CNET's guide to going wireless
| Finding the right network |  | |
Choosing standards | | |
Matching components | | |
Expanding your network | | |
Secure your network | | |
Network entertainment |
With
so many possible ways to build a network, it pays to home in on the
solution that best suits your needs before you buy. These user profiles
will start you off in the right direction.
Usage types: Home network | Home-office network or telecommuter | Online gaming and entertainment | Hot-spot hopper | Internet services provider | Bluetooth broker
Usage types: Home network | Home-office network or telecommuter | Online gaming and entertainment | Hot-spot hopper | Internet services provider | Bluetooth broker
 Home network  | ||||||||||||||
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You can get ample bandwidth for sharing a broadband Internet
connection without spending much. Even the slowest wireless gear is
several times faster than cable or DSL. You may prefer to buy a kit
that includes all of the basic networking gear, but you can also buy
the components separately and connect them together. Exactly what you
need will depend on how many systems you want to connect and where they
are located.
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Home-office network or telecommuter
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If you use your home as an office, you need a robust network with
reliable security. Wireless routers typically offer some protection,
but a software firewall can provide an additional safeguard for your
data. If you need to access your network from remote locations on
business trips, you may even want to invest in a hardware VPN (virtual
private network) firewall so that you can securely access your home
network over the Internet.
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Online gaming and entertainment
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If you want to be able to transfer large files over the network while
streaming audio from a computer to your stereo or if you like to play
bandwidth-intensive, multiplayer games, set your sights on a
high-bandwidth solution, such as Ethernet, 802.11a, or dual band.
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Hot-spot hopper
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Business travelers can now stay connected anywhere using wireless hot
spots. Whether you are in an airport, a cafe, a public park, a shopping
mall, or a parking lot, you may find yourself smack-dab in the middle
of a public or commercial hot spot. With the right gear, hot-spot
hopping is easy. Opt for a PC Card with a sensitive antenna, an
external antenna connector, or a high-power output, and find out which
wireless ISPs are available in your area.
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Internet services provider
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You don't need to be a rocket scientist to connect two or more houses
wirelessly or to share an Internet connection with an entire building
or neighborhood. Whether your objectives are philanthropic or
commercial, building a hot spot can be done for less than the cost of a
high-end notebook.
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Bluetooth broker
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You don't need a full-blown local-area network to sync up your PDA with
your computer or to transfer photos from your notebook to your printer.
Bluetooth is designed for just such casual, close-range connections.
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| Finding the right network | | |
Choosing standards | | |
Matching components | | |
Expanding your network | | |
Secure your network | | |
Network entertainment |
Settling
on a standard is one of the most important decisions you'll make while
putting together your network. The standard you choose influences
everything, including the speed, the features, the reach, and the cost
of your network. Making sense out of the alphabet soup of wireless
technologies can be daunting, but here's a quick guide to what you need
to know.
Networking standards: 802.11b | 802.11a | 802.11g | Dual band | Bluetooth | HomePlug | Ethernet
Networking standards: 802.11b | 802.11a | 802.11g | Dual band | Bluetooth | HomePlug | Ethernet
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Network standards at a glance
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802.11b | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 802.11b standard is the most popular wireless LAN, and gear based
on it has dropped dramatically in price over the last year. It operates
at 2.4GHz and offers a real-world throughput of around 5Mbps at close
range. In a typical indoor environment, without a lot of metal, it can
generally maintain a solid connection up to about 150 feet. It is also
fully compatible with the faster 802.11g standard. The weaknesses of
802.11b are its comparatively low throughput and the potential for
interference with other gadgets that share the 2.4GHz band, such as
cordless phones, security radios, and microwaves.
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802.11a | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 802.11a standard has a couple of advantages over the more widely
used 802.11b. It runs at a less populated frequency (5.15GHz to
5.35GHz) and thus, is less prone to interference, and its practical
throughput is about four times greater than that of 802.11b, typically
clocking in at around 22Mbps. This gives it a lot more elbowroom than
802.11b for streaming digital audio and video or transferring large
files over the network, with bandwidth left over for Internet sharing.
Some manufacturers offer proprietary turbo modes that can push
throughput even higher. 802.11a's downside is its shorter range.
Because 802.11b and 802.11a operate at different frequencies, they
can't talk directly to one another, which is why if you have an 802.11a
adapter, you cannot connect to most hot spots. Another weakness is the
increased power drain of the 5GHz radio, as compared to its 2.4GHz
counterparts.
