#133 - Wireless 101

So here we are to try and clear up all the confusion about what wireless networking is and isn't. What is has been and what is in the future. So lets dive right in.

How does wireless networking work? A wireless network uses radio waves, just like cell phones, televisions and radios do. In fact, communication across a wireless network is a lot like two-way radio communication. Here's what happens:

A computer's wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna. A wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. It sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection. The process also works in reverse, with the router receiving information from the Internet, translating it into a radio signal and sending it to the computer's wireless adapter. The radios used for WiFi communication are very similar to the radios used for walkie-talkies, cell phones and other devices. They can transmit and receive radio waves, and they can convert ones and zeros into radio waves and convert the radio waves back into ones and zeros.

But WiFi radios have a few notable differences from other radios: 1. They transmit at frequencies of 2.4 GHz or 5GHz. This frequency is considerably higher than the frequencies used for cell phones, walkie-talkies and televisions. The higher frequency allows the signal to carry more data. 2.They use 802.11 networking standards, which come in several flavors

The IEEE (Electrical Engineering Professional Society) sets up standards the 802.11 is the standard for wireless networking. The flavors are alphabetical and start with: 802.11a the oldest standard. 802.11a transmits at 5GHz and can move up to 54 megabits of data per second. It was used by some technical groups, but never got broad use. 802.11b was the first widely used standard. It uses the 2.4GHz frequency (the same as some wireless phones so if you have any 2.4GHz phones you can't have a wireless network) and was fairly inexpensive to make equipment. The most popular standard is the present 802.11g. 802.11g transmits at 2.4 GHz like 802.11b, but it's a lot faster -- it can handle up to 54 megabits of data per second. The latest is 802.11n. This standard IS NOT FINALIZED yet, but equipment companies are selling what they call "draft n" routers and receivers right now. This standard significantly improves speed and range. For instance, although 802.11g theoretically moves 54 megabits of data per second, it only achieves real-world speeds of about 24 megabits of data per second because of network congestion. 802.11n, however, reportedly can achieve speeds as high as 140 megabits per second.

Well enough geek talk. Its enough to know that you probably own an 802.11g system and the future is twice as fast with 802.11n. Should you buy 802.11n now? The jury is out on how compatible the "draft n" equipment will be with the finalized standard. PCSS is living just fine with our 802.11g network.

Next post we'll talk about how you actually link up to a wireless network with Windows XP, Vista or proprietary program (see Dell and Lenovo).