Wireless Simplified
:: By Lannie Byrd ::
I would have to say that I'm addicted to my computer. No, that's not quite right. I would say that I am addicted to the Internet. When my cable modem goes dead or my network at work goes down, my eyes glaze over sitting at my computer without my Internet connection. I guess admitting my addiction is one of the first steps to overcoming it, but I've never heard of a 12 step program for Internet addiction.

Unfortunately, when you add wireless computer networks to the new portable computing rage, I have a new powerful drug to feed my Internet addiction where I can be online anywhere I can find a wireless network connection. Using either my laptop or pda, I can check my email, read the latest news and chat with my friend across the country in front of the TV, in my bed, in the conference room down the hall from my office, in the plaza in the middle of campus or at the coffee house downtown. With a wireless network, I have a broadband pipe connected to me like an IV that is constantly slowly dripping internet connectivity into my veins.

How it works

"Here are some different examples of 802.11B WiFi wireless equipment including a SMC wireless USB adapter, an intel and a cisco pcmcia card, a dell axim with a dell trumobile compact flash wireless card and Cisco 1100 wireless access point all sitting on an IBM Thinkpad with an integrated wireless adapter."

If every device that you want to connect together on a wireless network has a wireless adapter, then you can form an ad-hoc wireless network. An ad-hoc network allows all the devices to connect directly to each other in the same manner of a peer to peer (p2p) network like Kazaa or Morpheus. The other option for a wireless network is an infrastructure network. In an wireless infrastructure network a wireless access point (wap) connects to all the wireless devices and the wireless devices uses the access point to connect to the hard wired network. Ad-hoc networks tend to be slower while infrastructure networks use the access point as a switch to speed up traffic. The majority of wireless networks today are infrastructure networks using access points to connect to the Internet.

When you set-up a wireless network, you normally set-up a wireless access point that is either connected directly to your Internet connection or to a switch which connects to your Internet connection. The access point should be at central location among all the rooms that you want to connect to the wireless network. Many manufacturers say that their access points will reach up to 500 feet, but the distance a wireless network will reach is directly related to the surrounding conditions. Wireless networks penetrate brick, concrete and gypsum at different rates. In the typical home a wireless signal could stretch through three rooms. Also, the further the wireless device is from the access point the slower its connection will be. Although the equipment may be rated at 11mbs, you may only connect at 1mbs because you are at the edge of the wireless signal.

As you configure a wireless access point, you should make sure that you change the default settings. If you want to keep your Internet connection for your own use, make sure that you change the SSID (Service Set Identifier) and turn on the security for the access point. Although it will make it a little harder to initially connect to your wireless network, it will keep your network safe from casual lan sharks and war chalking/driving-- people who may just use your wireless network to check their email or use your wireless network to check out all the documents on your computer. Wireless network security is still in its infancy and can be broken by those who want to take the time to try.

802.11... B, G, A?
One issue that many people face when first getting into wireless is the alphabet soup of standards available. The three basic network connectivity standards for wireless are 802.11B, 802.11A and 802.11G. Plus, there are many proprietary technologies used by companies such as Cisco and D-Link for security and speed enhancements, but you must also make sure that all of your wireless devices (access points & clients) are from that same company to use their proprietary enhancements.You may also hear Bluetooth mentioned as a wireless technology, but bluetooth is made to connect devices in close proximity without wires (think wireless keyboard and mouse without infrared).

802.11B is the oldest wireless standard and the one most often referred to as WiFi. It runs at a maximum speed of 11mbs and will cover a 300 to 500 feet radius unimpeded. 802.11B operates on the 2.4Ghz spectrum just like microwaves and cordless phones so you may experience some interference from those devices around your home. Since 802.11B has been around the longest, there are a multitude of access points and client devices available from a wide variety of manufacturer's at affordable prices. Apple's initial AirPort technology runs on 802.11B standard.

802.11A was introduced quickly after 802.11B made the scene. Its main enhancement over 802.11B was speed with a maximum data transfer of 54mbs. With the greater speed comes a tradeoff with distance, most 802.11A users report that the signal will barely stretch 50 feet. 802.11A uses the 5Mhz spectrum that also is used by cordless phones.

802.11G is the newest wireless technology available. It is supposed to combine the best of 802.11B and 802.11A. 802.11G is backward compatible with 802.11B devices, but offers the speed of 802.11A with a maximum connectivity of 54mbs.Early reports on 802.11G say the standard reaches a shorter distance than 802.11A because of the congestion of the 2.4Ghz spectrum. Although many manufacturers have already released 802.11G devices, I am hesitant to use the word standard in conjunction with 802.11G because the IEEE (Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers) is still working on finalizing the specifications for 802.11G (the IEEE is expected to certify the standard on June 12).

Future of WiFi
You can only access WiFi networks where there is an wireless access point that allows you to connect to it. Many businesses like coffee shops offer free wireless access as a service to their customers. Services like Boingo let you pay for access to their wireless networks at coffee shops, hotels and airports. Some universities and towns are attempting to build a wireless cloud over their campus/downtown area to allow computer uses to have a constant internet connection. WiFi's popularity has risen to the point that many telephone companies like Verizon and T-Mobile are installing WiFi wireless networks for the public to pay to use or as an add-on service for their broadband dsl/cable Internet service.

Also, many local dial-up ISPs (Internet Service Providers) that are being driven out of business by cable and telephone companies high speed Internet services are turning to broadband Wireless to compete. They put wireless access point antennas on towers spaced throughout a neighborhood and then set-up antennas outside subscribers home to connect them to their wireless networks. One advantage the wireless broadband providers offer customers is that they allow high speed uploads as well as downloads where many cable and dsl providers limit upload speeds to 128 or 256k.

All of that to say that WiFi is going to become ubiquitous in most urban areas where digital cell phone service is currently available. In fact, Cisco recently introduced a phone that works over a WiFi network when the network is enable for VoIP (voice over internet protocol) and many pdas have clients that you can download to use them as phones. And cell phones are in development that use a cell phone network for phone calls, but a WiFi network for internet access.

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