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Basics of Wi-Fi

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Yesudas...

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What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is the abbreviation for Wireless Fidelity. Wi-Fi is a simple, cost-effective way to connect to the Internet, to other Computers and to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices (such as high-end Mobile Phones), without the need to physically connect wires between the two Computers/ devices. Thus, it reduces the clutter of wires behind your Computer (and perhaps, all around it as well!).

At the corporate level, it minimizes the need for long cables running from one end of the room to the other or from floor to floor. Implementing a Wi-Fi solution could thus even be cheaper than implementing a conventional, wired solution, as not only does it eliminate the need for long Network Cables, it also does away with Network Sockets!

Is Wi-Fi good for Offices alone?

Certainly Not! Wi-Fi works just as well, whether implemented at the corporate headquarters, your home, the Airport or Metro Station, or a cowshed in a remote village!

 

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If you have a single computer at your home and a fixed workplace, a Wi-Fi solution may not benefit you so much, apart from reducing the confusion (or profusion) of wires behind and around your computer. However a Wi-Fi solution really begins to pay off at home if you have more than one computer with at least one being a Notebook and you want to work from different rooms in your house. With a wired solution, you would need a Network Cable for every computer you want to connect - with a Wi-Fi solution, up to 4 computers can be networked (and given Internet access) using one Wi-Fi Access Point. Once set up, you could work on your dining table, in the garden, kitchen or just about anywhere at your home on your Centrino or Core2 Duo Notebook. If you have an older Notebook (say a Pentium 4 or even older one), you may still enjoy the freedom of Wi-Fi, by getting an additional PCMCIA Card (Personal Computer Memory Cards International Association - also simply called PC Card) costing about INR. 6,000/-  (US$ 150) and fixing it into your older Notebook. Here is a picture of a PCMCIA Wi-Fi Card

PCMCIA (PC Card) Wi-Fi

Access Card for older Notebooks

Even if you are a Notebook user who travels a lot, a Wi-Fi at home makes great sense. Even if it is your only home computer. As a person who travels a lot, you would also be able to access the Internet using public Wi-Fi Hot Spots - at Railway and Metro Stations, Airports, the Hotels you stay at, etc. You do not need to change the settings of your Notebook each time too - Wi-Fi is real easy to configure!

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Are there different Wi-Fi Standards? Which is the best?

As a user, you need to have a Wi-Fi-enabled Notebook or a Wi-Fi-enabled Desktop, to be able to harness any nearby Wi-Fi Networks. 

Wi-Fi currently comes in quite a few flavors:

The earliest variant was the 802.11a version, which allowed a maximum throughput (speed) of 10 MBPS. While this is acceptable for Internet access - specially for accessing light pages (pages without too many graphics and pictures), it is torture, trying to copy or receive a large file from another Computer, over a 10 MBPS connection...

The next useful version of Wi-Fi is the 802.11g. This is the de-facto version today. Since it is backwardly-compatible with 802.11a, earlier devices are able to co-exist with 802.11g as well. On 802.11g, the maximum possible throughput is about 5 times higher, at 54 MBPS. It is good enough for transferring larger files too and has really boosted the usage of Wi-Fi across the world.

Currently, a few experimental versions of Wi-Fi standards - like the 802.11n are being worked upon. These will further increase the maximum throughput and coverage area of Wi-Fi Networks.

While on this topic, we have the emerging Wi-Max technology. Wi-Max will improve upon not just Wi-Fi's maximum throughputs, but also have much larger ranges - covering a few miles, vis-à-vis Wi-Fi's maximum range of about 100 Meters.

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What do I need, to be able to harness Wi-Fi?

At the user end, you, as a user of Wi-Fi should have a either a Notebook or a Desktop, with the following specifications:

  1. A Notebook with one of the following processors:

  • Celeron-M

  • Pentium-M

  • Centrino

  • Core Solo

  • Core 2 Duo

PCMCIA (PC Card) Wi-Fi

Access Card for older Notebooks

Notebooks with the above processors have built-in Wi-Fi access, so you need nothing more on your computer, for Wi-Fi access. On the other hand, if your Notebook is an older one and has a Pentium III, Celeron, or even a Pentium 4 processor, you will need to purchase a PCMCIA Wi-Fi access card like the one shown right above

On the other hand, if you have a Desktop and wish to access Wi-Fi Networks, you will need to purchase an internal Wi-Fi Card that is to be fixed inside your Desktop's CPU. The picture of a Wi-Fi Access Card for Desktops is shown alongside. Such cards are available at under INR 1000/- (US$ 25). A number of cheap yet fairly durable Desktop Wi-Fi Access Cards made in China, Korea, etc., are available.

The card is to be fixed inside your Desktop, like your Sound or Graphics or other cards are fixed. You may even have to move your desktop, if signal strength is poor in the position where it is currently placed. Check out the signal strength by turning the Antenna on the Wi-Fi card in different directions, until the best strength is obtained. Obtaining good signal strength is important as otherwise, your connection may break frequently!

