Doc Wifi
By Drax
Where Do I Start Doc?
Plan your wireless network and test - RF interference impacts on the propagation of radio waves so you need to look at potential intereference from Bluetooth devices, microwave ovens and wireless phones. Commercial wireless configuration has a voodoo aspect to it, all the eqiupment can be configured perfect and reception comes and goes..
(voodoo what you want, I'm away home).
Recommendation: conduct spectrum analysis to identify and then minimize interference, time waiting on a slow network accumulates - SA is a once off cost.
Wireless Standard - Variations
What are these Different Standards Doc ?
In high speed or heavy usage environments, Wireless-B is quickly being replaced by a new standard, Wireless-G, which uses the same 2.4GHz radio band, but at 54Mbps, is almost five times faster. The third wireless network standard is Wireless-A, which also runs at 54Mbps, but operates in the less-crowded 5GHz radio band. Wireless-A is mostly used in corporate installations.
Recommendation: 802.11g. The best choice for new wireless networks, 802.11g works with any device that supports 802.11b, while offering five times the performance.
Article Links
What About Boosting Signal Doc ?
Many users find they will need a wireless signal booster to increase the effective range and coverage area of your network. Increased signal strength will usually speed up close-range communications due to reduced reception errors.
What Else Will It Do Doc ?
Wireless bells and whistles
Wireless video cameras. Monitor any room in your home from the InternetWireless digital cameras. Take pictures and instantly upload them to your computer
Wireless digital multimedia receivers. Connect your TV and stereo to your computer
Add Storage on the Network
Where Can I Get the Best Prices Doc ?
The Amazon links provide pointers to prices, with these prices in hand the best option is to use something like Pricegrabber for comparison.
What's New & Exciting Doc ?
From a geeky viewpoint wireless sensors are new and exciting. With a fast external connection and a well-designed wireless network a wide range of sensors can be deployed. These sensors are available for both Home automation and in commercial applications can require a degree fo customisation. They are often predictive. Some examples;-
monitor foot traffic thru your store, restuarant.. redeploy people
monitor vehicular traffic to your facility..redeploy people
monitor energy consumption.. switch / reroute loading
Can I Catch a Virus Doc ?
Doc, I don't feel well, the day is approaching when your computer will call you up and tell you, imagine neurotic machines with MS OS...
Many public Wifi hotspots have little or no security so you could catch anything and there are probably people sniffing the networks to see what's juicy at the hotspot.... (it is a hotspot after all)
Unless you are given a WEP or WPA key to log on assume that your are sending or receiving in the clear... so your private stuff is at risk.. e.g. somebody could see your passwords once you type them in.
Wired-Equivalent Privacy (WEP) protocol.... pretty useless
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) ...it improves on WEP by using dynamic keys
Recommendation:
minimize problems by not entering user names, passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers, social security numbers unless via https instead of http. If you must log in and the URL begins with https then it's SSL and reasonably safe.
Non https pages should be avoided if your data is sensitive / valuable.
Hub Links
What About Emailing from a Hotpot Doc ?
Simple
Use Gmail then via https
Use Firefox extensions to customise
Install the extension, go to Tools - CustomizeGoogle Options. Go to the GMail tab and select - Secure (switch to https) is checked. Press OK, when you log in to Gmail now on an https page you'll read and send mail on https pages as well.
You can also send email from another client like Outlook Express via Gmail... they have plenty of help here.. Google Help to Configure Sending
Note
Using Hotspots in cafes, airports or hotels requires a degree of common sense, you will have to read around, install software and reconfigure.. IF you value your data...
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