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ARTICLES
Tutorial on Wireless Networking
For those new to wireless networking, you will need at least two devices. One device is the transmitter, which provides the wireless network connection. The other device is a receiver. Which is installed in a PC, laptop or printer to allow communication between wired or wireless devices and the transmitter. The two common type of transmitters are Wireless Access Point (WAP) and Wireless Broadband Router.
Wireless Access Point is a device that attaches to an established network to provide wireless services or works in tandem with a wired or another wireless Broadband Router to provide Internet access.
Wireless Broadband Routers have an access point built into them but they also provide a firewall/router connection since they are primarily used to connect directly out to the internet VIA a DSL or Cable Internet connection. This firewall provides network address translation, which makes your PC invisible to the public Internet.
Most broadband providers like Qwest, MSN and a few other DSL providers give you a firewall/router built in to the equipment already so if you want wireless you will only need an access point. Most providers will not support the use of wireless or connection sharing firewall devices so you must depend on a neighbor or network professional to provide setup.
In addition to the type of transmitter, you also have a growing selection of wireless protocols to choose from. 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. The number/alphabet soup is remarkably thick in the wireless world. The most popular and very successful one is the 802.11b standard for wireless high-speed data communications. The problem with it is that 802.11b has bandwidth limitations. So, we'll explore two additional standards -- 802.11a and 802.11g -- that overcome 802.11b's problem.
802.11a
802.11a can transport data at speeds of up to 54 Mbps. It operates in the higher 5 GHz frequency range. That higher speed supports the transmission of video files within the home. Another benefit is that 802.11a's higher frequency minimizes potential interference with other wireless electronic devices.
Sony's RoomLink wireless networking system is adopting this new standard. You can stream video recordings on your hard drive to your TV. The cons are: 1) WAPs are not compatible: anyone with a laptop with an embedded 802.11b chipset will not be able to talk to an 802.11a WAP. Bummer. Some manufacturers now ship access points that have dual 802.11a and b compatibility. Problem number two is that 802.11a's higher frequency limits its range: you cannot wander off as far as you used to be able to.
802.11g
The most recent flavor of 802.11 is 802.11g. This version was developed to take the best features of 802.11a and b: a's improved throughput speed and b's longer range. There are now WAP's (Wireless Access Points) that can support both the 802.11b and 802.11g standards. They will auto-negotiate between the 11 Mbps 802.11b transmissions and the 52 Mbps 802.11g transmissions.
Unfortunately, the issue with 802.11g is that it still works in the same 2.4 GHz frequency band as 802.11b. That means it has the same interference problems that 802.11b devices run into.
Coming Standards
Two new 802.11 specifications are being drafted at the moment. They hope to solve the current problems with the 802.11b/a/g spectrum. First one is 802.11e. It's trying to address quality of service problems in both voice and video data. Second is 802.11i, that one hopes to improve security of transmissions with improved client verification and authentication procedures. Don't expect any products that use these standards until late 2005.
