You might ask why someone would want to have a wireless network. First, is ease of use. Words cannot express how convenient it is to be able to pick up my laptop and move from room to room without having to reconnect, plug in, etc. Second, there aren't any wires involved, so you don't have to run cable to set up this network. You are merely limited by the range of the signals, which, in most cases, is a few hundred feet.
Some practical uses of a wireless network are in areas where cable can't be run, like a historical building, or places where the walls simply won't allow them to be run. Others, like home users or businesses, may enjoy the ability to roam freely without wires. This also makes a new office setup a breeze
Now let me explain the technology behind the wireless network. There are two basic parts. First, there is the Wireless Access Point (WAP). This is the "hub" of the network, or where all the other wireless devices will send the information to. This device can link to your existing network, or directly to your broadband connection (if you have one), or it can simply be a standalone device. Second are the Wireless network cards. You simply plug these in and assign the network protocols, and voila, you're networking wirelessly!
One issue to consider when purchasing a wireless network is security. If your hardware doesn't have the ability to encrypt your data, skip it. It's becoming a popular trend in the major cities for hackers to simply drive around with a wireless card looking for open networks where they can do their damage. Encrypting the data going back and forth wirelessly ensures you won't be an easy target.
There are a few standards to help ensure compatibility with a wireless network. The first standard is called "802.11"; this means that your device conforms to use the 802.11 radio band, which is 2.4 GHz. Most hardware sold today is 802.11 compatible. Immediately following that will be a letter, such as "a", "b", or "g", which is the speed of the network. I use 802.11b, which is an 11 megabit connection. It works fine to browse the web and play multimedia, but if you do a lot of file transfers, it may be a bit slow for that use. There are other speeds, but they are relatively new and may take a few months, or years, to be widely used and available. There is some misconception about having to use the same brand when setting up a network, such as all Linksys products or all 3Com. If they are 802.11 compatible, then they will work seamlessly.
The only drawback to a wireless network is the price; it can easily cost twice as much as a regular network because the hardware is more expensive. Decent wireless cards start at around $100 versus $40 for a wired network, and the wireless hubs can be around $200, with a wired hub costing between $50 and $100.
In conclusion, I hope that you'll consider the wireless network, one of the more useful new technologies available. Until next time
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