Wireless Networking

A wireless network is a communication facility that uses radio as their carrier or physical layer. The basic network consists of multiple stations communicating in a frequency range of 2.4GHz and 4.9GHz. Wireless networking is the state-of-art technology and an alternative to such networks which is hard wired by physical copper or fiber optic cables. Such a network has its advantages and disadvantages, compared to a wired network. The major advantage in having a wireless network is its mobility and elimination of cabling. Potential disadvantage is interferences due to weather, other wireless devices, or obstructions, like walls. It is gaining much demand in both home and business applications.

The two-way radio communication works on High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) bands. The HF band ranges from 3 to 30 MHz, with VHF at 30 MHz to 300MHz band, while UHF belongs to a bandwidth of 300 MHz and 3.0 GHz.

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a wireless connectivity limited to local area networking. It utilises the same functions as that of a wired system, such as the Local Area Network (LAN). WLAN uses the spread spectrum technology on radio waves for communication between devices within a limited area. This facilitates the user to move around within the broad coverage area, and still remain connected.

Mobile communication implies communication through radio network. The most obvious example is establishing a wireless connectivity between a mobile network and the mobile handset or mobile terminals. The connection between the base stations to the core network of a mobile phone operator, in surprisingly high numbers, is realised through radio links. More-over, Wireless Local area Networks (WLAN) is gaining a major growth in the market today, with radio networking in office, at home and for public access. The base of Fixed Wireless Broadband is formed by the combination of radio link and WLAN technologies, being a move from proprietary into standard solutions. A further example could be set, when realising that the vendors have come up with a variety of solutions, where a single Internet connection can be utilised by more computers. This all have one thing in common - the computers need to be networked.

We presently see the advent of seamless wireless data and voice communication. The key capability of the next generation wireless communication would be Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which forms a part of WLAN. The Quality-of-Service (QoS) is one of the planning issues in VoIP over WLAN. These issues are mainly, call control, network capacity, provisioning, architecture and others. For optimisation of this networking, the issues need to be looked into on a WLAN-by-WLAN basis. To meet the requirements of three main market segments is a challenge by itself in deployment parameters of WLANs. These market segments are:

1. Residential, small office and home office applications.
2. Private networking on VoIP WLAN.
3. VoIP over WLAN interfacing the public telephone network.

Following are the benefits of WLAN technology:

 There are situations where, wired connectivity between stations becomes costly, inconvenient or impossible. For example, cable-lay becomes a very costly proposition in a large building, where the The stations are located.

 A two buildings, the Connect separated by physical obstacles, legal or financial, you can provide your telecoms authority with the necessary connections for you, or you can use for Wi-Fi connection.

 WLAN can be used as a temporary measure for the communication to be used in place only for a certain period. For example, a network for trade shows or conventions, where he posed for an Ethernet cablenetwork becomes superfluous.

 In certain buildings, governed by building codes, laying cable becomes illegal. WLAN finds a perfect application in that situation.

 The WLAN technology is very attractive to home owners with several computers. A network could be set up without drilling holes in the wall and laying the cables for connectivity.

 A mobile laptop owner can always remain connected to the network, whether he is in the hallway, lobbies, cafeterias, classrooms or in a meeting.

 An easy way to remain connected to the internet at public places.

Etc

If you are in the middle of a public place, like, the airport, coffee shop, library or hotel, the chances are that you are already connected by wireless network. Increasing number of cities are using WiFi or 802.11 networking technology to provide low cost internet service to the residents. A time is coming when wireless networking will enable Internet access anywhere, at any time, without cables. The mobile operators have started a wireless Internet connection service, a wireless network card that goes in your notebook. This gives you the mobility you wherever you go and change and places in the world with a roaming.

can be divided into two parts and encryption: authentication in wireless network security. During authentication mechanisms to identify aclient in the network and the other-way-round, encryption makes it sure that it is not possible to intercept and decode data being transmitted.

There are two major primary security issues in wireless networking:

1. Access - Provide adequate access grants to the selected people who can use the network, without which, anyone in the vicinity could gain access into your network.

2. Privacy - Making sure that your network is not visible to anyone else. If this is not taken care of, anyone in the vicinity can watch everything you do on the network.

The total network is secured by administrator password, which is required to log into the devices, networked. The routers and access points in the network, cannot be accessed without such secured passwords. As soon as a WLAN is set up the first thing you want to do is to change the default password to something of your own. Without such a password the only way to access the network is to reset the total hardware to its factory default settings.

WLAN continuously and automatically broadcasts the network name, or the Service set Identifier (SSID). SSID is the name given to your WLAN, and all devices in the WLAN network uses this name to communicate to each other. This process makes setting up of wireless clients in the network extremely easy by locating your WLAN, and on the other hand. this makes your network to be visible to anyone operating within the range of your transmission. Turning off the SSID broadcast would make your network invisible to others.

To enable a secured network, disable the option of remote administration. Most of WLAN routers can be remotely administered, via internet. This feature should only be used, if the network lets you define a specefic IP address or a range of addresses, which would be allowed to access the network administration. It is advisable to keep the remote administration option turned off.

It won't be right to say that your network is completely secured. It is always possible for 'snoopers' to get into your traffic. Some network have been built and managed with more security built into it, but, for both LAN and WLAN, we often ask ourselves - how secured are we?

The pro and con's - Wireless Networking

Wireless networks are used to assemble a rather lively to go online to connect, the computer has been generally limited to people who had special reason for not using a wired network. Even after it has become more available, this technology was still a bit 'too expensive for most families who wanted to justify an Internet connection at home.

In those days, wireless is everywhere and begins to assume the amount of cable connections in at home, thanks to the large amount of internet service providers usually send Wi-Fi router and remove the cost to the consumer. When you are unsure about the use of wireless or cable, first you should read some comments on broadband to find the best broadband and phone deals available and here are the advantages and disadvantages of a modern radio network can bring.

Benefits

Easy setup: Adding another computer to a> Wireless network is usually just a case of loading, click the network lists, enter the password and click OK. For most consumers are enough to cause a computer to the network and the network should be added. wired computers can be so simple, that is, once you've drilled holes in the walls and floors and lay wire around your house!

Great for the devices: Almost every computer comes with a wired connection such as, but you can say the same for your iPhone or game console wireless?ensure that mobile devices have access to the Internet, which can be great if you have moved the house a lot and want your iPod to stream music without paying for the local mobile broadband.

The numbers are not a problem: most routers up to 4 computers from wires while some connect only 2 or 3 in combination. Some of the more convenient to have a single router port. If you put the wired connections you need to buy a switch to extend them,means more even lines. allows wireless connection to connect to each other in any number of computers without the need for additional hardware, so it's great if you have a large family home or office.

Disadvantages

Security: Wireless can be very safe if it is properly going on, but if security measures can not be met, the people of the area to access both the Internet connection and network more. This can be through the following online guides or check your router or avoidedProvider of wireless security.

Range: wireless range is greatly improved in recent years, a few, but there is a limit to what you are going out of a router, especially one that is received on a business broadband. Range Extender and the repeater can be purchased cost if you have large home on a value, but this can be a pain. However, most find the homes that their wireless hardware at all levels, even without extrain the garden, playing in the summer.

Hardware: standard with a wired network ports as it does today, but not all computers have internet access with wireless. Computer That means that you spend on a wireless dongle that pick up signals. These prices have fallen, but those and may still be expensive. Wired networks are not to worry, but have no additional cable for each computer, so there is still a small cost involved.