Wireless Networks

Let’s talk about local wireless networks or WLANS.   First of all, let’s start with the basics.   You start with an internet connection in your home or office. Normally, there is a cable coming out of a wall. This cable is provided by your Internet Service Provider or ISP for short.  The cable plugs into a modem which is also provided by the ISP and is used to connect to the web.  Another cable is used to connect the modem to a router.  A router extends your Internet connections to these devices, negating the need for cables hence, wireless.   To stop intruders from logging into your wireless network, there is a security access key or a SSID.  The key can be any combination of numbers or characters.  Many commercial establishments have public wireless networks or hotspots that allow their guests to connect and use the Internet while they are on the premises. Hot spots employ the same technology as your home /office wireless networks but are generally more powerful and offer advanced functionality for controlling and selling internet time to customers.

Advantages of using a wireless network

• Mobility – Access is available outside normal environments.   Most public buildings offer wireless at little or no cost.
• Productivity – One can maintain nearly a constant affiliation with a desired network when moving from place to place.
• Convenience – Allows access to network resources available from nearly any location throughout a primary environment.
• Cost – Wireless networks are priced slightly higher than wired networks but it is always outweighed by the savings in cost and labor associated to running cables.

Disadvantages for using a wireless network

• Security – Since wireless networks use the airways to communicate, keeping data protected is challenging.  Good encryption software is recommended to keep sensitive or proprietary information confidential.
• Range – A typical range for a common wireless network is 54Mbps (Megabits per second).  To obtain additional range, additional equipment would to be needed.
• Reliability – Wireless networks can have a variety of interference and can fluctuate depending on location.
• Speed – The speed on most wireless networks is slower than the slowest wired networks.

Please feel free to forward this information to others.  If you would like to learn more on this topic or would like to request an area of technology you are interested in, please contact me.