What is Wireless Networking?

It is a type of networking technology that allows computers to communicate with other computers (as well as other wireless-equipped devices) without using cables. Instead, wireless networking uses radio signals to receive and transmit data between wireless access points and wireless network cards operating on the 2.4 GHz frequency band.

Each wireless device exchanges signals with an Access Point, also called a Router. Access points, in turn, communicate with other network devices. An Access Point is typically a piece of hardware, but solutions are also available that allow a computer with a wireless card to act as an Access Point.

Below you will find instructions on setting up a wireless network and will help you to understand the impact that a wireless infrastructure may play in your companies networking solution.

• Educating yourself about the benefits of a wireless network may help in your decision to install a network solution. Things to consider are the fact that wired networks have definite limits on signal strength thus making your system slower and less productive. Another factor is that wired networks are more difficult to expand upon and can be much more expensive to reconfigure or upgrade. As your company grows, a wireless infrastructure is a much more flexible alternative making a reconfiguration easily workable and affordable.
  

• A factor that scares many business owners is that the LAN hardware and software is more expensive than that of a cabled connection. But the costs are offset by lowered installation costs and far superior mobility creating better productivity.
  

• Before jumping into a costly infrastructure change. It may not be a bad idea to bring in a contracted IT professional specializing in wireless technology to help you determine if a wireless solution is right for your company. This will also be helpful if you need help determining what equipment or other resources will be needed to suit your business needs.

Once you have a plan its time to set it up. Two basic components needed are:

1. Wireless LAN Client Adapters: 
   Wireless LAN client adapters can increase productivity by enabling mobile users to have network and Internet access anywhere within a building that is equipped with a wireless network infrastructure.
   

2. Wireless Access Point:
   A wireless access point (WAP or AP) is a device that "connects" wireless communication devices together to create a wireless network. A wireless access point acts as the network's arbitrator, negotiating when each nearby client device can transmit. The WAP is also usually connected to a wired network, and can relay data between devices on each side.

Now lets build the wireless LAN:

• Purchase your equipment such as:
  

  • Wireless Notebooks

  • Access Points 

  • Wireless LAN Adapters

  • Wireless Cards.
    

• Determine the number of users who'll need to have access to the network. This will be the determining factor on the amount of access points needed.
  

• Placement of your wired LAN is critical. The obvious goal is to maximize the access point's wireless range. A usual range is a maximum of 300 feet, but many environment factors come into play, such as, walls, water pipes, cables or anything that could produce interference thus decreasing the range. Try to keep to a range of around 150 feet. This will create a greater throughput (A measure of the data transfer rate through a typically complex communications system or of the data-processing rate in a computer system).
  

• Configure your wireless devices to work with your network.

Before you go live with your new network, ensure that you test the installation using link test software. Test for signal strength, percentage of data sent correctly and the time it takes to receive a response from the destination device.

Make sure that you provide security for your new LAN. Wireless communications are transmitted through the air making it very easy to extract information, providing you do not have network security. There are many wireless-specific security solutions that you can implement. The three basic security tactics used are:

1. MAC:
   Medium Access Control: In a WLAN network card, the MAC is radio controller protocol. It corresponds to the ISO Network Model's level 2 Data Link layer. The IEEE 802.11 standard specifies the MAC protocol for medium sharing, packets formats and addressing, and error detection. 
   

2. WEP Encryption:
   Short for Wired Equivalent Privacy- a security protocol for wireless local area networks (WLANs) defined in the 802.11b standard. WEP is designed to provide the same level of security as that of a wired LAN. 
   

3. Traditional VPN:
   Virtual Private Network - A way to communicate through a dedicated server securely to a corporate network over the internet. Windows NT, 2000 and XP offer native VPN support. Also, VPNs are recommended to secure 802.11b wireless LANs as well.