Setting up Your own WiFi Network
To set up a Wireless Network, you need one or more "base stations," at least one of which is connected to your hard-wired Internet connection. These "base stations" are called "Wireless Access Points." To ensure the job security of IT people like myself for years to come, we generally just abbreviate their name and call them a WAP.
If you use more than one WAP, they each need to be set on a different channel. The channels overlap (who thought of that?) so that means channel 6 interferes with channel 7 etc. It is best to use channels 1, 5, and 10 on units that are close to each other.
For the best range, put the WAP as high as possible in the room and keep the antennas pointing straight up and down.
Each of your computers (or PDA, Video Projection Unit, etc) needs to have a Wireless Network Interface Card to be able to communicate with the WAP. Most laptops come with these cards built in these days. For desktops, you can easily add an internal card or even get a USB version.
Ok, this paragraph gets kind of technical, so if it seems like jibberish, just contact your favorite local computer professional and she or he will fix you up. You will want to specify a SSID identifier for your network, set up WEP encryption, specify that you have an "Infrastructure" network (the other choice is called AdHoc and that is when you are connecting two wireless computers to each other without using a WAP), and possibly use MAC address filtering to specify EXACTLY which computers can connect to your WAP. Security can be a concern, but you can handle it with a little effort. One group that is pioneering the field of advanced WiFi security is http://www.anigme.com/
You'll want to be sure your WAP is compatible with your network cards. The technical term for WiFi is 802.11 The "802" comes from the fact that the Ethernet standards were created in 1980, in February. The .11 is what specifies Wireless Ethernet. The differences come in between:
802.11b (the most common)
802.11a (faster than 802.11b but shorter range)
802.11g (fast like a, range of b, backwards compatible with b).
There are even other 802.11 standards set to come out, but they are still "blue sky" at this point as far as we consumers are concerned.
As you can see, the 802.11g seems like the obvious choice, except for one thing. There is no "official standard" for 802.11g yet so if you buy 802.11g equipment today you run the risk of it being incompatible with future 802.11g equipment. You'll probably be ok if you stick to the same manufacturer for your equipment in your office, but eventually there will be a standard so your 802.11g laptop will work in the Admiral's club during your layover at LAX on your way to Hawaii or Australia for your 3 week vacation in paradise.
802.11b is by far the most common and most popular these days.
A word about distance of communication, or "range." WiFi 802.11b operates in the 2.4GHz spectrum, and so do many cordless phones - that means the two can interfere with each other. Some WiFi networks will reach the "advertised" 300 feet, but most fall short of that, sometimes seriously short if there are a lot of other wireless devices in the vicinity such as cordless phones, a fire department with 25 antennas on the roof next door, or your neighborhood FM rapper station, and maybe even Mabel's nuclear powered espresso machine in the break room. (just kidding about the last one).
To understand more about connecting your WiFi network, see the documentation that comes with your network devices and/or just go to http://www.google.com and enter "WiFi" as a search term.
Click here for an audio program that will help you learn more about wireless networking and other computer technology. Click here for computer based training about networking technology.
About the Author:
Mike Foster is a coach, seminar leader, workshop
presenter, and keynote speaker. Having delivered more than 1,000 presentations
and training sessions in the United States and internationally, Mike has
mastered the art of explaining the most technical topics in a common sense way
that people enjoy. For more information about Foster's programs and coaching,
and to buy his book "Relationship Secrets Every Brain, Nerd & Tech Geek Can
Use - How 5 Easy To Learn Relationship Skills Can Super-Charge Your Career!"
call 800-657-7107 or visit www.fosterinstitute.com.
E-Savvy Newsletter