| Here is a brief description
of some of the key terms pertaining to wireless home networking:
· Router: A router will let
you share the single IP address that your Internet provider
assigns you with all the computers on your network. This is
our most popular device.
· Access Point: This Is the interface
between a wired network and a wireless network. If you have
a proper configured access point, you have the key to a good
wireless experience.
· Bridge: A bridge lets you connect
two different types of networks.
· Wireless PC card: These are PSI,
USB, or PCMCIA cards that are put in your computer or laptop
enabling them to communicate with your Router or Access point
and become part of the wireless network.
· Wi-Fi: Short for wireless fidelity
this is another name for IEEE 802.11b. If a device has the
Wi-Fi logo on it, then it is compatible with other Wi-Fi hardware.
· 802.11B: The original Wi-Fi protocol,
802.11b uses the unlicensed 2.4GHz range. It runs at up to
11Mb/sec and is the gold standard for wireless access.
· 802.11A: A successor to the original
802.11b protocol, 802.11a uses the unlicensed 5GHz frequency
range for data transfers. Most 802.11a products are not backward-compatible
with 802.11b, although there is some new multi-band hardware
that supports 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. 802.11a moves
data at 54Mb/sec.
· 802.11G: Another Wi-Fi protocol,
802.11g uses the same frequency range as 802.11B, but runs
at 54MB/sec compared with 802.11b’s 11Mb/sec. 802.11g
hardware is backward-compatible with 802.11b hardware.
· 802.16A: Also known as WiMax, 802.16a
promises wireless broadband with a range of up to 30 miles.
In the early 2005 expect to see the first WiMax networks set
up in rural areas that lack good DSL or cable coverage.
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