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 About WiFi
WiFi Basics
For some reason, most companies like to overly complicate
technology and WiFi is no different. The alphabet soup of acronyms,
combined with the ever-increasing avalanche of wireless jargon and
gadgets, is quite overwhelming. Maybe it makes them feel smart. If
you’re just looking to use WiFi and aren’t looking to become a
certified engineer, WiTopia is here to help you. Here’s the short
and sweet:
 Background : How it all began.
In June 1993, the IEEE, the world’s preeminent information
technology standards organization, with over 360,000 members in 175
countries, ratified the 802.11 standard. This is why
the types of WiFi are known as 802.11b, 802.11g, and so on. We know
this technology more commonly as Wireless Fidelity or
“WiFi.”
Nobody really seemed to notice or care until Apple released
their AirPort™ WiFi products in 1999 which integrated 802.11
technology with a computer operating system. Soon thereafter, many
other vendors such as Linksys, Belkin, and D-Link, to name just a
few, began churning out consumer WiFi gear at an incredible
rate.
As people started using WiFi at home, and wireless hotspots
began to sprout here and there, it was clear we were all becoming
hooked. By 2003, the proliferation was out of control and growing
exponentially. Today, millions of wireless access points (APs) are
sold annually and hundreds of thousands of wireless hotspots have
emerged worldwide. We’re all learning fast there’s a tremendous
amount of freedom, convenience, and productivity packaged up in that
little wireless access point.
How it Works : If you use a cordless phone you
already understand WiFi.
WiFi is radio technology and is quite analogous to a cordless
telephone in function. Your wireless access point (AP) is the base
station and your laptop is the handset. WiFi even uses the same
slice of the electromagnetic spectrum (2.4-5.8Ghz) as most modern
cordless telephones. This is why you may experience interference
between your cordless phones and your wireless network depending on
the type of AP and phones you use. All you really need to know is
that this spectrum is unlicensed which, in radio terms, means it’s
free—a very good thing.
The Flavors : Making sense of the standards.
802.11a
-- Not widely in use. Data speeds up to 54Mbps with practical indoor
ranges of 25-75 feet. Uses less crowded 5Ghz band with more
available channels so it’s good for eliminating interference with
high user density or for media streaming.
802.11b
- Most popular but quickly becoming obsolete. Data speeds up
to 11Mbps with practical indoor ranges of 75-100 feet. Uses
potentially crowded 2.4Ghz band so it’s susceptible to interference
from microwave ovens, cordless phones, and neighboring wireless
networks.
802.11g
– Rapidly growing in popularity. Increased data speed of 54Mbps
versus 11Mbps of 802.11b with practical indoor ranges of 75-100
feet. Backwards compatible with 802.11b devices at 11Mbps. Uses
potentially crowded 2.4Ghz band so it’s susceptible to interference
from microwave ovens, cordless phones, and neighboring wireless
networks.
Note: The existence of an 802.11b device within an
802.11g network typically defaults the entire network to a much
lower data speed.
802.11n – Not standardized yet by IEEE but a number of
“Pre-N” APs are available. Uses new MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple
Output) technology to achieve vastly improved and consistent data
speeds of 108Mbps with practical indoor ranges of several hundred
feet. Backwards compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g. MIMO technology
eliminates most interference issues.
Why it’s Cool : The future is knocking on your
door.
Other than the obvious benefits of being wireless at home, at
work, or at a wireless hotspot, WiFi can add some 21st
century panache to your life. Stream your music and media collection
throughout your home, set up the ultimate gaming environment, build
out a camera network, or even implement a home automation system to
monitor and control your home from any room or over the
Internet. With WiFi, all this, and more, is now
possible.
Security Concerns : With love comes
sacrifice.
Chances are, your home wireless network is quite
insecure. That wireless hot spot probably is too. In a perfect
world that wouldn’t matter, but the world isn’t perfect is
it?
The overwhelming majority of consumers and small businesses
are using WiFi with absolutely no security enabled. Even those
technical enough to set up the built in security features are
reading everyday that they’re still easily susceptible to hackers
and many other unsavory things.
A wireless access point is, after all, a miniature radio
station broadcasting an open invitation to all who care to snoop
your data, or worse. The practice of detecting and cataloging
unprotected wireless networks on the Internet is called “Wardriving” and
it’s become a virtual sport easily performed by anyone with a
wireless laptop, some downloadable tools, and seemingly, a lot of
free time. Amusing as this may be, it’s more popular than you’d ever
imagine...which ain’t a good thing any way you look at
it.
WiTopia can fix all that for you. With our products, services and
knowledgeable staff, you can build your own “wireless utopia” where
you can enjoy all the benefits of WiFi with none of the
worry.
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