What is Wireless Networking?
The standard way that computers in a home or office connect to each
other and the Internet is through Ethernet cables. Wireless
Ethernet (also known as Wi-Fi or IEEE 802.11) allows
your computers to communicate using the Ethernet protocol over the
same radio channels used by cordless phones and baby monitors. There
are also devices that allow you to connect your computer to cell phone
networks, but I will focus on wireless Ethernet for this article.
When would I need wireless networking?
Old-fashioned wires are still faster, more secure and more reliable
than wireless networking. There are three sets of circumstances where
wireless networking is an advantage: (1) you need to set up a network
fast, and don't have time to run wires, (2) you want people to be able
to move their laptops around the workspace, and (3) you want to make
your network available to visitors with wireless-enabled laptops, or
you want to bring your wireless-enabled laptop to another office,
coffee shop or public space. Keep in mind that if your laptop's
batteries run down, you'll have to plug it in to a power supply, so
you won't be completely wireless.
How do I set up wireless networking?
There are two components to wireless networking. The wireless
adaptor connects to the computer; it may be built-in or it may
plug in to a laptops PC Card slot, to a PCI slot on a desktop
computer, or to a USB port. The wireless access point is a
small device that connects to your local area network or the Internet
via Ethernet cables.
How much does wireless networking cost?
Wireless adaptors usually sell for between $50 and 100 apiece (that's
per computer), and wireless access points for $60-90.
How secure is wireless networking?
Not very. The factory default settings on most access points leave
the network wide open for anyone in radio range (up to five blocks) to
connect. Most routers come with the Wireless Encryption Protocol
(WEP), which provides some security, but many hackers can break
through WEP. There is a small subculture of warchalkers and
wardrivers who travel around looking for unsecured wireless
networks. Most are just trying to avoid paying for broadband internet
connections. Some use it to hide their identities for illegal
activities: a man was arrested in Ontario in 2003 for driving very
slowly in the wrong direction on a one-way street at 3AM, and police
discovered that he was wearing no pants and using other people's
networks to download child pornography onto his laptop. Others use
insecure wireless networks to get into an organization's computers and
obtain sensitive information.
Angus Grieve-Smith is an independent computer
consultant. More information can be found at http://www.grieve-smith.com/
or by contacting Angus by phone at (718) 205-8665.