Terry Williams gets up to speed with the fast-changing world of wireless.
A wireless connection is simply the ability to connect two or more devices together without the use of physical cables.
This is commonly associated with infra red, Bluetooth and wi-fi – with the growth of portable computing devices, including notebooks, PDA and mobile phones fuelling demand for an easy way to connect pieces of equipment together.
The continued integration of technologies has led to the TV in your lounge now also being the family PC, surround sound centre, Internet and email gateway.
With the inclusion of wi-fi into this package it means that the user can connect to the PC in the bedroom and access MP3 tracks, pictures and documents as well as security cameras located around the house or in the business premises, from the other side of the world – all without cables.
Special wireless devices are available, such as wireless game adapters. These allow you to connect a gaming console to another console by wi-fi or over the local area network (LAN) or Internet.
Also a digital wireless music player can be connected to the Hi-Fi system. This links MP3 and media files from the LAN into the hi-fi.
For the business user the raft of new devices hitting the market is relentless. Many of these are based around mobile phone technology as the cost of data transfer is still expensive – not to be confused with wireless connection.
Many hotels, airports and corporate meeting places now offer customers Internet access using standard wi-fi devices as part of the experience. Some companies connect buildings and remote sites using wireless technology with special directional aerials.
To set up a home or business wireless environment that allows computers to network with each other as well as compatible entertainment devices and provide shared broadband, you need a wireless router with combined ADSL modem.
If you are in a cable area the ADSL modem is not necessary. This router acts as the gateway and links all the other devices together. The other equipment needs to have wireless network cards installed.
Printers can also be joined to the LAN with a wireless connection.
If you are linking up several computers for the first time, buy wireless equipment from one manufacturer, eg Netgear, D-Link or Belkin – it’s easier to connect it all up.
The wireless range of the equipment depends on location. Most are rated at 100m outside with line of sight. Indoors, this can drop dramatically depending on the type of building.
There is now a new range of routers on the market with multiple internal aerials that are supposed to improve indoor range. The speed of wi-fi transmission is increasing all the time, the typical speed now being the Super G 108Mbps.
Security is a big issue with wireless setups. Wireless routers are all sold with the same default settings and passwords. Therefore it is vital that you personalise your router password and set up an authorised user list allowing access only to chosen devices.
There are further measures you can take depending on device. All routers are different but if configured correctly will give protection against hackers.
While wireless connection is great when it works, it is no replacement for a hard wire system. If you are building a house, refurbishing or having a rewire it is a good idea to lay data cables to each room.
This will give the opportunity to network computers or entertainment systems in the future by cable as well as through wireless access points in each room.
Wireless devices such as PDA, Bluetooth mobile phones, keyboards and mice, and notebooks, are brilliant uses for wireless technology – however for building-wide coverage and security, a cable backbone integrated with Wi-Fi access points is the best option.
Terry Williams is Managing Director of Lickey End-based Shepley Computers & CCTV.
If you have any computer-related questions you would like him to answer in future columns, please email them to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
For more information on CCTV and PCs and links to related sites, see: https://www.shepleydirect.co.uk