HoLoCroN
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As I was browsing around, I noticed we didn't have a dedicated thread on Wireless Networking. (Yet many questions!)
So, I decided to make one, this might prove useful to many of you out there.
Here We go....
=====================================
What is Wi-Fi???
Short for wireless fidelity and is meant to be used generically when referring of any type of 802.11 network, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, dual-band, etc. The term is created by the Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization made up of leading wireless equipment and software providers with the missions of certifying all 802.11-based products for interoperability and promoting the term Wi-Fi as the global brand name across all markets for any 802.11-based wireless LAN products.
While all 802.11a/b/g products are called Wi-Fi, only products that have passed the Wi-Fi Alliance testing are allowed to refer to their products as "Wi-Fi Certified" (a registered trademark). Products that pass are required to carry an identifying seal on their packaging that states "Wi-Fi Certified" and indicates the radio frequency band used (2.5GHz for 802.11b or 11g, 5GHz for 802.11a) This group was formerly known as the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) but changed its name in October 2002 to better reflect the Wi-Fi brand it wants to build.
=====================================
What is 802.11a/802.11b/802.11g??
802.11a/b/g, or IEEE 802.11a/b/g, is a standard that has been developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), http://standards.ieee.org . The IEEE is an international organization that develops standards for hundreds of electronic and electrical technologies. The organization uses a series of numbers, like the Dewey Decimal system in libraries, to differentiate between the various technology families.
The 802 committee develops standards for local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs). For example, the 802.3 committee develops standards for Ethernet-based wired networks, the 802.15 group develops standards for personal area networks, and the 802.11 committee develops standards for wireless local area networks (LAN).
802.11 is then further divided: 802.11b, or Wi-Fi, is a standard for wireless LANs operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11 Mbps. 802.11a is a different standard for wireless LANs operating in the 5 GHz frequency range with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Another draft standard, 802.11g, is for WLANs operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency but with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Other task groups are working on enhanced security (802.11i), spectrum and power control management (802.11h), quality of service (802.11e), etc.
=====================================
What is the difference between a Gateway and a WAP (Wireless Access Point)???
There are two types of Wi-Fi wireless base stations: a gateway and an access point. However, the distinctions between the two are not always clear, in part because the functions they perform can overlap. Even more confusing, many wired devices and other home Internet appliances also call themselves gateways.
A wireless gateway is targeted toward a totally wireless home or small-office environment; an access point is targeted toward a more integrated combined Ethernet and wireless environment-usually - larger businesses, campuses, or corporations. Gateways and access points can also differ regarding their capacity to perform security functions, provide firewall protection, and manage network traffic and tasks.
Gateways often include NAT (Network Address Translation) routing and DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) services. These create and provide the individual IP addresses all the wireless (and wired) clients need to function in a network and also enable a single Wi-Fi gateway to simultaneously provide Internet access to numerous users from a single shared Internet connection . Gateways may also include other applications and features such as encryption and security, VPN, firewall, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
An access point does not usually have NAT routing or DHCP; the wired routers in the system provide those network functions. Access points work as merely transparent bridges between wired networks and the various wireless users throughout a facility. Even though access points generally do not provide NAT or DHCP, they usually enable roaming (the ability to move from one access point to another without losing contact with your network), higher levels of security, and a high level of network control and management. Some gateways also provide these services. In fact, by toggling certain functions on and off, many wireless base stations can operate either as a gateway or as an access point. But a gateway is usually the only wireless base station in a small office or home, whereas in a large office or campus there might be hundreds or thousands of access points forming one or multiple overlapping wireless networks.
=====================================
How do I use my Wi-Fi laptop when I am traveling?
Just find a Wi-Fi network to which you can connect. These networks are becoming common in cities and towns worldwide — Internet cafes and coffee shops are popping up everywhere! — as well as in public areas like airports, hotels and convention centers or anywhere people gather. Some wireless HotSpot networks require you to manually configure your access connection; others work with your Wi-Fi radio to automatically log on. In addition, many large businesses and universities are providing wireless access to visitors and guests at their locations.
