Going Wireless

Q. I have been hearing so much about this new Centrino Technology. What is it?

A. Intel has launched its new Centrino™ mobile technology. Intel’s intent is to improve and enhance your laptop experience. Laptops with this technology can be thinner and lighter, while being faster than ever. Also, the battery life is extended. However, the most dramatic feature is the built-in Wireless LAN capability. This means you can connect to the corporate LAN or the Internet using a Wireless Access Point, all without plugging in any wires or adding an additional wireless card. The technology uses the 802.11b standard. While that may not mean anything to you now, it is important to know when the time comes to try and connect to your LAN or the Internet.

One of the things to watch for in conjunction with Centrino is Wireless “Hot Spots”. Intel is working with places like McDonalds to have Wireless Access Points to the Internet. Imagine surfing the web while enjoying a Big Mac. Watch during the weeks and months to come for more of these “Hot Spots” to pop up.

Q. What is the difference between 802.11b and these other wireless technologies?

A. First, 802.11b is the “standard” that has been out the longest and is the most recognized. It operates in the 2.4 Gigahertz frequency range and offers speeds up to 11 Megabytes per second. This is considerably slower than the 100 Megabytes per second speed available on “Wired Networks” that we have grown accustomed to. The industry has strived to overcome the speed differences. The answer to this currently is two new standards. The 802.11a and 802.11g are the two new standards. I will try and explain both of them.

The 802.11g standard is derived from the 802.11b standard. It operates on the same frequency as the 802.11b standard but offers data rates up to 54 Megabytes per second. Due to backwards compatibility, the new 802.11g cards will work on either the 802.11b or the 802.11g standards. It will adhere to whatever speed the standard allows.

Some things to keep in mind, the 802.11g standard has less range than that of the 802.11b. If you are upgrading an existing wireless network, this could pose problems in an area that may already be weak. Also, both standards are subject to interference from other 2.4 Gigahertz devices such as cordless phones, etc.

The 802.11a standard operates at the 5 Gigahertz frequencies and offers speeds of 54 Megabytes per second. The same speed as the 802.11g but with a reduced range limited to about 80 feet. The major drawback is it is not backwards compatible at all. The other two types of cards will not work on this new standard.

The major benefit is it is a lot freer from interference due to lack of other devices operating in the same bandwidth. Also, there are other benefits like multiplexing devices that I won’t get into.

The main thing you should consider before purchasing is whether you are expanding an existing wireless network or starting one from scratch. Each standard has its place and maybe consulting with a knowledgeable network engineer before purchasing would help you make the right wireless decision

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