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802.11g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 802.11g standard, long touted as the high-performance successor to
802.11b, was ratified in June 2003, but networking manufacturers
flooded the market with 802.11g gear months before the final
specification was approved as a standard. Most of the gear that was
sold prior to ratification will need a firmware upgrade to bring it up
to the final spec. 802.11g has two features that many believe will make
it the new dominant Wi-Fi standard: great throughput at around 22Mbps
and backward compatibility with 802.11b. That's right; 802.11g operates
at the same frequency as 802.11b (2.4GHz) and is backward compatible
with the granddaddy of Wi-Fi specs. This makes 802.11g the obvious
choice not only for anyone building a new network, but also for those
interested in adding onto or gradually upgrading a preexisting 802.11b
network. The only downside to 802.11g is the fact that it uses a
crowded slice of the spectrum, with room for only three nonoverlapping
channels. This will make 802.11a a better choice for some environments,
especially those populated with devices that share the 2.4GHz spectrum,
such as cordless phones, baby monitors, microwave ovens, and Bluetooth
radios.
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Dual band | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Wouldn't it be nice if you could get all of the 802.11 standards into
a single device? The latest wave of dual-band networking equipment
gives you just that. 802.11a/b/g gear operates at both 2.4GHz and 5GHz
and gives you the advantages of all three standards. You get the speed
and the resistance to interference of 802.11a, the broad compatibility
and the increased range of 802.11b, and the increased throughput of
802.11g--but you pay for it. Dual-band gear can cost more than twice as
much as its single-band counterparts, but for some, the added
flexibility will be worth the heftier price tag.
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Bluetooth
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Bluetooth offers more flexibility than Wi-Fi but on a smaller scale.
Its throughput is a poky 500Kbps, and its range is just a couple dozen
feet, but devices with a Bluetooth radio and an antenna can speak to
each other with little or no preparation. With better range and no
strict line-of-sight requirement, Bluetooth is poised to replace
infrared as the instant-transfer mode of choice. Meeting attendees can
immediately transfer files across a conference table using their
Bluetooth-equipped notebooks, or they can send a file to a
Bluetooth-equipped printer without downloading drivers. Bluetooth may
soon be standard equipment on many cell phones and handheld computers.
There's even talk of putting Bluetooth into home appliances. But for
all the theoretical benefits of Bluetooth, the reality is that it's
currently a mess of incompatible hardware and software. Because
Bluetooth operates at 2.4GHz, it is subject to the same interference
problems as 802.11b and 802.11g.
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HomePlug | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Power-line gear may be the best-kept secret in home networking. Though
overshadowed by Wi-Fi, power-line networking (also known by the brand
name of HomePlug) is a good solution either as an alternative to
wireless or as a way to extend a wireless network to the far reaches of
a home. Devices based on the HomePlug standard use your home's
electrical wiring to connect a digital network. At throughput speeds of
around 5Mbps, HomePlug routers and adapters are plenty fast enough to
share a broadband connection between a few computers. The power-line
solution is also a great way of connecting wireless access points in a
large house or building.
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Ethernet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Nothing tops Ethernet for speed and reliability, and Ethernet also has
the advantage of being a lot cheaper to deploy than power line or any
flavor of wireless. Most computers already have Ethernet adapters built
in, but unfortunately, most homes do not. Still, if you are after high
bandwidth, it's worth considering pulling Ethernet cable through your
home. Even if you decide not to cable your home for Ethernet, you might
find that an Ethernet hub or switch is a good complement to your
wireless network. In fact, many wireless routers come with a four-port
Ethernet switch built in.
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| Finding the right network | | |
Choosing standards | | |
Matching components | | |
Expanding your network | | |
Secure your network | | |
Network entertainment |
Figuring
out what gear you'll need to build your network can be a challenge.
We'll help you put together the pieces of the puzzle.
Networking components: Routers | Access points | Adapters | Switches and hubs
Networking components: Routers | Access points | Adapters | Switches and hubs
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Routers |
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Routers act as
the gateway between your broadband connection and your home network.
Wireless routers come in various configurations, but most are
amalgamations of a four-port wired Ethernet switch and a wireless
access point. As the name implies, these devices route traffic around
your network and onto the Internet by assigning addresses to each
computer on your network and steering them to the actual static or
dynamic Internet address given by your ISP. Most routers also have
firewall capabilities, and some include more advanced security
features. Some routers even have an integrated cable or DSL modem,
eliminating your need for two separate devices.
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Access points |
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The access point is the hub of a wireless network and the central
transit point for all of the data flowing between your wireless network
and the Internet. There are as many types of access points as there are
networking standards--802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, dual band, and
Bluetooth. Wireless access points do not offer the rich feature set and
the high configurability of most routers because they are designed to
add a wireless extension to your network and not to play the role of a
central gateway. Nevertheless, access points do typically include some
security features, such as encryption.
