Wireless home networking

Why Connect?According to International Data Corp. (IDC), about half of all U.S. households have a computer, and more than 20 million of those have more than one computer. In fact, market research shows that current PC owners are buying most of the new computers. This means that multi-computer households are becoming pretty common. If you are one these multiple-PC owners, you have probably thought about how great it would be if your computers could talk to each other. With your computers connected, you could:--Share a single printer between computers --Share a single Internet connection --Share files such as images, spreadsheets and documents --Play games that allow multiple users at different computersMost people think that networking your home or small office can be painful-lots of wires, connections and the like. Plus, you have to make everything talk to one another. It's not as much of a challenge as you might think. With most people using Microsoft Windows operating systems, networking has been built in since Windows 3.11. Introduced in Windows 98, "Internet Connection Sharing" is a standard part of the operating system, allowing one computer to share an Internet connection with all computers on the home network. So, if you are running Windows, you can share files, printers and resources across your network without too much of a hassle. Wireless Networking Made Simple...No Experience Required!Some homes may use a standard wired ethernet network while others choose Home Phone Line Network to utilize their existing phone jacks as "connection points" to their network. Over the last several years, wireless networking has been available, starting with the HomeRF (1.6Mb) protocol and has grown into the new standard for wireless - 802.11b. This standard is now used not only in homes, but small and large businesses, and is widely used for college campuses and even in public areas like airports and hotels.Wi-Fi is essentially a seal of approval that says the manufacturer's product is compliant with a variation of the IEEE 802.11 specification known as IEEE 802.11b. Under 802.11b, devices communicate at a speed of 11 - 22 Mbps whenever possible. If signal strength or interference is disrupting data, the devices will drop back to 5.5 Mbps, then 2 Mbps and finally down to 1 Mbps. Though it may occasionally slow down, this keeps the network stable and very reliable. 802.11a has also bee introduced, providing speeds of up to 72Mbps. The 802.11a devices are NOT compatible with 802.11b. Here are the advantages of wireless networking: --It's fast (11 - 72 Mbps). --It's reliable. --It has a long range (1,000 ft / 305 m in open areas, 250 to 400 ft / 76 to 122 m in closed areas) --It's easily integrated into existing wired-Ethernet networks. --Virtually all 802.11b wireless networking products work with each other no matter what brand or model.Wireless offers Ethernet speeds without the wires. Access points vary greatly in cost, from about $59.99 to $1,400. Access points have an integrated Ethernet connection to connect to an existing wired-Ethernet network or routers provide connectivity to a high-speed data connection (DSL or cable modem). It also has an omni-directional antenna to receive the data transmitted by the wireless transceivers. Integrating PCs and Apple systems on the same network is also possible with the 802.11b standard. The majority of wireless network adapters used are in PCMCIA card form. But some manufacturers do offer USB adapters or PCI format cards. The cost per card ranges from $39 to more than $300. They are not typically sold in "do-it-yourself" kits. Instead, everything is a la carte, allowing customers to build a system that exactly meets their needs. What To Buy:These are the types of devices required for your wireless network:Wireless Access Point. This is the "controller" of your wireless network. There are two types of access points - hardware access points and "integrated" access points. Hardware access points are used as an extension of an existing wired network. "Integrated" access points also provide the features of a router, and are connected to a high-speed connection (ie: DSL or cable modem.Access points generally can serve at least 50 users, so exceeding the connection limits is rarely an issue. Remember that when you are networking, your connection is shared with all active users. Having a 11, 22 or 72 Mbps network connection does not make your Internet connection "faster," however, it will allow faster data transmission between the users on the same wireless network. So, if you are planning on copying a bunch of files from your bedroom computer to the living room computer, or watching a video you recorded in your living room on your bedroom computer, the data transfer speed is great. While surfing the internet, you may see a decrease in access speed to the internet if your son is downloading MP3s in his bedroom and you are trying to watch an online video. Your wireless connection speed will vary based upon your location (ie. out by the pool vs. across the room from the access point), however proper placement of your access point can assist in providing the best service to all areas you intend on using a wireless connection. Infernotech carries a wide-range of wireless access points, including some which combine a multi-port wired hub so you can utilize one device for both your wired and wireless connections.PCMCIA Wireless AdapterThis is generally used for laptops. A PCMCIA card simply plugs into your notebook PC Card slot, and after configuration with the software provided with the card, will connect to any detected network. Some access points allow for configuration of security so only "allowed" cards are provided access. This will alleviate any problems if your neighbor decides to ride on