Post by juju on Apr 2, 2006 23:43:41 GMT -5
While each new generation of wireless networking hardware is becoming easier to install, the process is still more involved than plugging a few Ethernet cables into the back of a router. You can also expect to pay a premium for wireless equipment. Learning a little wireless lingo can greatly simplify the search for the right wireless network. For starters, wireless networks operate on the 802.11 standard established by the IEEE. 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g are the three most common standards beneath the 802.11 umbrella. 802.11b, or Wi-Fi, was the first popular wireless standard. It operates at the 2.4GHz frequency and can achieve a theoretical data transfer speed of 11Mbps. 11Mbps will handle broadband Internet connections with ease, but it gets left in the dust compared to swifter 802.11a and 802.11g devices. But prices for 802.11b equipment have dropped, making it an enticing option for someone who doesn't want to plunk down extra cash for 802.11a/g. Some hailed 802.11a the successor to the wireless throne. With potential speeds of 54Mbps, 802.11a trounces Wi-Fi in terms of transferring data. It also has the benefit of operating at the 5GHz band, avoiding interference from devices such as cordless phones, microwave ovens, and other wireless networks that use the 2.4GHz frequency. Despite these improvements, 802.11a was fairly expensive and not backward-compatible with Wi-Fi; it never really found favor with the consumer market. On the other hand, 802.11g (soon to be supplanted by 802.11n) is the new standard in wireless networking. It uses the 2.4GHz band and is compatible with older 802.11b devices but matches 802.11a's 54Mbps speed. A lot of manufacturers are making products with "turbo" modes to burn even more rubber on the track. These new upstarts boast theoretical speeds of more than 100Mbps. If you buy a router with some type of "turbo" technology, you may have to buy your adapters from the same manufacturer to harness the extra juice.