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wireless

Another emerging tecnology, wireless is also on its way to becoming a standard everywhere, though it not yet so. Wireless technology is still very much in its infancy compared with other networking technologies, and this is evidenced by the enormous amount of different kinds of wireless and how rapidly they change. Consider this: wired technology standards [i.e. Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet] has only undergone about 4 changes in the last 8 or so years, whereas wireless networking standards have changed 4 times in the last 3 years. The frequency of change in the technology world is often an indication of the maturity [or lack thereof] of a certain technology.

the tortoise and the hare

range
speed
notes
Wireless A [802.11a]
high
high
 Wireless A is on the way out. There were a lot of problems with compatibility, and other, better standards have emerged.

This is the BetaCam of Wireless.
Wireless B [802.11b]
low
low
 Wireless B is the oldest and most tested wireless standard, and is still the de-facto standard among public access points.

This is the VHS of Wireless.
Wireless G [802.11g]
higher
high
 Wireless G emerged after A, and has the same speed as A, but is backwards compatible with B.

This is the DVD/VCR Combo of Wireless.
Wireless MIMO
highest
highest
 Wireless MIMO [Muli-In,Multi-Out] is a very new technology that uses multiple antennas to boost speed and range.

This is the HDTV of Wireless.

who wins the race?

The answers is Wireless G. While the promises of MIMO are big, it is not a proven technology. Wireless G is proven, is backwards compatible with older computers who just have Wireless B, and provides decent signal strength.

For Wireless G, I recommend Netgear. Through the studies I have read, Netgear consistently has the best range among consumer wireless products and they are very easy to use. In addition, but Charter Cable and Comcast cable in the Southeast have had issues with Linksys wireless routers requiring patches.
secure your wireless

People with Wireless Routers in their house often face a dilemma: How do I give access to friends and their computers without giving access to everyone else? The answer is security.

The simplest way is to turn off SSID broadcast. This means your wireless network will not be found by a computer scanning for it, but it can be added manually. Tell you friends the name of your wireless network and they can get on, without having to fool with passwords or other methods.

802.11b is all you need

I get this question all the time. Will Wireless G speed up the internet? The answer is yes and no. Consumer DSL in the US runs at 1.5mpbs max, and if you have cable, you may get up to 3mpbs max. Wireless B runs at 11mbps, so it is plenty for internet browsing and email.