PANetworks

In the world of wireless internet communication, there are four letters that have some significance: B, G, and N. However, despite the fact that most people realize that these make for a difference of some kind, only the more educated internet users have any idea what that difference is. Prepare to join the “more educated” group.

Unlettered wireless, the original wireless format, provided the baseline for the wireless field. It could transfer a data bit rate of up to 2 bits per second, and had an indoor range of up to 66 feet. It functioned on a 2.4Ghz frequency – the same as just about everything else that’s wireless. Luckily, the wireless technologies have moved forward.

Wireless B came next, with up to 11 megabits per second, or just over five times the maximum transfer rate of original wireless. The maximum indoor range also exploded, reaching up to 125 feet with a relatively clear signal. Wireless B came about in 1999, two years after the invention of the original wireless cards, and still functioned on the 2.4Ghz frequency. It didn’t stop there, however.

Wireless G was dropped off by the stork in 2003, and sported connection rates of up to 54 megabits per second. The range didn’t change much, and the frequency didn’t change. Still, the speeds were becoming pretty decent. 54 megabits per second equates to a maximum download speed of about seven megabytes per second.

Wireless N started to change things in 2009, and it is currently the reigning champion of the wireless world. Its maximum transfer rate reaches 150 megabits per second, or almost twenty megabytes per second, when it is functioning on a 5Ghz frequency. This versatile network can function on either 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz frequencies, allowing for maximum compatibility with older devices. With either 5Ghz or 2.4Ghz, the range is double that of B/G wireless. The 5Ghz frequency, however, is more resistant to wireless interference.

In the modern world, mobility is a buzz word that gets as much action as the secret word on Pee Wee’s playhouse. Everything now seems equipped with wireless capabilities, including computers, printers, hand held devices, and much more. However, the real benefits of WiFi aren’t visible if you’re only using it in your own home. To really tap into wireless power, you will want to develop a unique skill set: that of finding free WiFi networks.

Skill 1: Know Common Hotspots

There are many locations that will provide completely free wireless internet as a part of their business. These includes bookstores, cafes, and even many public parks. While they may require that you create a login with the company, these networks are great for any basic activity. If your favorite cafe or store doesn’t have an open network, see if they have a secure one that you can get the password for.

Skill 2: Get a List

There are some great websites that have been created to help people track down wireless access locations. For the United States, the most comprehensive list can be found at wififreespot.com, which allows you to find and suggest locations by state, or even by company.

Skill 3: Start the Free Access Efforts

There are many ways you can try to build free wireless in your area. Start petitions or attend city council meetings in order to suggest free wireless networks for parks, public locations, or even the city itself. If the Government lets you down, don’t give up on your community. There are many neighborhoods that have successfully banded together to create a free wireless zone. By splitting the cost with everyone, the bottom line decreases dramatically.

Whether you choose to track down existing wireless networks, request access to secured networks, or spearhead the free WiFi battles in your region, the important part of the equation is remembering that wireless mobility means more mobility than just “anywhere in your house.” Plus, the more that public locations are used and businesses that provide networks receive attention, the more these networks are formed – so you’re doing us all a favor!

There are many forms of internet these days. Broadband connections in the form of DSL, Cable, and Satellite Internet can be found almost anywhere, and even Dial-up is hanging on like a mutant zombie. However, the advances in internet connection types and speed have made understanding the data transfer speeds more complex. Here is a brief guide on understanding the applicable terms.

Bits vs Bytes

All internet services will brag about their speed, and will let you know the maximum rate of transfer for data. This is frequently displayed in the X mbps form, where X indicates the number of “megabits per second.” This is confusing for many users, since “bits” are not the same as “bytes.” The term is no longer used frequently in other computer based technologies, and the exchange rate between bit and byte are no longer memorized. The simple story is that, before there were bytes, there were bits. This was when kilobytes were still a distant dream. A bit is just one-eighth the size of a byte. In order to find the maximum rate of transfer for your provider, all you have to do is divided those mbps by eight. The result is the maximum speed that a file can upload or download onto your computer, in megabytes.