your internet service for free once they see you using the internet out by your pool. Desktop PCs can also be connected to a wireless network by using an inexpensive PCMCIA-to-PCI adapter, which allow for fast, easy connection of a desktop PC through the use of an internal adapter card that the PCMCIA card slides into.Compact Flash Wireless Network AdaptersIf you have a handheld device which includes a CF Type II slot, you can connect it to your wireless network using a Compact Flash Wireless Network adapter.USB Wireless Adapter.Great for use with desktop PCs, a USB wireless adapter allows you to connect your system to the wireless network without installing any adapter cards or opening your PC whatsoever. These are a convenient and easy way to add wireless networking to an existing PC in your home. Additionally, based on user feedback, an external USB device has better reception than an internal PCMCIA card in the back of your computer, as you can move it around for the best reception."Wired" And "Wireless" TogetherEarlier we talked about "integrated" access points provideding both wired and wireless access. Why would you want this? Well, let's say that you have the ability to run wire for the systems in your home. The cost is less per computer (an Ethernet NIC runs about $10.00 and the cable anywhere from $5-10) and you may have them easily accessible via cable. There are many mixed-mode devices or "Gateways" available. This device allows you to connect to a high-speed internet connection (via the WAN port) and up to three wired devices (on the Ethernet ports) and up to 253 devices via the wireless access point built into the unit. This allows you to have standard desktops connecting with roaming notebooks and other devices where wiring is just not possible. In summary, if you want to run a network in your home or office, it really isn't that tough! Pick the right parts to your network "puzzle" and get the best deal available. They'll work together and you'll make better use of ALL your resources. There are usually many questions along with this. What Is Wireless Networking? The term wireless networking refers to technology that enables two or more computers to communicate using standard network protocols, but without network cabling. Strictly speaking, any technology that does this could be called wireless networking. The current buzzword however generally refers to wireless LANs. This technology, fuelled by the emergence of cross-vendor industry standards such as IEEE 802.11 (in the form of 802.11b and 802.11a), has produced a number of affordable wireless solutions that are growing in popularity with homes, business and schools as well as sophisticated applications where network wiring is impossible, such as in warehousing or point-of-sale handheld equipment. General Rules of Thumb - Compatibility802.11b networks are interchangeable - both 11Mbps and 22Mbps versions. 802.11a networks are NOT compatible with 802.11b devices. 802.11a uses the 5GHz spectrum and 802.11b uses the 2.4GHz spectrum. What is a wireless network made up of? There are two kinds of wireless networks: Ad-Hoc or Peer-to-Peer Networking. An ad-hoc or peer-to-peer wireless network consists of a number of computers each equipped with a wireless networking interface card. Each computer can communicate directly with all of the other wireless enabled computers. They can share files and printers this way, but may not be able to access wired LAN resources, unless one of the computers acts as a bridge to the wired LAN using special software and/or additional hardware to connect to the wired LAN. Infrastructure Networking. A wireless network can also use an access point, or base station. In this type of network the access point acts like a hub, providing connectivity for the wireless computers. It can connect the wireless LAN to a wired LAN, allowing wireless computer access to LAN resources, such as file servers or existing Internet Connectivity. There are two types of access points: Dedicated Hardware Access Points (HAP) such as 3Com's AirConnect, offer comprehensive support of wireless features, and are usually used as an extension of a wired network, providing additional access in remote areas, or providing for a mobile workforce. Integrated Access Points, include features not commonly found in access points, such as integrated PPPoE support and extensive configuration flexibility. Generally they provide both wired and wireless access in one unit. With appropriate networking support, users on the wireless LAN can share files and printers located on the wired LAN and vice versa. All current configurations provide total support of the TCP/IP protocol. Hardware Access Point.Wireless connected computers using a Hardware Access Point. Enjoy, jeff@infernotech.com

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Glossary of computer terms

AGPAccelerated Graphics Port is a type of expansion card slot on the mother board that is optimized to work with high performance video cards. They enable better viewing of 3D graphics and full motion video on your display.
BIOSBasic Input Output System is code used when a PC first starts up. It contains configuration information about all the Input and Output devices in the PC so that the processor chip knows how to connect to and work with them.
BITThis is binary digit and is the smallest piece of information a computer uses. A bit is always in one of two states, either 0 or 1, except for the tiny instant of time required to switch from one state to the other.
BYTEA byte is eight bits. The data and instructions (code) that a CPU uses are coded into bytes. For example capital letter 'A' in ASCII (PC) code is byte 0100 0001. A lower case 'a' is byte 0110 0001.
BROWSERSoftware on a computer used to request and display web pages from a Server.