=====================================
Why do I need to know what NAT and DHCP are?
NAT stands for Network Address Translation and enables your Wi-Fi gateway to share a single Internet connection among all the computers in your home or business. DHCP (Direct Host Configuration Protocol) is what enables your network to use TCP/IP to connect the different components. There are various networking protocols.
Most Wi-Fi gateways for homes and small businesses provide both NAT and DHCP. In general, if you are setting up a stand-alone wireless network, you want NAT and DHCP. If you are adding a wireless gateway to an existing wired network, you probably want to turn off the NAT and DHCP functions built into your wireless gateway and have it function as a wireless access point.
=====================================
What is the range of a wireless network?
Range varies in a Wi-Fi network depending on the type of Wi-Fi radio you have, whether or not you use special antennas, and whether your network is in an open environment or in a building with lots of walls and furniture. The composition of your walls and floors can also have a major impact. Wi-Fi is a very low powered radio signal and does not penetrate metal, water or other dense materials.
A Wi-Fi network generally provides a range of about 75 to 150 feet in a typical home or office. In an open environment like an empty warehouse or outdoors, a Wi-Fi network may provide a range of up to 1,000 feet or more. With the right antennas and optimal placement, a range of up to a mile is possible.
With Wi-Fi technology, a "gradual degradation" in range occurs. This means that, instead of stopping all together, your data transmission rate just becomes slower as you move farther away from the access point. For example, with Wi-Fi 802.11b technology, within 100 feet of the access point, the Wi-Fi radio in your laptop computer will get about 11 Mbps data rate. As you move farther away, that rate will drop down to 5.5 Mbps, then to 2 Mbps and finally to 1 Mbps. Considering that many DSL and cable Internet connections are less than 1 Mbps, this connection speed is still very good. See What Range Can You Expect from Your Wi-Fi Network.
=====================================
Will my microwave oven or cordless phone interfere with my Wi-Fi network?
Microwave ovens and many cordless phones operate in the 2.4 GHz spectrum, the same radio spectrum used by 802.11b/g Wi-Fi wireless networks. That means they can cause interference — but in most instances this will just slow down the Wi-Fi connection; it won't stop transmission or break the connection.
To reduce interference, you can move a 2.4 GHz cordless phone away from your Wi-Fi equipped computer or base station. Interference usually only happens with older microwave ovens. You can also try changing the channel on which your Wi-Fi network operates . In addition, some manufacturers have developed and implemented special technologies that can minimize interference from cordless phones and ovens. Check with the manufacturer for specific instructions for your equipment.
=====================================
What is a “Hot Spot”??
A specific geographic location in which an access point provides public wireless broadband network services to mobile visitors through a WLAN. Hotspots are often located in heavily populated places such as airports, train stations, libraries, marinas, conventions centers and hotels. Hotspots typically have a short range of access.
=====================================
How can I find available Hot Spots????
Though Wi-Fi is designed to work over short distances, folks who live or work adjacent to a Wi-Fi network (or who simply sit in a car near one) may be able to "borrow" access and use the wireless network.
Some Internet users scope out unprotected wireless networks (an activity known as wardriving) just for sport. A few Web sites publish maps that show the locations of open networks, with data provided by users who drive around and collect the information, using GPS-enabled laptops and software such as NetStumbler or Kismet. A search on WiGLE can yield anything from a handful to hundreds of listings of unprotected Wi-Fi networks, depending on the geographic location you search.
There is also a commercial product available to those with some extra money to burn. Using a pricey tool for network administrators called AirMagnet and a Pocket PC handheld, I saw her network identifier, or SSID, the brand of gateway she was using, the channel it was broadcasting on, and the fact that it was unencrypted.
