15.01.2024 Views

CompTIA A+ Certification All-in-One Exam Guide

  • No tags were found...

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

802.11, Bluetooth, and wired Ethernet connections. Generally they work

exactly as you’ve seen in previous chapters, but you may stumble into a few

issues that are unique to portables. (Mobile devices—tablets, smartphones—

get even more options, as you’ll see in Chapter 24.)

802.11 Wireless

Most portables today have Wi-Fi built directly into the chipset for connecting

the device to a wireless access point (WAP) and from there to a bigger

network, such as the Internet. The 802.11g or 802.11n standard is common

on older laptops; newer portable computers use 802.11ac.

NOTE While the newest portables are shipping with 802.11ac, be aware

that, especially as portables are getting powerful enough to live longer useful

lives, you may see a few previous standards built into devices in the wild.

Bluetooth

While not quite as ubiquitous as 802.11, most portables use Bluetooth as

well. Bluetooth is really handy on a laptop because, as you may recall from

Chapter 20, “Wireless Networking,” it enables you to add wireless

peripherals such as mice, keyboards, and headsets, as well as communicate

with smartphones, speakers, and other Bluetooth devices.

Hardware Switches

Portable computers that come with wireless technologies such as 802.11,

mobile broadband, GPS, or Bluetooth have some form of on/off switch to

toggle the antenna off or on so that you may use the laptop in areas where

emissions aren’t allowed (like a commercial aircraft). The switch may be

hard wired, like the one shown in Figure 23-13, or it may be a toggle of the

FN key plus another key on the keyboard. Also, if you’re not using Wi-Fi or

Bluetooth, turn them off to save electricity and lengthen the portable’s battery

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!