Wireless types explained

For those who have it, wireless technology has become an indispensable part of everyday computer use.

As well as home networks, those of us with portable computers and some types of mobile phone now have the option of accessing wireless internet services in thousands of public locations.

At home, wireless gives people the opportunity to connect a number of PCs together and to the internet without messy cabling.

The only problem with wireless technology is that it is riddled with our nemesis ­ jargon. In this feature we are going to explain what the various types of wireless technologies are suitable for.

Meet the Wifi
Wireless technology comes in many different forms, each with its own benefits. Bluetooth lets users share files from their phones and Radio Frequency (RF) is used to make wireless mice communicate with a PC.

The most common term used when talking about wireless is Wifi. It stands for Wireless Fidelity and is the brand name for a family of technologies that meet a technical standard agreed by the industry called 802.11.

Wifi is designed to share medium-sized files and an internet connection between devices on a network. Items you might link to a Wifi connection include a printer, a notebook PC, a games console or a digital photo frame.

There are four main types of Wifi, and the differences between them are the speed at which they can send data from one device to another, which is measured in megabits per second (Mbits/sec), and the distance they can send a signal from a wireless router.

The different types are indicated by a single letter after the 802.11, such as 802.11b. The ‘a’ version is rarely seen these days and the types called ‘b’ and ‘g’ are the most common, offering up to 11Mbits/sec and 54Mbits/sec respectively. This means music and documents can be played or copied from one PC to another device with ease.

As with any radio signal, Wifi can be affected by a number of things. Thick walls in homes can reduce signal range, while microwave ovens and even cordless home phones can affect the signal. Many users find there is a ‘dead spot’ in their home, usually in the garden or behind a thick wall. ­ Wifi boosters can solve this problem.

It is advisable to purchase all wireless equipment that uses the same type of Wifi as this will ensure that the standards are the same and they will work together at full speed. There is no need to panic if this is not the case as 802.11g is compatible with 802.11b, meaning that 802.11g access points will work with 802.11b wireless network adapters.

The Nth degree
Now there’s a new kid on the block ­ 802.11n is an upcoming industry standard for high-speed Wifi. It
is predicted to offer a range of up to 300 metres and speeds of 300Mbits/sec, so it should be able to cope with sharing hefty files such as high-definition video around a home.

Although ‘n’ will not be approved by the industry standards body until late 2008, many manufacturers, including Dell, Linksys and Belkin, have begun to include it in products. It is claimed that such devices will only require a firmware update in order to meet the final specification but we advise you to check our reviews before buying Wifi products advertised as ‘pre-n’.

The proposed standard has been changed many times and a ‘pre-n’ item could be incompatible with future 802.11n equipment once the final version is released. The final issue to consider is security ­ Wifi signals can be intercepted so you should secure your network with a simple password. See our free Workshop here.

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