Some of this information was based on data from: http://www.webopedia.com/
So, I decided to make one, this might prove useful to many of you out there.
Here We go....
=====================================
What is Wi-Fi???
Short for wireless fidelity and is meant to be used generically when referring of any type of 802.11 network, whether 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, dual-band, etc. The term is created by the Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization made up of leading wireless equipment and software providers with the missions of certifying all 802.11-based products for interoperability and promoting the term Wi-Fi as the global brand name across all markets for any 802.11-based wireless LAN products.
While all 802.11a/b/g products are called Wi-Fi, only products that have passed the Wi-Fi Alliance testing are allowed to refer to their products as "Wi-Fi Certified" (a registered trademark). Products that pass are required to carry an identifying seal on their packaging that states "Wi-Fi Certified" and indicates the radio frequency band used (2.5GHz for 802.11b or 11g, 5GHz for 802.11a) This group was formerly known as the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) but changed its name in October 2002 to better reflect the Wi-Fi brand it wants to build.
=====================================
What is 802.11a/802.11b/802.11g??
802.11a/b/g, or IEEE 802.11a/b/g, is a standard that has been developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), http://standards.ieee.org . The IEEE is an international organization that develops standards for hundreds of electronic and electrical technologies. The organization uses a series of numbers, like the Dewey Decimal system in libraries, to differentiate between the various technology families.
The 802 committee develops standards for local and wide area networks (LANs and WANs). For example, the 802.3 committee develops standards for Ethernet-based wired networks, the 802.15 group develops standards for personal area networks, and the 802.11 committee develops standards for wireless local area networks (LAN).
802.11 is then further divided: 802.11b, or Wi-Fi, is a standard for wireless LANs operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11 Mbps. 802.11a is a different standard for wireless LANs operating in the 5 GHz frequency range with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Another draft standard, 802.11g, is for WLANs operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency but with a maximum data rate of 54 Mbps. Other task groups are working on enhanced security (802.11i), spectrum and power control management (802.11h), quality of service (802.11e), etc.
=====================================
What is the difference between a Gateway and a WAP (Wireless Access Point)???
There are two types of Wi-Fi wireless base stations: a gateway and an access point. However, the distinctions between the two are not always clear, in part because the functions they perform can overlap. Even more confusing, many wired devices and other home Internet appliances also call themselves gateways.
A wireless gateway is targeted toward a totally wireless home or small-office environment; an access point is targeted toward a more integrated combined Ethernet and wireless environment-usually - larger businesses, campuses, or corporations. Gateways and access points can also differ regarding their capacity to perform security functions, provide firewall protection, and manage network traffic and tasks.
Gateways often include NAT (Network Address Translation) routing and DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol) services. These create and provide the individual IP addresses all the wireless (and wired) clients need to function in a network and also enable a single Wi-Fi gateway to simultaneously provide Internet access to numerous users from a single shared Internet connection . Gateways may also include other applications and features such as encryption and security, VPN, firewall, and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
An access point does not usually have NAT routing or DHCP; the wired routers in the system provide those network functions. Access points work as merely transparent bridges between wired networks and the various wireless users throughout a facility. Even though access points generally do not provide NAT or DHCP, they usually enable roaming (the ability to move from one access point to another without losing contact with your network), higher levels of security, and a high level of network control and management. Some gateways also provide these services. In fact, by toggling certain functions on and off, many wireless base stations can operate either as a gateway or as an access point. But a gateway is usually the only wireless base station in a small office or home, whereas in a large office or campus there might be hundreds or thousands of access points forming one or multiple overlapping wireless networks.
=====================================
How do I use my Wi-Fi laptop when I am traveling?
Just find a Wi-Fi network to which you can connect. These networks are becoming common in cities and towns worldwide — Internet cafes and coffee shops are popping up everywhere! — as well as in public areas like airports, hotels and convention centers or anywhere people gather. Some wireless HotSpot networks require you to manually configure your access connection; others work with your Wi-Fi radio to automatically log on. In addition, many large businesses and universities are providing wireless access to visitors and guests at their locations.
