you’re free to find LANs in many homes, schools, and businesses.
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fiis an industry name for networking products.
You’ll find a black-and-white Wi-Fi logo or certification emblem on virtually any newwireless equipmentyou buy.
Lifewire / Julie Bang
Technically speaking, Wi-Fi signifies conformance to the 802.11 family of wireless communication standards.
802.11ac, 802.11b/g/n, and 802.11a
802.11ac, 802.11b/g/n, and 802.11arepresent popular wireless communication standards.
What are WEP, WPA and Wardriving?
Atlantic Technology
The security of wireless home and small business networks remains a concern for many.
Years ago, some techies popularized the practice of wardriving to raise awareness of this vulnerability in WLANs.
WEPwas an essential feature of wireless networks that improved internet security.
WEPencryptsnetwork traffic mathematically so that other computers can understand it, but humans can’t read it.
WEP technology became obsolete some years back, andWPA and other security options have replaced it.
WPA protects your WLAN from wardrivers and nosy neighbors, and today, all popular wireless equipment supports it.
Kristina Vanni
Wireless adapters are sometimes calledNICs, short forNetwork Interface Cards.
Wireless adapters for desktop computers are often smallPCIcards or sometimes card-likeUSB adapters.
Wireless adapters for notebook computers resemble a thick credit card.
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Wireless web connection adapters contain a radio transmitter and receiver (transceiver).
Determininghow many wireless web link adapters you better buyis the first step in building your home web link.
Check the technical specifications of your computers if you’re unsure whether they contain built-in wireless adapter chips.
Wireless Access Points
A wireless access point serves as the central WLAN communication station.
These are sometimes called base stations.
Access points are thin, lightweight boxes with a series of LED lights on the face.
Access points join a wireless LAN to a pre-existing, wiredEthernetnetwork.
You must use either an access point or a wireless router to implement hybrid wired and wireless home networking.
Otherwise, you probably don’t need an access point.
Wireless Routers
A wireless router is an access point with other useful functions.
Like wired broadband routers, wireless routers supportinternet connection sharingand include firewall technology for improved online grid security.
Wireless routers closely resemble access points.
A key benefit of both wireless routers and access points is scalability.
A router’s robust, built-in transceivers can spread a wireless signal throughout a home.
Likewise, home wireless networks with a router or access point support more computers than those without one.
Wireless routers are a good choice when building your firsthome data pipe.
It’s essential tochoose the proper hardwarewhen you’re setting up.
Some wireless antennas, like those on adapters, are internal to the unit.
Other antennas, like those on many access points, are externally visible.
The normal antennas shipped with wireless products provide sufficient reception in most cases.
Still, you’re free to install an optional, add-on antenna to improve reception.
Wireless Signal Boosters
Some manufacturers of wireless access points and routers sell signal boosters.
A signal booster increases the strength of the base station transmitter.
It’s possible to use signal boosters andadd-on antennasto improve wireless web link transmission and reception simultaneously.
They can bring out-of-range computers into the WLAN range, and they also improve internet performance in some cases.
Connect the wireless router to a power outlet and optionally to a source of internet connectivity.
All modern wireless routers support broadband modems.
In Wi-Fi networking, thenetwork nameis often called theSSID.
Although routers ship with a default name, it’s best tochange it for security reasons.
Consult product documentation to find the online grid name for your wireless router.
The router and all computers on the WLAN must share the same SSID.
Install a Wireless Access Point
One wireless access point supports one WLAN.
Connect power and cable the access point to your LAN router, switch, or hub.
Insert the adapters into your computers as explained in the product documentation.
Wi-Fi adapters require that you installTCP/IPon the host computer.
Manufacturers provide configuration utilities for their adapters.
The GUI is where you set the online grid name (SSID) and turn on WEP.
it’s possible for you to also set a few other parameters.
All wireless adapters must use the same parameter tweaks for your WLAN to function properly.
Set every wireless adapter for infrastructure mode.
Alternatively, set all wireless adapters to use ad hoc mode.
When you enable this mode, you see a separate setting forchannel number.
All adapters on your ad hoc wireless LAN need matching channel numbers.
Ad-hoc home WLAN configurations work fine in homes with only a few computers situated fairly close to each other.
That computer keeps the modem connection and must be on when you use the web link.
Microsoft Windows offers a feature calledInternet Connection Sharing (ICS)that works with ad-hoc WLANs.
This problem usually happens when both households set conflicting communication channels.
Onlyusing different channel numbersdoesn’t always solve the problem.
Some gear might not support this higher level of protection, though.
Ordinary WPA works well on most networks and is a suitable fallback alternative to WPA3.
Avoid using older WEP technologies when possible, except as a last resort.
WEP helps prevent people from casually logging in to your online grid but offers minimal protection against attackers.
Keep your passphrase secret, as others can join your online grid if they know the code.
A significant amount of Wi-Fi data pipe bandwidth goes to the overhead that you cannot control.
