|
Access
Points
Wireless Adapters
Antennas
Accessories
Bluetooth
Network Cameras
Wireless Ethernet Bridges
Media Players
Wireless Routers
Print Servers
Wi-Fi Finders
Range Extenders
Barebone Kits
Cables
Cameras
Computer Cases
Desktop Computers
CD / DVD Burners
Cooling Product
CPUs
Digital Frames
Flash Memory
Gaming
GPS
Hard Drives
HD Enclosures
Home Theatre
Ink / Toner
Keyboard / Mice
Laptops_Notebooks
Media CD DVD
Memory RAM
Microsoft
Modems
Monitors / LCDs
Motherboards
MP3 / iPod
Networking
Power Protection
Power Supplies
Printers
Projectors
Remove Storage
Scanners
Servers
Software
Sound Cards
USB Flash Drives
Video Cards
Wireless
Networks |
Wireless Networking
Wireless networking has
become really popular today especially in the home consumer
market. It used to that wires had to be pulled through walls
and jacks installed and holes patched and all sorts of
things to get home network off the ground. Now, all you need
is a high-speed connection like a cable modem and an
inexpensive router and you are on your way to connecting all
the computers in the house. It's easy and affordable. |
|
|
Wireless Local Area
Networks
Wireless LANs are networks
are set up to provide wireless connectivity within a finite
coverage area. Typical coverage areas might be a hospital
(for patient care systems), a university, the airport, or a
gas plant. They usually have a well-known audience in mind,
|
for example health care
providers, students, or field maintenance staff. You would use WLANS when high
data-transfer rate is the most important aspect of your
solution, and reach is restricted. Wireless LANS work in an
unregulated part of the spectrum, so anyone can create their
own wireless LAN, say in their home or office. In principle,
you have complete control over where coverage is provided.
In practice, coverage spills over into the street outside
exposing you to a particular range of vulnerabilities.
Deliberately seeking WLAN vulnerabilities is called
wardriving. Our region has its share of wardrivers, and a
later article will describe our adventures during an
International Wardriving Day.
Wireless LANs have their own share of terminology,
including:
802.11 - this is the network
technology used in wireless LANs. In fact, it is a family of
technologies such as 802.11a. 802.11b, etc., differing in
speed and other attributes
WiFi - a common name for the early 802.11b standard.
In addition to creating your own private WLAN, some
organizations (Starbucks) and some carriers (Telus Mobility)
are providing high speed WLAN internet access to the public
at certain locations. These locations are called hotspots,
and for a price you can browse the internet at speeds about
20 times greater than you could get over your cell phone.
Personal Area Networks
These are networks that provide wireless connectivity over
distances of up to 10m or so. At first this seems
ridiculously small, but this range allows a computer to be
connected wirelessly to a nearby printer, or a cell phone's
hands-free headset to be connected wirelessly to the cell
phone. The most talked about (and most hyped) technology is
called Bluetooth.
Personal Area Networks are a bit different than WANs and
WLANs in one important respect. In the WAN and WLAN cases,
networks are set up first, which devices then use. In the
Personal Area Network case, there is no independent
pre-existing network. The participating devices establish an
ad-hoc network when they are within range, and the network
is dissolved when the devices pass out of range. If you ever
use Infrared (IR) to exchange data between laptops, you will
be doing something similar. This idea of wireless devices
discovering each other is a very important one, and appears
in many guises in the evolving wireless world.
PAN technologies add value to other wireless technologies,
although they wouldn't be the primary driver for a wireless
business solution. For example, a wireless LAN in a hospital
may allow a doctor to see a patient's chart on a handheld
device. If the doctor's handheld was also Bluetooth enabled,
he could walk to within range of the nearest Bluetooth
enabled printer and print the chart. |
How to Set
Up a Home Wireless Network
If you have a high-speed
connection in your home like a cable modem and numerous
computers, you may want to make a home wireless network.
This way, everyone can take advantage of the high internet
speed.
A wireless network uses radio waves
to communicate in your home using a wireless router. Just
like receiving reception on your radio, these radio waves
permeate your home emanating from the wireless router. The
wireless router removes the necessity for wires in the
walls. Basically, the cable signal from the wall enters the
cable modem; the line from the cable modem which would
usually connect to a single computer connects to the
wireless router. The wireless router then sends the signal
out so your other computers set up to receive wireless
signals can get on the internet. Laptops sold today are
already set up for receiving wireless signals. Older laptops
and desktop computers may require some configuration or
wireless network cards.
To begin, you need a
wireless router. These are available at local stores or you
can purchase one on the web. They are not really expensive
but make sure you purchase one of the latest models
possible. This will help insure you get the fastest speed
currently available with the best possible security
features. Once you have the router, you need to read the
instructions. Often, these are on CD. It seems manufacturers
just don’t do much printing anymore. The CD will walk you
through the installation of the router and get it up and
running. Most often, the router is connected to a desktop
computer which is stationary so the wireless router. Once
the router is communicating with the desktop and it is on
the internet most of the job is done.
If you have wireless ready
laptops just make sure the button or switch on the laptop is
on for wireless connection. If you have desktop machines
with wireless network cards installed, try to make sure the
antenna is in the open and can easily receive signals.
Setting up each home network is different. One thing to take
into consideration is security. Routers come with an
application that helps you set up the security features on
your router. You need to make sure your network is encrypted
so your neighbor or someone parked on the street can not
access it.
Articles on Wireless
Networking
How to Build a Home Wireless Network
Is Your Computer Wireless Ready
|
|
|