Up vs Down

While your internet provider will brag about very high maximum speeds, it’s important to understand that this isn’t the speed for everything you do. Generally speaking, it’s the maximum speed for downloads, and uploads will be significantly slower. There is no set rule for how fast your downloads will be compared to your uploads, such as to FTP servers, in networking, or to voice chats. You will have to contact your ISP directly for the information.

Bandwidth vs Lag

Another common mistake that standard internet users make is to confused latency with bandwidth limitations. Latency, or the amount of time it takes your data to transfer to and from your ISP and/or router, creates an initial delay known as “lag.” Bandwidth limitations create ongoing slowness due to a lack of data streams from your internet provider.

It’s hard to throw a stick these days without hitting something that’s wireless. Whether it’s cellular phones, wireless printers, computers, routers, or one of a thousand other things, the truth is that most Americans own several completely wireless devices. The wireless internet war, thus far, has been fought mostly between hardware companies providing routers, as well as internet service providers trying to prove that they have the best wireless possibilities around. Now, a new competitor has entered the hardware and service arena: cell phone providers.

Cell phone companies initially offered the internet connection for phones through their data network, but realizing the lucrative possibilities, moved into offering it for computers as well. The problem with this move is that the internet that was being provided was as slow as slow – almost as bad as dial-up, even. It has been evolving at a rapid pace over the last few years, progressing to what is known as 3G. 3G, which allows for transfer speeds that are substantially higher than dial-up, but substantially lower than most broadband services, became the first subscription based fully mobile wireless that saw true success. Still, it didn’t make much of a dent in a marketplace that was so fully owned by Broadband companies.

Enter 4G. As of the 2009 release of 4G Sprint wireless access cards, followed by the 2010 release of Sprint’s first 4G phone, titled the Evo, the wireless world is changing yet again. The speeds of cellular wireless access have quintupled, allowing for rates of transfer that are similar to current broadband connections. Wireless access cards or enabled 4G devices allow for computers, phones, and any other connected devices to get in touch with the internet from anywhere that is set up for 4G.

There are still drawbacks within 4G networks. They may be cheaper than Broadband, and just as fast, but they require expensive software, and only work in select areas where 4G cell sites have been installed. While this advance indicates a paradigm shift on the horizon, it will still be several years before cellular access is fully competitive with broadband.

For anyone who is in love with technology, there are certain implied laws of the internet. It HAS to be fast. It HAS to be reliable. And thou shalt NOT pirate movies on Limewire when someone else in the house is trying to game, because high lag is the equivalent of a mortal sin. With new advances, especially those of the 2009 and 2010 years, there is a new law of the web: synchronize or die.

Synchronizing can happen in many different ways and for many different types of data. You can instantly transfer your contacts, email information, calendar information, documents, files, and more. But where are you transferring it to or from? The answer these days seems to be: anywhere.

The trend began with mobile devices being integrated with Bluetooth. Bluetooth connections from a computer to a cellular phone allowed the handset to get information from the computer’s calendar, Outlook, and other programs. It became such a popular addition that it was centralized in the focus of future designs.

However, Bluetooth and direct access to the room your computer is stored in would really be asking too much of tech users. Synchronizing has been combined with cloud computing in order to offer an even better, faster, broader, and more thorough solution. Cloud computing, or internet programming that stores account based software and data on the web allows users to connect to the same information, files, and more, wherever they’re accessing it from.

A few example of items that can synchronize like this include: mobile handsets with WiFi access, tablet computers such as the ever splendid iPad, Mac or PC laptop computers, PDAs, and Mac or PC desktops. A few examples of applications that can synchronize include: Google Calendar, various email services, most Microsoft services, online documents through Word 2010 or Google Docs., and more.

While this trend may not yet be a law worthy of capital punishment for most internet users, it is certainly increasing in its importance. After all, the integration of wireless internet synchronization hardware and software on all new mobile devices is a sure sign of things to come.

Setting up a wireless network for your home will allow you greater access to all your devices, more mobility, and it’s more easy than you may think. Here is a quick step-by-step on setting up your own home wireless network.

1. Set up your router.

You will need a wireless enabled router. Different types of routers have limits on how many devices can be connected, so research this information in advance. Once you have the router and have it connected, secure it with a password, and place it in the most central location possible in your home.