=====================================
Why do I need to know what NAT and DHCP are?
NAT stands for Network Address Translation and enables your Wi-Fi gateway to share a single Internet connection among all the computers in your home or business. DHCP (Direct Host Configuration Protocol) is what enables your network to use TCP/IP to connect the different components. There are various networking protocols.
Most Wi-Fi gateways for homes and small businesses provide both NAT and DHCP. In general, if you are setting up a stand-alone wireless network, you want NAT and DHCP. If you are adding a wireless gateway to an existing wired network, you probably want to turn off the NAT and DHCP functions built into your wireless gateway and have it function as a wireless access point.
=====================================
What is the range of a wireless network?
Range varies in a Wi-Fi network depending on the type of Wi-Fi radio you have, whether or not you use special antennas, and whether your network is in an open environment or in a building with lots of walls and furniture. The composition of your walls and floors can also have a major impact. Wi-Fi is a very low powered radio signal and does not penetrate metal, water or other dense materials.
A Wi-Fi network generally provides a range of about 75 to 150 feet in a typical home or office. In an open environment like an empty warehouse or outdoors, a Wi-Fi network may provide a range of up to 1,000 feet or more. With the right antennas and optimal placement, a range of up to a mile is possible.
With Wi-Fi technology, a "gradual degradation" in range occurs. This means that, instead of stopping all together, your data transmission rate just becomes slower as you move farther away from the access point. For example, with Wi-Fi 802.11b technology, within 100 feet of the access point, the Wi-Fi radio in your laptop computer will get about 11 Mbps data rate. As you move farther away, that rate will drop down to 5.5 Mbps, then to 2 Mbps and finally to 1 Mbps. Considering that many DSL and cable Internet connections are less than 1 Mbps, this connection speed is still very good. See What Range Can You Expect from Your Wi-Fi Network.
=====================================
Will my microwave oven or cordless phone interfere with my Wi-Fi network?
Microwave ovens and many cordless phones operate in the 2.4 GHz spectrum, the same radio spectrum used by 802.11b/g Wi-Fi wireless networks. That means they can cause interference — but in most instances this will just slow down the Wi-Fi connection; it won't stop transmission or break the connection.
To reduce interference, you can move a 2.4 GHz cordless phone away from your Wi-Fi equipped computer or base station. Interference usually only happens with older microwave ovens. You can also try changing the channel on which your Wi-Fi network operates . In addition, some manufacturers have developed and implemented special technologies that can minimize interference from cordless phones and ovens. Check with the manufacturer for specific instructions for your equipment.
=====================================
What is a “Hot Spot”??
A specific geographic location in which an access point provides public wireless broadband network services to mobile visitors through a WLAN. Hotspots are often located in heavily populated places such as airports, train stations, libraries, marinas, conventions centers and hotels. Hotspots typically have a short range of access.
=====================================
How can I find available Hot Spots????
Though Wi-Fi is designed to work over short distances, folks who live or work adjacent to a Wi-Fi network (or who simply sit in a car near one) may be able to "borrow" access and use the wireless network.
Some Internet users scope out unprotected wireless networks (an activity known as wardriving) just for sport. A few Web sites publish maps that show the locations of open networks, with data provided by users who drive around and collect the information, using GPS-enabled laptops and software such as NetStumbler or Kismet. A search on WiGLE can yield anything from a handful to hundreds of listings of unprotected Wi-Fi networks, depending on the geographic location you search.
There is also a commercial product available to those with some extra money to burn. Using a pricey tool for network administrators called AirMagnet and a Pocket PC handheld, I saw her network identifier, or SSID, the brand of gateway she was using, the channel it was broadcasting on, and the fact that it was unencrypted.
Some of this information was based on data from: http://www.webopedia.com/
