WiFi Wireless Networks have become the premier medium for connecting compuiters and the Internet.  WiFi Wireless Networks can connect computers anywhere without the need for wires up to distances of 100 feet and speeds of 11 to 54 mps megabits per second. Current improved WiFi devices can transmit at over 100 mps with improved security and yet to com WiMax will transmit over 30 miles.

• WiFi’s that work with the 802.11b standard transmit at 2.4 GHz and those that comply with the 802.11a standard transmit at 5 GHz. Higher frequencies allows for higher data rates.
• WiFi cards can change frequencies. 802.11b cards can transmit directly on any of three bands, or they can split the available radio bandwidth into dozens of channels and frequency hop rapidly between them. The advantage of frequency hopping is that it is much more immune to interference and can allow dozens of WiFi cards to talk simultaneously without interfering with each other.

The WiFi card is completely invisible but the technology is one of the simplest you will use.  

Due to the overwhelming acceptance of this technology many computer manufactures put cards into their new computers. Hoe do you install a WiFi card.

·         Buy an 802.11a or 802.11g network card. 802.11a has the advantage of higher speeds.

o        For a laptop, this card will normally be a PCMCIA card that you slide into a PCMCIA slot on your laptop. Or you can buy a small external adapter and plug it into a USB port.

o        For a desktop machine, you can buy a PCI card that you install inside on the PCI slot of the motherboard, or a small external adapter that you connect to the computer's external USB port.

·         Install the card

·         Install the drivers for the card

·         Find an 802.11 hotspot

·         Access the hotspot.

A hotspot is a connection point for a WiFi network. It is a small box hardwired into the Internet. The box contains an 802.11 radio that can simultaneously connect  up to 100 802.11 cards. Many WiFi hotspots now exist in public places like restaurants, hotels, libraries and airports.  

Normally the 802.11 card will automatically connect with an 802.11 hotspot and a network and establish a connection.  Your computer will connect immediately and you will be able to browse the Web, send email, etc. using WiFi.

WiFi hotspots can be open or secure. If a hotspot is open, then anyone with a WiFi card can access the hotspot. If it is secure, then the user needs to know a WEP key to connect.

WEP stands for Wired Equivalent Privacy, and it is an encryption system for the data that 802.11 sends through the air. WEP has two variations: 64-bit encryption (really 40-bit) and 128-bit encryption (really 104-bit). 40-bit encryption was the original standard but was found to be easily broken. 128-bit encryption is more secure and is what most people use if they enable WEP.

For a casual user, any hotspot that is using WEP is inaccessible unless you know the WEP key.

If you are setting up a hotspot in your area you may want to create and use a 128-bit WEP key to prevent the neighbors from casually eavesdropping on your network.

Whether at home or on the road, you need to know the WEP key, and then enter it into the WiFi card's software, to gain access to the network

It is very easy to set up a WiFi hotspot in your own area. You can do it in one of two ways:

• If you already have several computers hooked together on an Ethernet network and want to add a wireless hotspot to the mix, you can purchase a Wireless Access Point and plug it into the Ethernet network.
• If you are setting up a network for the first time, or if you are upgrading, you can buy a Wireless Access Point Router. This is a single box that contains: 1) a port to connect to your cable modem or DSL modem, 2) a router, 3) an Ethernet hub, 4) a firewall and 5) a wireless access point. You can connect the computers in your home to this box either with traditional Ethernet cables or with wireless cards.

Once you turn your Wireless Access Point on, you will have a WiFi hotspot. Typically your new your new hotspot will provide coverage for about 100 feet in all directions, although walls and floors do cut down on the range. For larger areas you can add inexpensive signal boosters to increase the range of the Hotspot.

Most wireless access points come with default values built-in. Once you plug them in, they start working with these default values in 90% of the cases. However, you may want to change the settings:

• The SSID -- it will normally default to the manufacturer's name (e.g. "Linksys" or "NetGear") but can set it to any word or phrase you like.
• The channel -- normally it will default to channel 6. However, if a nearby hotspot is also using an access point and it is set to channel 6, there can be interference. Choose any other channel between 1 and 11. An easy way to see other access points is to use the search feature that comes with your wireless card.
• The WEP key -- The default is to disable WEP. If you want to turn it on, you have to enter a WEP key and turn on 128-bit encryption.

Once configured properly you can access your network computers and the internet from anywhere in the area without making hard wire connections.

Yet antoher technology expected in about two years and known as WiMax will support distances of 30 miles and speeds of 70 MPBS.

Eventually a devices will become available that support all of the Wireless Technologies: WiFi, WiMax or 3G Mobile.