WiFi History
The first Wireless technology that could exchange data between cell phones, handhelds and stationary computers entered the market in 1998. Ericson, IBM, Nokia, and Toshiba announced that they would join together to develop a new technology called blue tooth for wireless data exchange. Since then IEEE(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) has created standards in wireless networking and its popularity has been on the rise since early 2000.

How The Wireless Technology Works
Wireless networking takes any available radio frequency splits it into dozens of channels so it can easily “frequency hop” onto any available signal. This creates a more stable and immune connection that can allow dozens of Wi-Fi cards to talk simultaneously without interfering or causing collisions with each other.

Home Networking
If your setting up a WiFi from scratch you will have to choose between 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g wireless standards. If you want the fastest and most compatible standard than choose the 802.11g. This standard is backwards compatible with both 802.11a and 802.11b and has a transmission speed of up to 54mbps. The next best choice would be the 802.11a standard which also has a transmission speed of 54mbps and is backwards compatible with 802.11b. The first standard that was release was the 802.11b and this is the least expensive and slowest at 11mbps.

Wireless networking peripherals are available for any computer in both internal and external components. Internal cards typically plug into your computers PCI slot and have antennas that send out radio frequencies. For laptops this card will normally be a PCMCIA card that can easily plug into a slot on your laptop. External cards typically plug into a USB ports and also send out radio frequencies. Wireless networking peripherals allow a computer to access a hotspot or network connection.

A hotspot is still required for a Wi-Fi connection and today many routers have everything you need build in. A wireless access point router is a single box that contains 1.) cable or DSL modem, 2.) a router, 3.)and Ethernet hub, 4.) a firewall, 5.) a wireless access point. It is also possible to connect computers in your home to this box either with traditional Ethernet cables or wireless cards.

If you already have an Ethernet network and want to add a wireless hotspot, you can purchase a Wireless Access Point(WAP). This can easily plug into your existing network and create an available hotspot. A typical building with a hotspot can provide coverage for about 100 feet in all directions. Obstacles such as walls and floors can cut down the signal range and signal boosters may be purchased to increase the range of the hotspot.

Security
Wifi hotspots can either be open or secure. If a hotspot is open , then anyone with a WiFi card can access that hotspot. If a hotspot is secure then the user trying to connect to the hotspot will have to provide a username and password or WEP key. The encryption standard used most commonly today for this is known as WEP(Wireless Equivalent Privacy). The encryption system for 802.11 has two variations 64-bit encryption and 128-bit encryption. The 64-bit encryption was the first original standard that was developed but was found to be easily broken. If you are setting a hotspot up in your home you may want to create and use a 128-bit WEP key to prevent anyone from accessing your network. 128-bit encryption is the most secure and is what most people use when the use WEP.

Access points come with very easy to follow instructions and configurations can be done with a web browser. Wireless technology is very easy to use and set-up. Once your hotspot is set-up properly you will be able to access the Internet from anywhere in your home. For more information on wireless networking check out www.vicomsoft.com and bengross.com for more information on wireless networking.