How Wireless Works

WiFi is the wire-free way to handle networking. It is also known as 802.11 networking and wireless networking. The big advantage of WiFi is its simplicity. You can connect computers anywhere in your home or office without the need for wires. The computers connect to the network using radio signals and can be up to 150 feet apart indoors.

We will discuss two different aspects of WiFi. First we will discuss the basic technology that makes WiFi networking possible. Then we will discuss the hardware you need to create a WiFi network, and help you understand how to set up and access a WiFi hotspot in your home.

The radios used in WiFi are not so different from the radios used in $5 walkie-talkies. They have the ability to transmit and receive informatino by converting the encoded data into radio waves and then back again.

Wireless Solutions of Saint Louis will install one or more central access points in your home or office. Workstations and laptops will be equipped with wireless cards. The access points will send out radio signals wich will be read by the wireless cards, thus connecting all computers to the network.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) creates standards for technology related to electricity. 802.11 denotes a set of Wireless LAN standards developed by working group 11 of the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee (IEEE 801). The a, b and g notations identify different flavors of the 802.11 standard.

• 802.11b was the first version to reach the marketplace. It is the slowest and least expensive. Due to 802.11g's compatibility and superiority, 802.11b has become obsolete.

• 802.11a is much faster than 802.11b, however, its higher price and its lower range (25 - 75 ft.) make it less desirable.

• 802.11g is a mix of a and b. It has the cost advantage and wider range of 802.11b (100 - 150 ft.) and the speed of 802.11a. It is compatible with the 802.11b technology and is considered the industry standard.

For more details about the difference between A, B and G, take a look at our chart.

IEEE task group n began working on an amendment to the 802.11 standard in January of 2004. 802.11n will be 50 times faster than 802.11b and 10 times faster than 802.11a and 802.11g. The estimated release date for 802.11n is May 2007. "Pre-n" equipment is currently available for purchase, however we do not recommend purchasing it as it is in compliance with the 802.11n draft. We are following the developments closely, and once the final technology is approved and released, we will offer it.

Fortunately, all of this radio technology is hidden in a WiFi card and is completely invisible. WiFi, in fact, is one of the easiest technologies that you will ever use.