There are many different ways you can receive your internet and there are many different types of wireless (wifi) communications available.
But for the purpose of this post I am going to try and explain the difference between the couple of options we have in Australia depending on where you live and what type of hardware you have in place.
Interesting Fact: Wireless LAN (Local Area Networks) was invented in Australia by the CSIRO and credited to John O’Sullivan is an Australian electrical engineer.
Internet over your wireless LAN
Most of us fall into the category. This is where you sign up for internet through and ISP or RSP like Optus or TPG and connect to one of the ADSL, ADSL2 or NBN plans and they send us a modem/router which has wireless built into it.
You most likely have a copper telephone line or (if you are really lucky) NBN running into your house in which the modem connects to the internet.
Then you have the choice of running an Ethernet cable from your computer to the modem or connecting to it over wireless (about 50 metres range) to access the modem/router and in turn the internet.
When you turn the your wireless connection on in your computer or laptop and you see all those funny names like “Optus321” or your next door neighbours dogs name; they are the wireless LAN networks usually associated with their internet modems.
3G/4G Wireless Modem Router
With your 3G/4G modem router you basically connect to the internet service provider via a 4G connection rather than through telephone or NBN lines in the ground.
Your internet modem connects through the air and again like the above “Internet over the wireless LAN” you can connect to it via a Ethernet Cable or wireless connection. So basically you are connecting your wireless Local Area Network to a Wireless 4G connection.
A similar setup is when you turn hotspot on, on your phone. Your phone is connecting to your telecommunications providers internet and then your phone makes a wireless LAN for your computers to connect to, which you always want to protect with a password.
You can also buy a 4G wireless USB dongle you can connect to your computer directly and bypassing your WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). They simply plug into the USB ports on your computer, setup the software and hit connect.
Satellite Interent
Since the beginning of the National Broadband Network in Australia, there have been two satellites launched for people , specially in remote areas of Australia to connect to the internet. Only one is currently running right now with the second just launched recently.
The name of the Satellite is Sky Muster and it is giving people in remote locations such as the outback and on different islands around Australia the opportunity to join the National Broadband Network for super fast internet over Satellite connection.
