by Dave Donovan
Wireless Internet Defined
You see them every time you enter a coffee shop, library, bookseller or any one of a thousand other public areas - the little sticker on the door that declares the location a "WiFi hotspot." While wireless Internet access is definitely gaining in popularity, inside the home and out, many people are still unfamiliar with what it is and how it actually works.
WiFi, which is short for wireless fidelity, enables individuals to connect to the Internet without requiring the computer to be hard-wired to the modem. All of the data is transmitted over the airwaves through high-frequency radio signals. Because the current industry standard operates in the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz spectrum bands, the distance and strength of the signal can sometimes be affected by various factors such as the equipment that is used, the weather and other radio or microwave signals.
Wireless Internet – B, G or N?
Today, wireless technology is used in nearly every facet of our life, from mobile phones and laptops to console gaming and computer peripherals like printers and scanners. But, when you visit the electronics store to look into creating a home wireless network, it can be easy to get confused with the multitude of options. Here, we'll take a look at the different technologies to give you a better understanding of what each wireless standard means.
802.11b – 802.11 is the set of standards by which wireless communication is broadcasted over the public spectrum bands. 802.11b was the original, widely-accepted wireless networking standard.
802.11g – 802.11g was created in 2003 to increase the range and speed of wireless data transmission and for better security over wireless networks. Both wireless g and b operate within the 2.4 GHz band, making them highly susceptible to interference from microwave ovens and cordless phones.
802.11n – 802.11n is the latest incarnation of wireless connectivity standards. This technology is supposed to offer multiple inputs and multiple output (MIMO), which means that data can be transmitted up to five-times faster and over distances which are twice as far as what is currently available. Although components labeled as 802.11n compliant are currently available in stores, the actual amendment to the standard is not expected to take place until December 2009.
So, this begs the question - what type of wireless equipment should you purchase right now? If you are building your wireless network from scratch, it is recommended to purchase wireless n equipment. Current wireless users who have recently upgraded to wireless n say they have noticed an improvement in connectivity and range with the newer equipment over their previous wireless g outfit. However, if you want the least expensive way to go wireless right now, then wireless g will probably be your best bet.
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