2. Plug things in.

If you will be connecting any devices with a wired connection, plug those in now. This may include computers that you want to have connect via Ethernet, but it can also entail devices that don’t have wireless hardware.

3. Plug in the wireless computers.

The simplest way to get your wireless connection rolling is by wiring it into the router first. This will make the rest of the process much more simple.

4. Go into the Windows Wizard

Now that you’re plugged in, we will want to get into the standard Windows configuration wizard. To do this, go to “Start” in the bottom-left hand side of your screen. Now click “Control Panel.” Within “Control Panel,” select “Network and Internet Connection,” then “Wireless Network Setup Wizard.” The exact location of this wizard may vary dependent on your version of Windows. Once you have selected this, follow the step-by-step directions to create a wireless connection with the devices you want your computer to have access to. Some version of the wizard will also allow you to create a USB “automatic setup” drive to simplify the process in the future.

5. Connect devices independently.

Many devices come with the ability to access this wireless LAN on their own. This includes anything with a major graphic user interface, such as tablets (think iPad) and mobile smart phones. The exact procedure will vary dependent on the device, but many of these will allow you to connect to the network by progressing through a simple setup wizard.

Securing your wireless internet is incredibly important for a number of reasons. These include avoiding having your web used for illegal purposes, keeping your files secure, and keeping your web connection as fast as is possible. Luckily, securing your internet is simple and won’t take much time. Here’s a fast step-by-step to get you through the process.

Step 1: Check for Instructions

While this guide will walk you through how to secure your network with or without special directions, it may be that your router comes with a simpler guide with a more user friendly interface that allows you to skip some of these steps. Check for that guide first, and follow its directions if possible.

Step 2: Connect to the web.

Hypothetically, you can access your router wireless before securing it. However, it’s a good idea to hard wire in with an Ethernet cable if you can. In any case, make sure it’s the only internet you’re plugged into.

Step 3: Open Command Prompt

You will need to enter the router’s IP address in order to access your control panel, but the IP address isn’t always going to be the same. You will find the IP address by opening command prompt. To open command prompt, go to the “run” feature of the Windows OS you are using and type in “CMD,” then hit enter.

Step 4: Get your router’s IP address

Now that Command Prompt is open, you will enter “ipconfig,” and push enter. Look at the text that has scrolled down, and find the “default gateway.” That’s the IP address for your router.

Step 5: Log Into Your Control Panel

Open up your preferred internet browser and enter the ip address into the address bar, then hit enter. You may be prompted to enter a username and password. Leave these blank if you don’t believe you have any, and push enter. If this doesn’t work, check your materials, information on the bottom of the router, and the support site for the router in order to find this information.

Step 6: Secure Your Network

Now select the appropriate “secure the network” command and follow the given directions.

The vast majority of wireless networks are now secured – a significant change from five years ago. However, some people still haven’t taken the ten minutes required to secure their network. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience to not have this security, there are many reasons why this security is important. Here are five of the most significant.

One: Your Bandwidth Use is Increased

It should be obvious that your total bandwidth use will go up with more users. As there is only a certain amount of total bandwidth that you’re alloted, it’s important to keep your bandwidth under control to maximize your speeds.

Two: Your Router Will Be Mad at You

There are multiple points at which your internet speed are limited. Beyond the bandwidth issues mentioned above, you should keep in mind that even the best wireless routers have limitations. If more people are accessing the router, it’s more likely to overload, slow down, require hard resets, and be generally problematic.

Three: Your Files May Be Vulnerable

A savvy hacker will be able to access other devices and computers on the network if you haven’t engaged in appropriate security. This means, among other things, that private documents, pictures, and files will be vulnerable.

Four: You Can Get Locked Out

If you don’t set a password for your network, anyone else can. It isn’t required that they plug into your router in order to access it as an administrator. If you haven’t gone through a setup, set an administrator username and password, and so forth, then anyone who taps into your network can go into your control panel and lock you out of your own web.

Five: You May Be Supporting Crime

If other people are accessing your wireless network, you have no control over what they’re doing. Every foul thing that can happen on the internet, ranging from harmless music pirating to child pornography to illegal gambling rings can be happening using your internet. In addition to being terrible in and of itself, there are legal liability issues that you will have to face if these activities are traced to your IP address.