What is Wireless?
Well, wireless is just that, a user network without wires,
and it could be hitting your campus tomorrow if not yesterday. As the systems
become more and more affordable and reliable, such systems will continue
to infiltrate homes, businesses, and schools. Wireless sytems use various
methods to transmit computer information without the hindrance of wiring,
or at least without as much wiring. Wiring is still needed to connect a
wireless network access point to the hardwired network. However, from the
users viewpoint, no wires are needed. Several forms of wireless networks
exist, from Bluetooth to low frequency
radio [article update -- low frequency radio link to Metricom no longer
available as they have gone bankrupt]
to IEEE 802.11 (2.4 GHz radio frequency standard). Each one varies in the
exact nature of its connections, and while they all connect to the same
network and have access to the same information superhighway, they are
not directly compatible with one another. Covering the entire scope of
wireless networking solution would be a hefty task. Instead, because of
their current future prospects, reliability, affordability, selection,
and support, this article will focus on IEEE 802.11 systems and their usefulness
in the home.
How Does it Work?
Basically, wireless networks tranfer information between
a computer and a network access point via radio frequencies. This transfer
gives network access to the user without the need for wires. The above
diagram outlines how wireless works in a classroom setting. One to three
users (A) share a laptop computer containing a radio transceiver card (B).
These cards transfer information via radio to a wireless network acess
hub (C). These hubs are the middlemen of the system and serve as a means
to transfer information from the wired network to the wireless connections
via radio frequencies. This transfer step outlines the wireless aspect
to the system. After that, wires come into play. The wireless transceivers
connect to an ethernet hub so that they can share a single hardwire access
point (D). Such an ethernet hub is only needed if more than one wireless
network access hub is used. An ethernet hub is usually needed in the classroom
because only a limited number of wireless connections (usually around 10)
can be made to a single wireless network access hub. In cases with only
one wireless hub, the wireless hub can be connected directly to the network
access point. This access point could be a cable modem, phone modem, DSL,
etc. Through various means this access point provides connection to a Local
Area Network (E) and/or the World Wide Web (F).
Why go Wireless?
If everyone else jumps off a cliff, should you? What does
a wireless network give you? Once again, the answer is in the name. It's
wireless. Once you connect the wireless network access hub, any computer
or other device that contains a wireless transceiver, or is connected to
a device that does, can connect to the network without a need for additional
wiring. Consider a home network with only a single hardwired network connection
such as a phone line modem. With only a single connection point within
the home, the entire home can suddenly become a small local area network.
You can work on a laptop on a couch in one room and print to a printer
in another room and connect to the modem in yet another room, and, and...
O.K., you get the picture.
Basically, wireless gives you two major advantages. First,
a home network is easily achieved without wires through walls and without
additional access jacks being installed in your home. Second, and most
importantly, wireless is true anywhere, anytime learning. A desktop still
constrains the user to a work station. A regular laptop lets a user move
about, but a wire is still needed to get it on the network. Now, a portable
computer containing a wireless transceiver can go wherever the user wants
to learn, even outside, and connect to the Internet at the same time. Usually,
this range extends easily to 150 feet from the location of the wireless
network access hub. Digital distance education never looked so good.
Can You Afford Wireless?
A wired network is still cheaper when you consider the cost
of installing wires in your home verses the cost of a wireless access point
and tranceiver cards. But this is not an option in most apartments and
doesn't have the mobility advantage. According to WirelessCentral,
18 companies are currently providing wireless systems. Some of these are
not 802.11, but all are wireless to the user. The costs vary, but usually
fall between $400 and $1500 for the initial connection, with the cost being
split between the wireless network access hub and the wireless transceivers
within the computer. Apple's AirPort runs at the low end, with an access
point and transceiver card selling for around $450. The Farallon Skyline
card sells for just over $200, but you still need a wireless access hub.
Other companies such as 3Com sell home networking kits for $1500. You might
even find some of these kits at your local electronics store for less.
According to ZDNet, Lucent brand cards
are selling the best, but that could be due to any number of factors. PC
Magazine did a side-by-side test of the various models earlier this year
that was posted within ZDNet, but the field is so dynamic and so many new
brands are out now, that the data becomes useless and outdated as quickly
as it is printed. Therefore, the system of choice is still in deliberation.
In the end though, if you have the money, the question really becomes,
can you afford not to go wireless?
Which One Do I Get?
While I don't have the answer to that question, I can give
you some guidelines. Wireless
Central [Editor's note: Wireless Central is not longer available] is
the most complete resource I've been able to find for what is available.
Here
you'll
see
products
of various
natures
including
USB,
infrared, and radio. The four most commonly seen systems for IEEE 802.11
systems on the market today are Apple's
AirPort, Lucent, 3
Com, and Farallon.
That doesn't mean that they are the best, just the most common. Obviously
if you like
Mac computers, you'll want to go with the AirPort. As for PC's, you'll
want to read up on the latest ratings for the systems (PC Magazine / ZDNet is
a good resource for this along with CNET),
and then make your decision.
Selected Online Resources for Wireless Information
The links below are to several types of resources. I've linked
to several College web sites dealing with College-wide wireless networks,
general purpose computer information websites, and websites dealing specifically
with wireless information.
Computing Services, Carnegie Mellon (2000) Welcome to
Wireless Andrew!, Available Online: http://www.cmu.edu/computing/wireless/index.html
Dean, Katie (2000) Laptops a Key
to Top Education?, Wired News, Available Online: http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,37263,00.html
Dean, Katie (2000) College With No Wires Attached, Wired
News, Available Online: http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,37913,00.html
The Educase Listserv, http://listserv.educause.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0009&L=EDUPAGE&P=R1042
Greenville College News (2000) Nation's First Campus-Wide
Wireless Network "Liberates" Learning at Greenville College, Available
Online: http://www.greenville.edu/publications/news/wireless10699nr.shtml
Isaguirre, Adam (2000) Switzler Hall site of new wireless
laptop-computer lab, Maneater, Available Online: http://www.themaneater.com/2000/09/01/news/laptop.html
The Official Bluetooth Website, http://www.bluetooth.com/
WirelessCentral, http://www.wirelesscentral.net/
WLANA - The Wirless LAN Association, http://www.wlana.com/index.html
Yahoo Mobile Web Site, http://mobile.yahoo.com/wireless/home
ZDNet
