Satellite, radio frequency (RF) and Microwave are the three main ways to transmit wireless data. As with the other types of broadband, wireless technology has its pros and cons.

First of all, unlike cable or DSL, wireless can be very fast to implement. There is no wait time for traditionally slow utility companies to build their infrastructure and rewire the country. In fact, currently, commercial satellites have nearly complete coverage over the continental United States. And yes, Internet access via satellite is available in Yuma making it the only broadband technology available to our community.

Wireless speeds are also impressive. Manufacturers claim speeds varying from a few hundred kilobytes (k) to 30 Megabits (Mbps) per second.

On the down side, wireless technologies are more expensive than traditional analog modem accounts. Generally, you will be charged for both the amount of time you are online and the amount of data you transfer. This is a major drawback because we have all become used to low flat rates for unlimited access and data transfer.

Currently, the most popular form of broadband wireless is satellite access through the two major providers, Direct TV and Dishnetwork. And, like receiving television channels through these companies, their Internet access is based only on broadcasting information to your home. This means they still require users to have at least a standard analog modem, phone line and account with a local ISP on top of your satellite Internet account which allows you to upload your requests for online information.

Dishnetwork relies on caching technology to deliver content. And, they only cache major news and portal sites openly admitting that you won't be able to access a large portion of the Internet. This sounds bad at the consumer level but may be perfect for businesses wanting to cut down on surfing time by offering very fast (Dishnetwork claims up to 30 Mbps downloading) Internet access and keep employees in check since they will only be able to view business related content.

Direct TV's Internet access works a little differently. They still require a connection to a local ISP for upsteam requests but they claim that each request is first attached with a special code that routes the online content to the satellite servers and then to your home PC at very fast rates (around 400k at the consumer level).

The next most popular version is of wireless is microwave transmission. Unlike satellite, microwave transmits both upsteam and downsteam eliminating the need for an analog modem and phone line. And, once the signal is passed on to your local ISP, your Internet requests are handled just like a traditional account giving you full access to the World Wide Web (WWW).

The major downside to microwave transmissions is they require a true line of site from the ISP's transmission antenna to the required antenna on your roof. Even in Yuma, this would be a major problem for people living in the valley.

If you are looking for a truly mobile solution for Internet access, RF may be the solution. Unfortunately, in its current form, it is not yet broadband. In fact, even in best cases, it maxes out at about the same as your old 28.8k modem. However, it is still worth mentioning since it is a form of wireless technology and has potential to enter the broadband arena. Furthermore, this is the current technology being used for accessing online information through your pager or cell phone.

The bottom line is, like the Internet itself, wireless is in its infancy. We don't know which form of the technology will emerge as the standard and it would be risky to invest in one over the other at this point. However, if you are looking for an affordable high speed access solution available today, broadband wireless may be the answer.