Wireless Networking Wi-Fi standards, explained
Wireless Standards | 802.11a | 802.11b | 802.11g
SuperG 108Mbps | Scenarios
Wireless Networking allows for two or more computers to communicate using standard network protocols but without the cables. There are two types of wireless networks Ad-hoc or peer-to-peer, to perform each computer needs to have a wireless network card installed and once setup they can access shared folders and communicate with the other computers on the Wireless LAN.
Wireless connectivity can be added to existing computers by a USB, PCMCIA, PCI, wireless adapters or a separate Access point. Alternatively if you have a main PC which is connected to your ADSL/Cable connection you can use an ADSL/Cable router.
If you wish to add wireless to an existing office networked environment you can add an access point which will allow users to connect wirelessly to the access point and any other network locations you permit. For this type of use you should of course ensure you have security policys in place.
Wireless Standards - 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g
The original wireless networking standard was finalised in the late nineties called IEEE 802.11, this standard meant that makers could work to a code to ensure wireless devices from other companies would be compatible with each other.
802.11b - In 1999 the IEEE expanded on the standard to form 802.11b this supported up to 11Mbps compared to the lower original 802.11 standard. This newer version now closely matched the traditional Ethernet standard. The technology works by using radio frequencies and the band it uses is 2.4 GHz this may not mean a great deal but as it is unregulated it can suffer from interference from cordless phones, microwaves and anything else using the same 2.4GHz range.
For: lowest cost, good signal range and strength
Against: slow speed, especially if you intend to have simultaneous connections, possible interference with other radio wave devices.
