What is a Wireless Network?
Wireless networking is the use of radio frequency signals to connect portable workstations – such as laptops or PDAs – to an Ethernet LAN. The present standard for wireless Ethernet is called 802.11B/G & A which specifies an 11/54 Megabit/second data transmission rate. Today’s wireless networks are composed of two primary components, an access point and a wireless PCMCIA adapter client. An access point converts the wired Ethernet signals to radio waves and are typically installed in ceilings or mounted high in a wall. The wireless PCMCIA client looks and acts like a regular Ethernet card but the antenna protrudes slightly from the laptop and the battery life of the laptop is slightly decreased.
Wireless networking is the use of radio frequency signals to connect portable workstations – such as laptops or PDAs – to an Ethernet LAN. The present standard for wireless Ethernet is called 802.11B/G & A which specifies an 11/54 Megabit/second data transmission rate. Today’s wireless networks are composed of two primary components, an access point and a wireless PCMCIA adapter client. An access point converts the wired Ethernet signals to radio waves and are typically installed in ceilings or mounted high in a wall. The wireless PCMCIA client looks and acts like a regular Ethernet card but the antenna protrudes slightly from the laptop and the battery life of the laptop is slightly decreased.
wireless network is a type of local area network (LAN) which the carriage of data to and from your Laptop is done via low power radio frequency signal that is sent from the wireless card in your laptop to Wireless base stations located on campus. Wires are completely unnecessary to access full network and internet services. A hotspot is a campus location where the wireless network can be accessed. An antenna or base station is located nearby providing a radio signal.
Usually to connect to the University computer network you will need a cable that goes from a PC into a network socket on the wall. This means you are tied to using the PC in a fixed location, dependent on the length of the cable. A Wireless Network allows users to connect to the University computer network without having to physically use a cable, and so you can remain mobile. The connection and data is passed from your PC using radio technologies instead of a cable and so you need to be in the vicinity of a Wireless Access Point (locations all around the campus) in order to gain a connection. So you can now stay mobile and take your laptop or PDA around the campus and still be able to browse the Internet or send an email! The speed of the connection can be slowed down due to the distance you are from the Access Point, and also how many other users are also using the same Access Point. You will see the terms ‘wireless network’, ‘WiFi network’, ‘802.11b/g network’ and ‘WLAN’ used interc
