Wireless Access Points
Local area networks (LANs) are suitable in any home or office because they allow you to store data in quickly with minimal hassle. A wireless network can be deployed using two sets of components, one is the access point, the other is a client adapter. The wireless access point is the base unit, while the four most client adapters include: wireless PCI adapters for desktops computers, wireless PCMIA adapters for notebook use, wireless USB adapters for notebook and desktop use and wireless ethernet adapters–used in any device that has an ethernet port.
When shopping for access points, your primary concern should be the standard that it conforms to. Picking up an 802.11b-based device is not a good idea because the 11megabits per second (Mbps) of bandwidth will choke relatively quickly depending on the number of the network users and the load being placed on it. 802.11n-based device can go up to 300Mbps with distances longer than the 802.11g standard which only has data rate of up to 54Mbps. If you value your security, it is also worth looking at models that have built-in hardware firewalls. These are more robust than software firewalls, as they are less likely to crash and leave your network an open book.