- Post Publish: 2023-04-14
- Categories: Knowledge
- Updated:
- Posts by Linda Liu
What is a Wireless Card and How Does it Work?
Linda Liu
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Nowadays, almost all industries are benefiting from wireless technologies. Along with the increasing trend of remote mobile devices, rugged edge computing pc, IoT, and IIoT, many of these applications are just not achievable by being wired by cable. Here is where wireless card technologies take place where they can provide fast internet connectivity and machine-to-machine communications for advanced mobile technologies.
Therefore, many industries utilize a wireless connection or wireless Card installed to provide network connectivity for different applications.
What Is A Wireless Card?
A wireless card or wireless network card is a wireless terminal device used to enable internet connection through the wireless connection network under the coverage of a wireless local area network. Therefore, a wireless card installed on an industrial pc computer is used to enable wireless connectivity to the internet. As a result, with the advent of Industry 4.0, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Edge computing, this wireless card is very much needed to provide seamless connectivity.
How Do Wireless Cards Work?
A wireless network card works by transmitting data through radio waves frequency wirelessly. Therefore, a wireless network card gets an access point or wireless router that first receives information from the internet through a cabled connection and converts data from a binary form into radio waves at a specific frequency.
When the radio frequency is broadcast out, the wireless card built into the industrial computer will receive the radio frequency signal and convert it to the language that the computer understands.
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What Are Various Types Of Wireless Card Slots?
A wireless card can connect to various types of slots, such as the PCIe, mPCIe, mSATA, and M.2. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) is an industry-standard that provides the attached devices to communicate to the computer through a slot.
Small form factor computers with PCIe connection often configure their expansion slots with mPCIe or mini-PCIe designed specifically for space-constraint devices.
In addition, there are other small form factors wireless network card slots, the mSATA and M.2. mPCIe and mSATA have the exact same form factor and connector but different connection interface protocols.
On the other hand, M.2 is the next generation slot that replaces mSATA and mPCIe for internal expansion slots. This is because of the M.2 even smaller form factor with a comparatively higher transfer speed of up to 4GB/s for NVMe interfaces. Here are the use cases of different wireless network slots:
* Wi-Fi Card or Local Area Network (LAN) Cards are network cards that allow computers to connect to wireless networks.
* Bluetooth Card is a USB-based wireless card that allows computers to receive Bluetooth signals wirelessly to connect various devices or sensors.
* A modem Card or SIM Card Slot Card is a wireless card connected to the PCIe to provide a house for Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card provided by a mobile carrier. This enables the computer to access the carrier’s network and uses voice and data services.
What Are The Advantages Of Wireless Cards?
Flexibility
Wireless networks enable users to access real-time information anytime and anywhere without getting disconnected from the network. Thus, increasing efficiency, mobility, and productivity are not applicable through wired, locally shared network connections.
Shock And Vibration Resistant
Installing a wireless network system reduces cable usage, reduces the possibility of loose cables from their connection, withstands external interruption, and burns the cable. Therefore, wireless network cards utilize swappable cards to withstand high levels of shock and vibration.
Efficiency
Wireless networks allow enhanced and better data communication with a faster transfer of information between users. In addition, it is much easier to update or upgrade the wireless network to meet the new configurations.
Cost-Effective
Wireless networks are cost-effective since they are cheaper and easier to install. Even though wireless networks may have a higher initial investment, the overall expenses will be lower over time. Since it is a cableless network, no cost is needed to purchase numerous cables.
Wider Reach
Wireless networks have a wider reach when compared to wired networks. As a result, it can be easily extended to an area where wired cables are not accessible. In addition, wireless networks can sometimes handle a larger number of users as they are not limited to a specific number of connection ports.
Wireless Network Card In Industrial Applications
Wireless network cards are used to enable internet connection through wireless connection networks under the coverage of a wireless local area network (WLAN). Therefore, this wireless network technology has advantaged many industries, such as:
- Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT)
- Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
- Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) Telematics and Autonomous Vehicles
- Rugged Panel PC