Wireless Routers, wireless mice
My mom asked me about this today, and my explanation turned into a ramble. So I figured I'd copy it here. Thus, if you're wondering about wireless routers and/or mice, and want some rambling layman's terms, here you go.
I've got both, along with a couple wireless keyboards. Note "wireless" means that you don't need to have the computer connected with wires to the router, or you don't need your mouse to be directly connected via wire to your computer. It doesn't mean you have NO wires. Nonetheless, it is very convenient. I'll explain. (be prepared for a ramble)
The wireless router packages up its network information into a bunch of little packets that it then broadcasts via antennae, just like anything else that uses an antennae. The awaiting computer(s) have their own antennae designed to detect these broadcasts, decrypt the packet of network stuff, and read it. Considering the whole process, it's really amazingly fast and its market is getting even faster as I type this. The reason people really like it is because laptops in particular become VERY easy to move anywhere in the house without having to run a long wire wherever you go in order to get 'net access. For instance, rather than drop a long ethernet cable out my window, I can simply bring Morgan (laptop) out on the back deck and she's still online. The range can be pretty good depending on the strength of the antennae and the amount of interference in between the signal and the computer. Note it's the same concept used in the wi-fi that's becoming popular [in cities] these days.
** Digression.
The other day I saw a laundromat. A huge sign has been hung on its main-st-side wall that says, "Free wi-fi Internet access available here!" Instantly I thought, "CRAP! NOW they come up with that... now that I have a washer and dryer right inside the house! Dammit... Imagine, I could have brought my laptop here, done my laundry, and had internet access all the while..." Then I immediately came up with a new "geek" thing: "You might be a geek if you see a sign on a laundromat saying "free wi fi access with every load" and you wish you didn't have a washer at home so you could justify using someone else's wireless connection." Because, you see, I have exactly what they offer, without having to pay for every load. DUH. *blush*
** End digression.
** No wait. Comment on digression.
It just dawned on me, however, that anyone who has a wireless computer in the immediate vicinity of that laundromat probably gets free internet access...
** End comment.
Anywho, a wireless mouse is the same concept as the router. It's more like a remote control, though. You have a receiver that plugs into the back of the computer (in the mouse port, go figure) and of course you install drivers for that. You plug another wire into a power supply. Then you put batteries into the mouse, which has NO wires. It can be either optical or the ball kind (don't ask why ballywallies are made wireless, to me ALL ballywallies should be replaced with opticals). You press a button on the receiver, another on the bottom of the mouse, and the receiver finds the "channel" that the mouse is on. This is a good thing because you can have two wireless devices in the room and they won't interfere with each other (until the channels degrade, then you repeat the button thing - it's rarer than mouse batteries dying).
Selene's mouse came with the keyboard I bought for her, and both use the same receiver. Same with Raven's keyboard/mouse. The keyboard uses four 'AA' batteries which last a LONG time for some weird reason. I've used two sets in over a year. The mouse's batteries expire approximately once a month, maybe a bit sooner. But they're rechargeable - I set the mouse into the receiver and two little contacts on the bottom of the mouse pull power from the receiver until the batteries are recharged. Not all mice are like that but I take great pains to find those that are since they're obviously more cost efficient. It's a pain in the butt though at times when you're in a hurry and the batteries suddenly die on you - you have no mouse at all unless you plug in a wired one. At work we have both a USB wired mouse and the wireless one, since we're 24x7 and are always using the poor computer. They do not conflict with each other since they use separate IRQ's (another story) so as soon as the wireless dies, we simply put it in the receiver to charge and grab the wired ballywally we've got hooked up. Which is easy to find because, well, it's wired. Follow the cable, silly.
One problem people cause themselves with rechargeable mice is that as soon as the red light flashes they think, "OMG!! IT'S GONNA DIE!! QUICK!! RECHARGE!!" BAD idea. It's like anything else rechargeable - the more you DRAIN the battery before recharging, the longer the charge holds. If you keep charging it before the battery's completely gone, it'll "learn" that behaviour and consequently you need to charge it more and more often until it's completely dead and you need new batteries altogether. Hence the one at work dies every two days and the one here dies once a month. (Usage affects it of course, but the idiot(s) at work simply refuse to understand the necessity of battery depletion.)
