Who What When Where WiFi

Downloadable version (pdf)

Who? You and I. Imagine yourself relaxing by the fireplace, on the patio next to the pool (if it’s not raining or cold), or in the gazebo with a nice Sunday morning breakfast checking your email, typing a letter, or ordering those last minute holiday gifts from your laptop? You can, with your own WiFi network.

What? It’s WiFi, and it is affecting nearly everyone, even if you’re not aware of it. The term WiFi, or wireless internet, comes from Wireless Fidelity. WiFi is also an organization created to certify compatibility of wireless Local Area Network products based on IEEE 802.11 specification. Every day millions of computer users around the world access a local or wide area network using a WiFi Access Point, which is then connected to the Internet.

If all this is ‘Greek’, here are some basics. WiFi is Wireless Networking, or the ability to connect your PDA, Laptop, Desktop Computer or other device to a network and ultimately to the Internet WITHOUT WIRES. If you have a high speed internet connection such as DSL from Rio Communications or Qwest; or a Cable Modem from Charter, you only need to add a wireless Access Point (about the size of a VHS videocassette) and a Client device (credit-card size, plugs directly into your computer). These are available from many retailers for around $60 each, and will complete your wireless Internet conversion! Now moving on to Mobility.Back to Top

The signal from your Access Point travels through the air to your laptop or mobile device. Mobility is measured by the distance the signal will travel. Whether at home or the office, consider your wireless range to be about a 100-foot radius, with some loss occurring through buildings, walls, and vegetation. If the area is a wide open space, mobility extends to about 300-feet. There are more powerful devices and other tricks that can allow you as much as a two mile radius of coverage.

Generally, you can go to any of several computer shops in the valley and find Access Points and Client Adapters from makers like Linksys (owned by Cisco), D-Link , and many others. The proliferation of WiFi enabled devices is expected to top 300 million by 2005. Goodness, that’s about one WiFi device for every man woman and child in the United States!

When is NOW! Get yours at High Tech Center, Cyber Center Computer Store, Staples, Office Depot, or Circuit City. Installation is pretty simple, just “plug and play”. Plug the WiFi Access Point into your DSL Router or Cable Modem. Then plug the Client Adapter into the PCMCIA card slot on your Laptop computer and you should be off and running. Of course it’s always a good idea to consult the instructions that are included in the box! Some Client Adapters require you to install the drivers BEFORE installing the hardware.Back to Top

There are security concerns. Most, if not all, Access Points ship with the security feature disabled. There are several security modes for encrypting your data. Modes range from the most simple to configure but least secure to more complicated and most secure. I recommend at a minimum you enable WEP (Wired Equivalency Protocol) encryption, MAC Address filtering and Static IP addressing. Ultimately, using WPA (WiFi Protected Access) is the most secure method.

Where? For those of you on the go, WiFi access is available in many locations throughout the Rogue Valley. Take your laptop and use the WiFi network at one of these free sites: Jacksonville Inn, Caffe’ Diem, BadAss Coffee Company, Mellelo's Coffee Roasters on Holly, or check with your favorite local establishment.

What are you waiting for, go WiFi!

Eric Engebretson, President/CEO
High Tech Center

Reprinted from Consumer Electronics

Back to Top