Wi-Fi Card for Desktops

To make Wi-Fi work for you, you also need the following at your home or office:

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  • An ADSL Modem (abbreviation for Modulator-Demodulator), if you have a Broadband ADSL Internet Connection. Usually your ADSL Internet Service Provider (ISP) supplies you an ADSL Modem and charges you a nominal monthly charge for the use of the ADSL Modem. Under this pricing scheme, you are leased the Modem - it belongs to the ISP. The other pricing model adopted by ISPs is, they charge you for the cost of the Modem. If this is the case, you own the Modem. You may also purchase an ADSL Modem, its cost being about INR 2,500/- (about US$ 60). The DLink ADSL Modem shown alongside is a very popular and fast ADSL Modem.

NOTE: If you have a Leased Line for Internet Access, again, you would have a Leased Line Modem - you do not need to purchase it separately. Similarly if you have a Cable Modem, again, you already have the Modem - no need to purchase one separately. Whatever be your Modem - Leased Line, Cable or ADSL, it will connect to your ISP's device, Television or Telephone respectively. The function of the Modem is two-fold: Firstly, it modulates (converts) the data that you want to send out into signals that your Telephone line (or your Leased Line or Television, as the case may be) can understand.

Secondly, it demodulates (converts) the data sent to you by someone else, from the Telephone line (or Leased Line or television Cable, as the case may be) into data that your Computer (or device) can understand.

D-Link ADSL Modem

GLB-502T

  • If you have an ADSL or Leased Line or Cable Modem and it is setup is correctly, you have a wired network in place. To make it wireless, you need a second piece of equipment, called the Wireless Access Point. You will usually need to purchase a Wireless Access Point, with its cost being about INR 2,500/- (US$ 60). Shown alongside is the popular Wireless Access Device manufactured by NetGear.

NOTE: The Wireless Access Point is independent of the type of Modem you have - it works well with Leased Lines, Broadband ADSL lines as well as Cable Internet. The function of the Wireless Access Point is to convert the wired signals (both incoming as well as outgoing) into wireless signals. As mentioned earlier, the Wireless Access Point works well, if the distance between the Access Point and the computer or Wi-Fi-enabled device is under 100 meters. In case there are walls or other obstacles in the way, this range is significantly reduced! For best signal strength, place the Access Point at a high level (on top of the cupboard, for example) and roughly in the center of the perimeter of devices that will be accessing Wi-Fi services

Apart from converting wired signals into wireless signals, Access Points also perform the function of Routers, letting you connect up to 3 more devices using Network Cables. 

NetGear Wireless Access Point

WGR614 v6

The alternative - specially if you do not want too many devices cluttering up your workstation - is to go in for an integrated ADSL Modem-Access Point-Router, like the one manufactured by LinkSys, shown to the right here. Such devices cost in the range of INR 7,500/- (US$ 130).

Following are the advantages of using Integrated Wi-Fi devices:

  • Take up less space, since there just a single device

  • Less clutter of wires since there is just a single device

  • Easier to set up - with separate devices, you need to first set up the Modem and then, set it up all over again for the Wireless Access Point

If you thought the Integrated device has no disadvantage, here is a list of its disadvantages:

  • Integrated devices cost a little more than a separate ADSL Modem and Wireless Access Point. This seems to be unreasonable - perhaps the profits on Integrated devices are a lot more, hiking up its end-user price...

  • Perhaps more importantly, if any of the individual devices (the Modem, the Access Point or the Router) go down in an integrated device, you have to either purchase a second integrated device or purchase the Modem and the Access Point-cum-Router separately!

In terms of the two important parameters - namely Connection Speed and Signal Strength, there is no difference between Integrated devices and separate devices.

LinkSys' Integrated Wi-Fi Device

WRT54G-AU

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of Wi-Fi solutions?

Here are the important advantages and disadvantages with Wi-Fi solutions:

Advantages of Wi-Fi Solutions

Disadvantages of Wi-Fi Solutions

Flexible Working: 

Access the Internet, do File Transfers, even Print from anywhere within 100 meters of the Wi-Fi Access Point.

Password and Security: 

It is important to secure your Wi-Fi connection at home or the office. Otherwise, anyone with a Wi-Fi-enabled computer can access your data and Internet connection! Password-protecting your Wi-Fi connection is an easy process and once you set up all your Computers and devices to access your Wi-Fi network, you do not need to type in passwords each time thereafter.

Reduce Cable Clutter: 

Reduce the clutter of wires and cables behind your Desktop/ Notebook

Reduce Setup Cost: 

If you are setting up a new office, you can reduce the IT setup cost by implementing Wi-Fi - you can save the cost of cabling and the cost on Network sockets

Signal Strength Sensitivity: 

Wi-Fi Networks are sensitive to signal strength. To ensure good connectivity, you must ensure that all computers and gadgets receive adequate signal strength at all times

Avoid Deterioration with Time: 

Network Cables and Sockets tend to deteriorate over time, while Wi-Fi does not have this disadvantage

Effect of Climatic Conditions: 

Wi-Fi signals are likely to be adversely affected by climatic conditions such as thunderstorms.

Eliminate Re-configuring Computers: 

If you have more than one office location and your staff travel between offices, installing Wi-Fi Networks at each location makes good sense. Your staff can then access the Internet and Network at all locations, without having to re-configure their Internet settings each time

Increased number of Network Devices:

You are increasing the number of devices on your Network, by incorporating a Wi-Fi Access point (this is a must, for Wi-Fi access). Also, you will need a power socket to plug in and power the Wi-Fi Access Point. 

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What are the different methods for implementing a Wi-Fi solution and what is recommended?

 

What is the cost of setting up a Wi-Fi solution?