Alphabet Soup: Wireless Networking and You
SHA Newsletter: Vol 2. No. 9

I'm in the midst of trying to set up a number of laptops for use on a wireless network. The contact person for my client is stuck in the middle between what is needed and what Purchasing actually bought. It dawned on me that wireless networking has become a bit of alphabet soup. Let's try to sort it out.

When you think about wireless networks, you probably think about "Wi-Fi", a brand name that refers to any of several standards for wireless networks. The standards are those in the IEEE 802.11 family. IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers -- the professional society of technical specialists and engineers who hammered out the nuts and bolts to make wireless networks go. What's in the 802.11 family? A bunch of related documents which describe slightly different ways to connect computers without any cables. Here are the ones you're most likely to see.

802.11a: This was one of the earliest of several common wireless standards. It uses a very high frequency radio signal to connect computers to "hotspots" which connect to the Internet or to a private network. The radio signal is around 5 GHz -- which is about where amateur ("ham") radio operators run their equipment. 802.11a was, and remains, a good way to set up a wireless network. The high frequency radio band lets you avoid a good deal of interference, so your network runs faster. Let's call this "Wireless A" to make it simple.

802.11b: "Wireless B" runs a little slower than "Wireless A", although it's still faster than what your cable or DSL modem can probably handle. It runs in a radio band around 2.4GHz. This is where you'll find many cordless phones and other devices. Because of the frequency band, 802.11b networks get a little better coverage than 802.11a. However, since it shares the airwaves with many other radio devices, it's exposed to more interference. 802.11b turned out to be a very popular choice for setting up small wireless networks.

802.11g: "Wireless G" is an enhanced cousin of 802.11b. It runs in the same radio band, but it provides (under ideal conditions) almost 5 times the data speed. The nice thing about Wireless G networks is that they can talk to any older Wireless B computers you might have around.

802.11n: "Wireless N" is another variation in the 802.11 family. It aims for faster speed and better coverage. However, the engineers haven't agreed on all the technical details yet. If you go to the store today, you'll find wireless cards and access points labeled as "pre-N". If you buy now, you should know that "pre-N" devices from different companies might not work together, and they might not work in the future after all the details of the new standard are worked out.

Know Your Network

You need a wireless access point to connect you to the Internet, and you need a wireless card in each computer on your network. The access point might be a separate device, or it might be part of a network router, switch, or even part of your cable or DSL hookup box. It will have a pair of stubby antennas on it similar to the old "rabbit ears" on your parents' TV. Your computer needs a wireless device too. It might be a plug-in card with an antenna, a little USB dongle, or a metal card that slides into your laptop. It's also very common to have the wireless card built inside your laptop so nothing sticks out.

One from Column A and One from Column B

The kind of access point you have determines what kind of computers can connect and how fast they can talk on the network.

If your access point is 802.11a (Wireless A), then your computers have to be 802.11a too.

If your access point is 802.11b (Wireless B), then your computers have to be 802.11b too. Wireless A and B devices use different radio channels, so they don't talk together.

If your access point is 802.11g (Wireless G), then your computers can be either 802.11b or 802.11g. If all your computers are Wireless G, you'll get full speed. If any of them are Wireless B, they'll still work, but all the computers will move information at the slower Wireless B speed.

If your access point is "pre-N", then compatibility depends on whose equipment you buy. Read the box carefully before you spend money.

Do I Need Three Cards?

Probably not, but check the details.

Many wireless cards for laptops are "dual-mode" (Wireless B and G) or "tri-mode" (Wireless A, B, and G). This is so you can hook up to networks wherever you go. But you have to be careful and look for the right letters. A card labeled "802.11b/g" won't work on a Wireless A network, but one marked "802.11a/b/g" will. Today, some manufacturers save money by dropping support for Wireless A networks. Wireless A networks aren't as common as the other types, so this might not bother you. But get a tri-mode network card to obtain the most compatibility.

And Faster is Better, Right?

Maybe not.

All these wireless device run faster than most cable or DSL hookups, so if you just want to surf the 'Net or use a printer without being wired up, any of them will be fast enough. If you want to share files among computers in your office, then your Internet connection won't be a bottleneck. In that case, choose Wireless G devices and get the best speed. I'd skip the "pre-N" gear until the details of that technology settle out. If you need more speed than a Wireless G network provides, then you probably don't want to consider a wireless network at all. Traditional networks with wires can be an order of magnitude faster than wireless ones.

If you want visitors to be able to access your wireless network, then I'd vote for a Wireless G installation – it's fast, and offers compatibility with most laptops today.

The security features of your access point will be more important than raw speed in many cases. Look for WPA or WPA2 encryption. WEP encryption, an older standard, isn't trustworthy for carrying sensitive data anymore -- it's easy for hackers to defeat it.

Please note: Any trademarks and trade names of others mentioned in this message are the property of their owners, and not Stoney Hill Associates, LLC. We respect the intellectual property of others. The information provided is believed to be reliable, but we cannot guarantee that the procedures and information given here will work correctly for your specific situation.

If you would like help with a computer or software problem you face, contact us. Send an email to request@stoneyhillassociates.com.

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