CABLE MODEMA type of modem that provides very high speed access to the Internet over the same cable that your cable TV service uses. Rates are asymmetric. This means that downloads are much faster than uploads. Typical download rates are 2 to 3 Mbps and uploads are in the 500Kbs range. This is blazing speed compared to a 56Kbps dial-up modem.
CACHECache is a small fast SRAM type of memory. It prevents CPU slowdown, which happens when the CPU has to wait on slower devices like DRAM and hard drive. There are different levels of cache.
Level 1 (L1) cache is usually integrated into the CPU chip. As the CPU starts up it begins accessing DRAM for instructions and data. Some of this data is written back to the cache instead of DRAM, so that if the CPU needs it again soon, it can get it faster from cache than from DRAM. The cache takes care of copying it's updated contents back to DRAM, so that what is in DRAM matches what's in cache.
As the cache fills up, which it does very quickly, the least recently used data is overwritten by newer data.
If the CPU finds the data it wants in the cache it's called a 'hit' and that's good. If it doesn't it's called a 'miss' and now the CPU has to wait a little longer to get the data or instruction from L2 cache.
This may not seem like a big deal, but keep in mind that millions of accesses can be performed in a second. Shaving a little time off as many as possible raises performance significantly!
L2 cache located in chips on the motherboard. Even though they are only inches away from CPU, it takes longer to access them than the level 1 cache in the CPU.
So if the data is not found in L1 or L2, the CPU has to wait to get it from the DRAM memory. And it isn't in DRAM, then the CPU goes on vacation for while and waits to get it from the HDD.
CDDCompact Disk Drive is a storage device that uses optics to read data from compact disks. CDDs that can read as well as write are very popular now.
CPUThe Central Processing Unit is a special chip that controls what happens in a PC. It fetches instructions and does high speed computations on data. It is somewhat like our brain in that it controls everything we do.
DIMMDual Inline Memory Module is a small printed circuit board that contains DRAM memory. When we say a PC has 256MBytes of memory we are talking about the total capacity of all the DIMM modules in the PC.
DOMAIN NAMEA unique name formed with letters and numbers that points to the actual numerical internet address which locates a particular computer connected to the Internet. For instance, The Yahoo domain name points to Internet address 66.218.71.198.
So when you enter www.yahoo.com in your browser and click go, a special server called a domain name server intercepts and directs your request to the server located at address 66.218.71.198.
DRAMDynamic Random Access Memory is type of memory that must constantly be refreshed to retain it contents. It is used as the main memory in a PC and is packaged in DIMMs which plug into the motherboard.
FAT16FAT is the abbreviation for File Allocation Table. It is a table where the system keeps basic information for each file on your hard drive. The 16 indicates the number of bits used to address the hard drive. The largest partition FAT16 can access is 2MB. When used on a hard drive that is bigger than 2MB the drive space will be divided into a number of partitions.
For example a 10MB drive would be divided into five partitions of 2MB each. If the drive were the only one in the system the partitions would be called C:, D:, E:, F:, and G:.
FAT32FAT is the abbreviation for File Allocation Table. It is a table where the system keeps basic information for each file on your hard drive. The 32 indicates the number of bits used to address the hard drive. The largest partition FAT32 can access is 2 Terabytes (two trillion bytes)! So far there are no hard drives I know of that begin to approach this size. Windows 98 was the first of the Windows OS to support this file structure.
FDDFloppy Disk Drive is a device which provides a way for the PC to read and write floppy disks, which are a type of removable storage media. Floppy disks (3 1/2 inch) have a capacity of 1.44 Mbytes. When PCs first came out, floppy disks were 5 1/4 inch and held 720 Kbytes.
FTPFile Transfer Protocol is the method used by computers to send and receive files over the Internet.
HTMLHyper Text Markup Language is the coding that is used to format web pages on Servers so that Browsers can display them.
HTTPHyper Text Transport Protocol is used by browsers and servers to facilitate the transport of web pages across the Internet.
HDDHard Disk Drive is a device that provides a large fixed typically (non removable) storage area. Some units today easily removable from the front of the PC. The capacity of HDDs has continued to increase. 40Gbyte drives are readily available and inexpensive. The HDDs used in the first PC had only 10Mbytes of storage.
IDEIntegrated Drive Electronics refers to the electronic control section of a Hard or Floppy Drive. This control section coordinates the electromechanical operation of the drive so that data can be written to and read from the spinning disk inside it.The motherboard connects to Drives over an IDE ribbon cable.
I/OThis means Input/Output. Input is data or signals that are fed into a device. Output is data or signals that a device drives to the outside. Some devices can do both, others are only one or the other.
