Home Internet Providers

Home wireless Internet providers are not always the same as broadband providers, but they can be. Some companies offer both, others are limited to one or the other.

Wireless Internet at Home

There are two options for you if you just want wireless Internet at home. You can go with a broadband home plan that connects to the Internet through a wired connection, like cable, fiber optics or DSL, or you could go with a mobile broadband company’s home plan.

The former option will involve some extra equipment. First you’ll have a connection from the source to a modem, so if you go with the cable company, they’ll come to your home and make sure it’s wired and ready to connect to the modem. From there you’ll need to plug that modem into a wireless router. The router will take that wired signal and broadcast it as a Wi-Fi signal. Some companies will bundle a wireless router in with the initial set up costs or contract fees, while others will require you to get one on your own. It’s important to do your research on the router, you want one that offers high speeds at multiple frequencies. Also, many routers require a disc installation on a computer before they can run in wireless mode, that might be an issue if your laptop does not have a disc drive.

If you go with the latter option, all you’ll need is a USB-powered wireless device, or a mobile hotspot device. These devices can be purchased through a broadband wireless Internet provider. They’re easy to operate and can connect to fast 4G networks (depending on the provider). All you have to do is plug them in and you’re ready to go. Some 4G wireless providers even sell 4G enabled laptops, which you can use without any external device.

The perk to the second option is that it is easy to transition from a home plan into an anywhere plan, meaning you could take your laptop out of your house and use it in your car or at the park.