Wireless Ethernet Networking
In 2000, 802.11b became the standard wireless ethernet networking technology for both business and home. The WiFI organization was created to ensure interoperability between 802.11b products. With a realistic throughput of 2.5-4Mbps, it is fast enough for most network applications and tolerable for file transfers.

Do I need an access point?
A wireless network adapter can operate in two modes, Ad-Hoc and Infrastructure. In infrastructure mode, all your traffic passes through a wireless 'access point'. In Ad-hoc mode your computers talk directly to each other and do not need an access point at all.

Access point varieties
Access points come in three varieties -- bridge, NAT router and NAT router+bridge. A bridge type connects a wireless network to a wired network transparently. Communication is possible between both networks in both directions. A NAT router type routes traffic from your wireless network to an Ethernet wired network, but it will not route traffic back. This type can be used to share an Internet connection. Lastly, there are hybrid NAT router + Bridge devices that bridge your wired and wireless networks, then route them both to the internet using a single IP address. This is good for sharing an Internet connection when you have both wired and wireless computers in your home. These are often called Cable/dsl routers with wireless .