Oh, and once the mouse does lose the charge, it simply stops working. There's seldom any erratic behaviour. So really, drain the sucker, morons...
Sorry... was all that too much information?
I've got both, along with a couple wireless keyboards. Note "wireless" means that you don't need to have the computer connected with wires to the router, or you don't need your mouse to be directly connected via wire to your computer. It doesn't mean you have NO wires. Nonetheless, it is very convenient. I'll explain. (be prepared for a ramble)
The wireless router packages up its network information into a bunch of little packets that it then broadcasts via antennae, just like anything else that uses an antennae. The awaiting computer(s) have their own antennae designed to detect these broadcasts, decrypt the packet of network stuff, and read it. Considering the whole process, it's really amazingly fast and its market is getting even faster as I type this. The reason people really like it is because laptops in particular become VERY easy to move anywhere in the house without having to run a long wire wherever you go in order to get 'net access. For instance, rather than drop a long ethernet cable out my window, I can simply bring Morgan (laptop) out on the back deck and she's still online. The range can be pretty good depending on the strength of the antennae and the amount of interference in between the signal and the computer. Note it's the same concept used in the wi-fi that's becoming popular [in cities] these days.
** Digression.
The other day I saw a laundromat. A huge sign has been hung on its main-st-side wall that says, "Free wi-fi Internet access available here!" Instantly I thought, "CRAP! NOW they come up with that... now that I have a washer and dryer right inside the house! Dammit... Imagine, I could have brought my laptop here, done my laundry, and had internet access all the while..." Then I immediately came up with a new "geek" thing: "You might be a geek if you see a sign on a laundromat saying "free wi fi access with every load" and you wish you didn't have a washer at home so you could justify using someone else's wireless connection." Because, you see, I have exactly what they offer, without having to pay for every load. DUH. *blush*
** End digression.
** No wait. Comment on digression.
It just dawned on me, however, that anyone who has a wireless computer in the immediate vicinity of that laundromat probably gets free internet access...
** End comment.
Anywho, a wireless mouse is the same concept as the router. It's more like a remote control, though. You have a receiver that plugs into the back of the computer (in the mouse port, go figure) and of course you install drivers for that. You plug another wire into a power supply. Then you put batteries into the mouse, which has NO wires. It can be either optical or the ball kind (don't ask why ballywallies are made wireless, to me ALL ballywallies should be replaced with opticals). You press a button on the receiver, another on the bottom of the mouse, and the receiver finds the "channel" that the mouse is on. This is a good thing because you can have two wireless devices in the room and they won't interfere with each other (until the channels degrade, then you repeat the button thing - it's rarer than mouse batteries dying).
Selene's mouse came with the keyboard I bought for her, and both use the same receiver. Same with Raven's keyboard/mouse. The keyboard uses four 'AA' batteries which last a LONG time for some weird reason. I've used two sets in over a year. The mouse's batteries expire approximately once a month, maybe a bit sooner. But they're rechargeable - I set the mouse into the receiver and two little contacts on the bottom of the mouse pull power from the receiver until the batteries are recharged. Not all mice are like that but I take great pains to find those that are since they're obviously more cost efficient. It's a pain in the butt though at times when you're in a hurry and the batteries suddenly die on you - you have no mouse at all unless you plug in a wired one. At work we have both a USB wired mouse and the wireless one, since we're 24x7 and are always using the poor computer. They do not conflict with each other since they use separate IRQ's (another story) so as soon as the wireless dies, we simply put it in the receiver to charge and grab the wired ballywally we've got hooked up. Which is easy to find because, well, it's wired. Follow the cable, silly.
One problem people cause themselves with rechargeable mice is that as soon as the red light flashes they think, "OMG!! IT'S GONNA DIE!! QUICK!! RECHARGE!!" BAD idea. It's like anything else rechargeable - the more you DRAIN the battery before recharging, the longer the charge holds. If you keep charging it before the battery's completely gone, it'll "learn" that behaviour and consequently you need to charge it more and more often until it's completely dead and you need new batteries altogether. Hence the one at work dies every two days and the one here dies once a month. (Usage affects it of course, but the idiot(s) at work simply refuse to understand the necessity of battery depletion.)
Oh, and once the mouse does lose the charge, it simply stops working. There's seldom any erratic behaviour. So really, drain the sucker, morons...
Sorry... was all that too much information?
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