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 you
will find is Access Point and Wireless
Broadband Routers. 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.
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