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Adapters |
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An adapter connects your computer or your PDA to a network. If your
computer doesn't already have the adapter that you need built in, you
can add one. As with access points, there are as many types of adapters
as there are networking standards--802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, dual
band, and Bluetooth--and each type comes in a variety of shapes and
sizes, including PC Cards, PCI and mini-PCI, USB, and CompactFlash.
Some wireless adapters are decked out with special features, such as
retractable or removable antennae, encryption support, or
connection-monitoring software. Before making your purchase, always
confirm that the adapter is compatible with your operating system. If
you plan to use an adapter at work, you should also check to ensure
that it is compatible with any security protocols in use, such as LEAP
or WPA.
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Switches and hubs |
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Ethernet is
the glue that holds together most networks. It's fast and cheap, and it
is integrated into just about everything. If you need to expand your
network, an Ethernet hub or switch can come in very handy since most
desktops and notebooks include a built-in Ethernet adapter.
Accordingly, most wireless broadband routers come with a three- or
four-port Ethernet switch built in, allowing you to connect to the
router via a fast, wired Ethernet connection. Switches and hubs perform
similar functions, but switches can handle multiple simultaneous users
without any significant decrease in network throughput. |
| Finding the right network | | |
Choosing standards | | |
Matching components | | |
Expanding your network | | |
Secure your network | | |
Network entertainment |
You
may already have a home network and now want to connect it with your
friend's network across the street, or perhaps you want to create a
public hot spot to draw customers to your business. With the right
equipment, you can expand your network for more extensive coverage in
your own home or bridge the digital divide in your neighborhood by
starting a community network.
Networking components: Wireless bridges | Antennae | Signal boosters | Repeaters
Networking components: Wireless bridges | Antennae | Signal boosters | Repeaters
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Wireless bridges | ||
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A bridge connects two or more wireless networks in a large home,
across the street, or across campus. Bridges attach networks together
either through point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connections. Not
long ago, bridges were expensive high-end products, but now you can
find consumer bridges at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, this
technology varies based on the chipset and the firmware, so bridges
tend to work only with other bridges of the same type and model. If you
decide you want to bridge two networks, we suggest you settle on a
brand and stick with it.
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Antennae | ||
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The best way to increase the range of your wireless network is to add
a better antenna. Antennae transmit signals in different ways. For
example, if you want to share Internet access with your immediate
neighbors, install an omnidirectional antenna on your roof. If you want
to cover a specific location, such as the park across the street, a
directional antenna works best. For faraway areas, you will need a
high-gain antenna capable of bridging the gap. In general, the higher
the gain of the antenna, the further its reach will be. Look for an
antenna that has been certified by the FCC to work with the router, the
access point, or the adapter that you plan to use with it. Also be sure
that the antenna has the right type of connector to mate with the
connector on your networking gear.
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Signal boosters | ||
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Signal boosters can increase your range by amplifying the radio signal
on your access point or router. This can give you the added range
you're looking for if your signal stops just short of where you want it
to go. There are legal power limits on the 2.4GHz radios inside
wireless networking gear, so you'll need to check to see whether an
FCC-certified signal booster is available for your specific device.
Signal boosters amplify both the signal and the noise coming out of the
radio and can increase interference problems with other 2.4GHz devices,
which makes using an antenna a more elegant and more neighborly means
of extending your range.
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Repeaters | ||
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As a digital signal travels down a cable or through the air, it
gradually gets weaker. To get the signal to go farther, you need a
device that can pick it up, then send it off again at full strength.
Repeaters do just this. Repeaters are easy to confuse with bridges, and
in fact, some access points and bridges include a repeater mode that
allows the device to receive a signal from another access point and
repeat it to adapters or other access points within its range. However,
some bridges are capable only of talking to other bridges. Look
carefully at the feature set to see if the product you are considering
offers a repeater mode.
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| Finding the right network | | |
Choosing standards | | |
Matching components | | |
Expanding your network | | |
Secure your network | | |
Network entertainment |
The
components and the layout of your network will determine what you'll
need to secure local computers, but some things are musts for any
network that is connected to the Internet. A few simple preemptive
measures can go a long way toward protecting your data and keeping your
systems safe.