ISAIndustry Standard Architecture refers to a type of expansion slot on the motherboard. It is the oldest of all expansion type slots and first appeared in the IBM PC XT. Thousands of expansion or add-on cards as they are also called, have been designed to plug into the ISA slot. The use of expansion cards vastly extends the function and capability of the PC.
MEMORY NON-VOLATILEMemory is a device that retains information electronically. When power is removed the information is retained.
MEMORY VOLATILEMemory is a device that retains information electronically. When power is removed the information is lost.
OSOperating Systems are the basic foundation or platform programs that allow you to load and run other programs on a PC. Windows 95 is an example of an Operating System.
PARALLEL PORTThe parallel port is a standard port on a PC and moves data out of the PC. One byte (eight bits in parallel) are sent out on 8 pins for each data transfer. Historically this port is connected to your printer. It also known as a 'Centronics' port, named after the manufacturer of the 38- pin connector first used on the parallel port.
PCIPeripheral Component Interconnect refers to a type of expansion slot on the mother board. It is a newer type of expansion slot than ISA and many types of Add-On cards have been designed to use it.
RANDOM ACCESSThis refers to an access method. It means that any random location in a storage or memory device can be immediately accessed, with out going serially to get there. It's like a cassette where your at the beginning and have to wind through everything on the tape to get to the last song! Compact Disks and PC Main memory are random access devices.
SERIAL ACCESSThis access method is found in audio or video cassettes. It means you can not access any location you choose to instantly. You might have to rewind or fast forward through lots of information you are not interested in to get to where you want to go.
SERIAL PORTThe serial port is standard port on a PC and can move data in and out of the PC. The serial port moves one bit on each data transfer. Many different types of devices connect to a PC through it.
SERVERSoftware on a computer that serves web pages in response to requests from a Browser.
SIMMSingle Inline Memory Module is a small printed circuit board that contains DRAM memory. This is an older board style that was used in PCs before DIMMs were developed.
SRAMStatic Random Access Memory is type of memory that retains data without being refreshed. It is used in the cache memories of the PC.
TROJAN HORSETrojan horses are dangerous programs that appear like they might perform some useful task, or provide entertainment. This false appearance encourages people to run them. When they are run, they can damage files or place a virus on your computer.
Unlike a virus a Trojan horse does not replicate and spread. Since it isn't a virus it can't be repaired and must be erased from your computer.
USBUniversal Serial Bus is a newer high speed serial I/O bus that will eventually replace the serial and parallel ports on PCs. Three data rates have been defined. All rates may not be supported for a particular USB device. Check with the manufacturer or store. " Low speed - 1.5Mb/s " Full Speed - 12Mb/s " High Speed - 480 Mb/s
VIDEO ADAPTERThe video adapter is circuit board found in the PC or monitor that controls how data is converted and sent to the monitor for viewing.
Most displays and video adapters adhere to the Video Graphics Array (VGA) standard, which describes how data - the red, green, blue data streams - are passed from the computer to the display.
In addition, it defines the frame refresh rates in hertz and the number and width of horizontal lines, which in turn identifies the screen resolution in pixels.
Here are some of the video standards that have been used: " CGA is 320 x 200 - developed in 1981 by IBM, no longer in use. " EGA is 640 x 350 - developed in 1984 by IBM, no longer in use. " VGA is 640 x 480 - developed in 1987 by IBM and still in use. " Super VGA is 800 x 600. " Extended Graphics Adapter, XGA is 1024 x 768. " Super XGA is 1280 x 1024. " Ultra XGA is 1600 x 1200.
VIRUSIt is a program designed to change the way your computer operates without your permission or knowledge. When a virus attaches itself to another file, it infects it. Any time you activate an infected file it can damage files, cause erratic system behavior, or display messages. Some system viruses are programmed specifically to corrupt programs, delete files, or erase your disk.
Viruses are inactive until you run an infected program, start your computer from a disk with infected system files, or open an infected file. Once a virus is active in memory it can infect any other programs, local or network, that you run.
Files infected with a virus can be inoculated (the virus is removed from the program).
WORMWorms are a close cousin to viruses and Trojan Horses. Unlike a virus they don't infect other programs. They do however make many copies of themselves in memory, which effectively consumes all your memory. This leaves no memory to run you regular programs. Your PC may behave very erratically, or just grind to a halt!
Some worms get into your e-mail list and e-mail themselves to everyone on your e-mail list without you knowledge. When each unsuspecting recipient opens such an e-mail, it broadcasts itself to everyone on their e-mail list. This is how worms rapidly travel throughout the Internet! Worms can not be repaired since they are not viruses. They must be erased from your computer, the sooner the better!
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