Going Wireless
Many of us are finding we have more than a single computer at home and the majority of recent computer sales have been laptops. This means that we don’t want to be tied to the wire coming out of the wall to access the internet. We want to be able to sit on the couch and surf CNN as we watch the presidential primaries.
Going wireless is getting easier and cheaper with each passing month so let’s take a look at some of our options. You will hear wireless home networks referred to as Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) networks.
Number Confusion
Older wireless systems used a lower radio frequency range around 2.4 GHz. These would include 802.11b and 802.11g. These operated in the same frequency range as some cordless telephones and microwaves. If you are getting static on your cordless phones and have an older wireless system it’s time to upgrade.
The new standard is in the 5GHz range and its sexy new designation is 802.11n. These romantic numbers give you a clue as to the transfer speed of the device. Those with a “b” at the end transfer data at 11 Megabytes per second (Mb/sec.) and those with a “g” or “a” suffix transfer at the much faster rate of 54 Mb/sec. While the new “n” suffix delivers a whooping 200 Mb/sec. speed.
Obviously you want to look for a device that operates using the 802.11n standard as it is both lightning fast and operates at the higher frequency.
What’s Involved?
Currently your desktop is connected to the wire in the wall through either a phone jack (DSL) or a cable TV jack (Cable) and in the middle is a box. This is your wired router. This is the piece that gets replaced by your wireless router. It will be wired to the wall but the wires coming out of it and into your computer will disappear as the wireless router uses radio waves to transfer the data to your computer.
What is the downside?
Wireless systems run slower than hard-wired systems and have a limited range. Most of us won’t notice a huge difference in speed until we go to download that funny video off YouTube. Then it will seem as though your computer is crawling along and what would have taken a couple of a seconds might take a minute.
If like me you want to be able to take your laptop out into the back yard and work in the sunshine you should be fine close to the house but more than 100 to150 feet away and the connection will drop so measure the distance from the hammock to the cottage before you plunk down your cash.
Wireless systems pose more of a security risk too. With data contained in cables thieve would have to directly tape the wires to gain access. Wireless systems are much less secure as your data is traveling through the air. Don’t let this frighten you too much as there are security systems you will use to keep your emails about the family pet secure.
Security
First you want to name your network so you can find it when you look for it. Change the settings on your router (see the manual) so that visitors will have to type in the mane to find your router.
Next is setting a password for your system and it should be long and consist of numbers and letters capitals and lowercase. There are lots of random password generators online that will give you a string of characters if you need it.
Finally is the encryption such as WEP, or WPA. WPA is the more advanced system and you should buy a wireless router that uses WPA encryption. That said any wireless system can be hacked and so if you are transferring around confidential banking info you should stick with a wired system. But WPA should keep the neighbors out of your system.
What to Buy?
Each brand of router works in a different way, so before you buy check out the model number online and see what others are saying about it. PC users will be familiar with Linksys, D-Link, NetGear, US Robotics, Belkin, and Buffalo. Mac users will want an Apple Airport Extreme, which also works fine with PC’s. Some are more difficult to set-up than others so do your homework. Apple users can rest assured that its all “plug it in and it works” technology that Apple is famous for.
Apple has just released a product that combines a wireless 802.11n router with a server quality huge hard-drive (500 Gig to 1 Terabyte) that works in conjunction with their new operating systems back up function it’s called “Time Capsule”. This device will let you surf, get your email, and back-up all your computers wirelessly to a huge hard drive.
The other manufacturer will be working to match Apple’s innovation so keep your eyes open for this new and useful feature.
Going wireless is getting easier and cheaper with each passing month so let’s take a look at some of our options. You will hear wireless home networks referred to as Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) networks.
Number Confusion
Older wireless systems used a lower radio frequency range around 2.4 GHz. These would include 802.11b and 802.11g. These operated in the same frequency range as some cordless telephones and microwaves. If you are getting static on your cordless phones and have an older wireless system it’s time to upgrade.
The new standard is in the 5GHz range and its sexy new designation is 802.11n. These romantic numbers give you a clue as to the transfer speed of the device. Those with a “b” at the end transfer data at 11 Megabytes per second (Mb/sec.) and those with a “g” or “a” suffix transfer at the much faster rate of 54 Mb/sec. While the new “n” suffix delivers a whooping 200 Mb/sec. speed.
Obviously you want to look for a device that operates using the 802.11n standard as it is both lightning fast and operates at the higher frequency.
What’s Involved?
Currently your desktop is connected to the wire in the wall through either a phone jack (DSL) or a cable TV jack (Cable) and in the middle is a box. This is your wired router. This is the piece that gets replaced by your wireless router. It will be wired to the wall but the wires coming out of it and into your computer will disappear as the wireless router uses radio waves to transfer the data to your computer.
What is the downside?
Wireless systems run slower than hard-wired systems and have a limited range. Most of us won’t notice a huge difference in speed until we go to download that funny video off YouTube. Then it will seem as though your computer is crawling along and what would have taken a couple of a seconds might take a minute.
If like me you want to be able to take your laptop out into the back yard and work in the sunshine you should be fine close to the house but more than 100 to150 feet away and the connection will drop so measure the distance from the hammock to the cottage before you plunk down your cash.
Wireless systems pose more of a security risk too. With data contained in cables thieve would have to directly tape the wires to gain access. Wireless systems are much less secure as your data is traveling through the air. Don’t let this frighten you too much as there are security systems you will use to keep your emails about the family pet secure.
Security
First you want to name your network so you can find it when you look for it. Change the settings on your router (see the manual) so that visitors will have to type in the mane to find your router.
Next is setting a password for your system and it should be long and consist of numbers and letters capitals and lowercase. There are lots of random password generators online that will give you a string of characters if you need it.
Finally is the encryption such as WEP, or WPA. WPA is the more advanced system and you should buy a wireless router that uses WPA encryption. That said any wireless system can be hacked and so if you are transferring around confidential banking info you should stick with a wired system. But WPA should keep the neighbors out of your system.
What to Buy?
Each brand of router works in a different way, so before you buy check out the model number online and see what others are saying about it. PC users will be familiar with Linksys, D-Link, NetGear, US Robotics, Belkin, and Buffalo. Mac users will want an Apple Airport Extreme, which also works fine with PC’s. Some are more difficult to set-up than others so do your homework. Apple users can rest assured that its all “plug it in and it works” technology that Apple is famous for.
Apple has just released a product that combines a wireless 802.11n router with a server quality huge hard-drive (500 Gig to 1 Terabyte) that works in conjunction with their new operating systems back up function it’s called “Time Capsule”. This device will let you surf, get your email, and back-up all your computers wirelessly to a huge hard drive.
The other manufacturer will be working to match Apple’s innovation so keep your eyes open for this new and useful feature.
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