Security measures: Basic security | Antivirus software | Software firewalls | Hardware firewalls
Security measures: Basic security | Antivirus software | Software firewalls | Hardware firewalls
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Basic security features | ||
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The first step to securing your network is to use the standard
features that are built into your gear. Many networking devices come
with security features that will protect your network against hacker
attacks. If you are buying a broadband router, look for one with a NAT
firewall and MAC address filtering. NAT firewalls conceal your network
behind the router, and MAC address filtering allows you to grant or
deny access to your network to specific machines. NAT usually runs
automatically and requires no configuration. MAC address filtering
requires you to enter the MAC addresses of the computers you want to
allow or deny. Wireless-networking devices typically include WEP or WPA
encryption. Both forms of encryption help protect your network, but WPA
is much more secure than WEP. To implement WEP or WPA, you'll need to
enter an encryption key on all of the wireless devices on your network;
the product user manual typically includes a detailed explanation of
how to do this. Some wireless devices add authentication schemes, such
as 802.1x or LEAP, but these technologies are better suited to large
enterprises than home or small-office use.
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Antivirus software | ||
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A home or office network makes it easy for you to share files between
computers, but that also makes it easier for viruses and worms to wind
their way through your computers. Fortunately, you can immunize your
computers with antivirus software. Antivirus software detects and
eradicates viruses before they have a chance to spread. If you plan to
connect your network to the Internet, antivirus software is a must.
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Software firewalls | ||
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When you open an e-mail message, an e-mail server somewhere on the
Internet is sending the data to a certain port on your computer. A Web
server uses a different port on your computer to send you a Web page,
and an instant messenger yet another to send you a message. These are
software ports, so you can't see them, but trust us, they're there. A
firewall manages the data traffic coming to and flowing from your
computer on specific ports--sometimes allowing data to get through,
sometimes blocking it, and other times asking you if you want to permit
a connection that is about to be opened. Most firewalls include a
general set of rules about what is and what is not allowed, others may
allow you to set your own rules.
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Hardware firewalls | ||
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A hardware firewall works the same way as a software firewall but has
certain other advantages. Whereas a software firewall must be installed
on each computer in your network, a hardware firewall centralizes the
control of connections between your network and the Internet, so you
can be sure that all of the machines on your network are playing by the
same rules. Hardware firewalls also use their own processors for port
filtering and encryption tasks, which means that there is little or no
resource drain on the computers in your network, giving you better
overall performance. Some firewalls also allow you to set up VPN
connections from the Internet to your personal LAN, providing you with
a secure way to access your computers while you're on the road.
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| Finding the right network | | |
Choosing standards | | |
Matching components | | |
Expanding your network | | |
Secure your network | | |
Network entertainment |
Today,
home networks are used primarily to connect PCs for performing
traditional tasks, such as sharing an Internet connection, exchanging
files, and printing. But it won't be long before these same networks
will be used to transport all types of data, including audio and video,
to a wide range of gadgets throughout the home. In fact, this is
already becoming a reality. With the right components, you can stream
MP3s directly to your stereo and connect your gaming console to your
home network.
Media adapters and gateways: Digital audio receivers | Media streaming servers | Gaming consoles | Presentation gateways
Media adapters and gateways: Digital audio receivers | Media streaming servers | Gaming consoles | Presentation gateways
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Digital audio receivers | ||
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Adding your stereo to your home network is easy, thanks to a new type
of networking device called a digital audio receiver, or DAR. A DAR
sends music from your PC to your stereo using any one of a number of
networking protocols: wired Ethernet, 802.11b, FM, USB, HomeRF, and/or
phone-line networking. These vary a great deal in terms of design and
features, so it's a good idea to research them all before choosing one.
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| Media Streaming Servers | ||
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These devices utilize the latest wireless networking technology. With a streaming server, your computer becomes the entertainment central of the entire house, granting you the cable-free freedom to watch DivX videos or listen to MP3s from the living room or any room in the house. What's more, setting up a wireless media streaming device is no more difficult than programming a VCR.
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| Gaming consoles | ||
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Some gaming consoles, such as the Microsoft Xbox, come with a built-in
Ethernet jack, making them network ready. Not every home is cabled for
Ethernet, though. Fortunately, there is an easy way around this that
allows you to place your console next to your TV and hook it up to the
network without stringing Ethernet cable across the room: just attach a
wireless bridge to the console, and it will play happily with the rest
of your network.
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Wireless presentation gateways | ||
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Presentation gateways provide a central networking node for the
distribution of digital and audio content. You connect the wireless
presentation gateway to a projector or a monitor, and, after doing so,
anyone can connect wirelessly to the gateway to display images, slide
shows, or other content on the screen. Some gateways come with internal
memory and allow you to store a presentation directly onto the device
so that you can leave your computer at home and take your show on the
road.
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