

[greenmark]

Has wireless finally reached the point where I can speed down National Highway 1 or three and enjoy NPR or the BBC? I had a month long trial of Wimax by the way, about a year ago. I live in rural Pingdong county and it worked great, on the sixth floor of the hospital or in one corner of McDonalds. When the signal was there.. fantastic. Weak signal no way Then there were not many towers that carried it.

It's easier to connect to the internet while on the highway of you use wireless than if you use a wired connection

[benkei]

if the computers have wireless adapters, you might be able to create an ad-hoc network with them...

[finley]

Has wireless finally reached the point where I can speed down National Highway 1 or three and enjoy NPR or the BBC?

Only if you're driving a blue truck or a taxi.

[urodacus]

I still get the Beeb world service on the wireless. I put the wireless on top of the computer screen so I can tune it while I'm typing on Forumosa. The reception is better against the window, but I don't want to get up all the time to change stations.