Why Wi-Fi?


The Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) was formed specifically to test products from different manufacturers that are subjected to stringent testing to ensure interoperability. The brand name chosen by WECA that will be used for these products is Wi-Fi ("Wireless Fidelity"). You can access the organization's Web site at www.weca.net. There you'll see that the new name of the organization is the Wi-Fi Alliance.

Although the original Wi-Fi organization was created to encourage testing for interoperability for 802.11b products, the scope of the organization has continued to expand to include new wireless products. This organization now tests 802.11a products, as well as 802.11b. For example, in the following chapter you'll learn that 802.11a products are now called Wi-Fi 5. Note that Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 5 are not names assigned by the IEEE, but are instead names used to signify that the products have passed tests for interoperability and can use the Wi-Fi designation to make it easier for consumers to purchase equipment.

Thus, when you hear a product advertised as Wi-Fi, you can be assured that it's based on IEEE 802.11b and that it should work with other products that have the Wi-Fi logo. At this time IEEE 802.11b is the most popular wireless networking technology, and the hardware is very inexpensive. This is because the technology has been around for a few years , and as manufacturing ramps up, costs come down. If you want a wireless network for your home, a few IEEE 802.11b network cards and, if needed, one or more Access Points are all you need. You can buy all the parts separately, though some manufacturers sell kits that contain two or more adapters and an AP, at computer stores. If you aren't in a hurry, a quick search on the Internet can point you to vendors that sell the same equipment at discounted rates. After you've obtained the parts, you can have a network up and running in an hour or two ”all for about $150 (depending on the number of computers in your home network that will need a wireless network adapter card).

While the IEEE was still debating (seemingly endlessly) about the specifications for the IEEE 802.11a standard, the working group for the 802.11b standard got to the finish line first. For this reason, don't get confused now that the newer 802.11a products are starting to hit the shelves at higher prices. Prices will continue to drop as did those for 802.11b hardware. You can also decide to use 802.g hardware, as discussed in Chapter 22, "The IEEE 802.11g Standard." This standard can operate in both the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz spectrums , and even in a mixed-mode with computers using either frequency. IEEE 802.11g can also serve as an upgrade path for your network. You can replace older, slower 802.11b devices with 802.11g hardware as your budget allows.

This scenario seems familiar, doesn't it? When the prices for both 10Mbps and 100Mbps wired Ethernet began to penetrate the home or small office, these technologies became commodity items. Hubs and switches that used to cost thousands of dollars dropped tenfold or more. Wired switches followed the same path as hubs, and they are now the main wired network connectivity hardware used to centralize wiring in a wired network. The same thing has happened for wireless networks. Other wireless networking will follow this path, as 802.11b products already have.



Upgrading and Repairing Networks
Upgrading and Repairing Networks (5th Edition)
ISBN: 078973530X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 434

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