Is wireless networking expensive?

Setting up a WLAN costs a little more than a wired network, but expensive is a relative term. While the initial cost for wireless equipment is more, the time invested in installing is far less. In addition, being mobile instead of tethered to an Ethernet cable makes up for a lot of the cost.

Over the next year, high quality equipment based on older wireless standards will drop in price significantly as newer equipment hits store shelves. Already some multifunction APs have dropped in price by almost 40 percent. There are already opportunities to acquire some excellent equipment for a cheap price, if you do your research and shop around. The benefits of mobility, flexibility, and aesthetics alone make scrapping your Ethernet cables and going wireless worth the small price difference.