Wireless networks, Part 1: Features and hardware
It's not uncommon for a family to have multiple personal computers today, so it makes sense to be able to share files and share an Internet connection. A wired network is an option, but it may require a large amount of cabling to be installed and managed to get a modest home setting. As wireless networking devices become very affordable and easy to install, those who want to build a home network and those who want to extend their existing wired network may be worth considering.
The first installation of this two-part technical reminder series will introduce the basic functions and hardware involved in wireless networking. Once this foundation is established, we will look at some of the setup and security-related considerations that should be addressed after the physical installation is complete.
Features
The basic standard covering wireless networks is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers [IEEE] 802.11, which is closely related to the Wired Ethernet Standard 802.3. When accompanied by one of the three suffixes [a, b or g], many people will more easily identify 802.11 for specifying the exact protocol of the wireless network.
The 802.11a protocol debuted in 2001, and although its popularity has risen slightly recently, it is by far the least common of the three. The signal is transmitted on a 5 GHz radio, while "b" and "g" are transmitted at 2.4 GHz. A higher frequency means that the signal can travel less distance in free space and has a harder time to penetrate the wall, thus making the practical application of the 802.11a network limited. However, the maximum transfer rate is approximately 54 Mbps, so it compensates for its limited range at a considerable speed.
As mentioned above, 802.11b and 802.11g networks operate on the 2.4 GHz radio band, which provides a larger range than 802.11a. One disadvantage of being in the 2.4 GHz band is that many devices share it, and interference is necessarily a problem. Cordless phones and Bluetooth devices are two of the many items that run at this frequency. The range of these two protocols is about 300 feet in free air, and the difference between the two comes down to speed. 802.11b was first released in 1999 and offers speeds of up to 11 Mbps. 802.11g first appeared in 2002, and it is a backwards compatibility improvement for 802.11b with speeds up to 54 Mbps.
In addition to these protocols, some manufacturers have improved the 802.11g standard and can deliver speeds of up to 108 Mbps. This does not involve a separate protocol, but only some adjustments in areas such as better data compression, more efficient bursts of data, and simultaneous use of two radio channels. Typically, inventory 802.11g devices do not have these speeds, and those interested in the need to purchase matching components that specify 108 Mbps support. I say "matched components" because this is not a standard protocol and various manufacturers may take different approaches to achieve these speeds. To ensure the best results when trying to achieve these high speeds, use the same manufacturer's components at the same time. For example, only the Netgear WG624 wireless router [http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=WGT624NAR] can use Netgear branded network adapters rated for 108 Mbps data transmission.
Considering that your typical broadband Internet connection will provide a data transfer rate of 10 Mbps or lower, you can see that even if you only want to go online, even 802.11b is enough. Sharing files on a LAN [local area network] is where the faster protocol really makes a difference, and comparing the price of 802.11b and 802.11g components may indicate that devices with "g" capabilities have almost no difference in comparable "b" type. device.
Hardware
Access Point - A Wireless Access Point [WAP] is a central device that manages the transmission of wireless signals over a network. A basic access point may be able to handle up to 10 connections, while a more powerful AP may be able to manage up to 255 connections simultaneously. D-Link DWL-1000AP + [http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=37] is an example of a wireless access point capable of 802.11b transmission.
Router - In some technical terms, a router is a network device that forwards packets. It is usually a connection between at least two networks [for example two LANs] or a LAN and an ISP [Internet Service Provider] network. For our purposes, and for simplicity, a wireless router is basically an access point with an additional function of having a port for sharing a broadband Internet connection. D-Link AirPlus G [http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=DI524-R&cat=NET] is an 802.11g-enabled router that provides access to numerous wireless connections and four hardwired connections. . A WAN [Wide Area Internet] connection. A typical router for home use is typically less expensive than an access point and can be used as an access point anyway, through settings within the firmware. Wired or wireless, all computers that use the router can share files over the network and share a broadband Internet connection. The maximum speed of communication between a wireless computer [or a wireless computer and a wired computer] is 54 Mbps, and communication between wired computers will take advantage of the 100 Mbps provided by the 802.3 protocol.
Network Adapter - A network adapter is required for every computer you want to connect to your wireless network. Many laptops, such as the Sony Centrino 1.5 GHz [http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PCGZ1RA-R&cat=NBB] now have built-in wireless adapters, so no additional hardware is required. For systems with built-in wireless capabilities, adding them is easy and can be done using a variety of connections. Desktop computers can be wirelessly connected by adding a PCI slot network adapter [such as the D-Link DWL-G510 [http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=308] that supports 802.11g]. Laptop users can easily add wireless connections using the PCMCIA adapter, such as devices that support 802.11g [http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PBW006-N&cat=NET]. For a really convenient plug-and-play connection to a wireless network, you can use a USB adapter, such as a dongle that supports 802.11g [http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=80211GWUD&cat=NET].
Antenna/Expander - These items are not required, but they may be helpful given the details of the wireless environment. Such as Hawking Hi-Gain Antenna [http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=HAI6SIP-N&cat=NET] or Super Cantenna [http://www.geeks.com/details.asp] ? Invtid = SCB10&cat = NET] is used to increase the wireless signal strength, thereby extending the range of a given wireless network. Not only can it cover a large area of open space, but it can also improve signal quality in structures with walls and floors that impede signal transmission.
Last words
In this tip, we learned about the basics of wireless networking related to functionality and hardware. In the second part of this two-part series, we'll cover some basic setup and security considerations that should be addressed. The physical installation of a wireless network may be easier than a wired network, but the harder part is setting up software and security to ensure everything is up and running without incident.
Orignal From: Wireless networks, Part 1: Features and hardware
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