7.4 THE WIRELESS REVOLUTION : WIRELESS COMPUTER NETWORKS AND INTERNET ACCESS

WIRELESS COMPUTER NETWORKS AND INTERNET ACCESS

BLUETOOTH

1. Popular name for the 802.15 2 wireless networking standard.
2. Useful for creating small personal area network (PANs).
3. Links to 8 devices within a 10-meter area using low-power.
4. Can transmit up to 722 Kbps in the 2.4-GHz band.
5. Communicate with wireless phone, pagers, computers, printers, and computing devices even operate each other without direct user intervention.
6. has low-power requirements, making it appropriate for battery powered handled computers or cell phones.

WI-FI AND WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS

Mobile laptop computers equipped with network interface cards link to the wired LAN by communicating with the access point. The access point uses radio waves to transmit network signals from the wired network to the client adapters, which convert them into data that the mobile device can understand. The client adapter then transmits the data from the mobile device back to the access point, which forwards the data to the wired network.

1. An 802.11 set of standards for wireless LANS and wireless internet access also known as Wi-Fi.
2. 802.11b -> transmit up to 11Mbps in the unlicensed 2.4-GHz band and has an effective distance of 30 to 50 meters.
3. 802.11g -> transmit up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4-GHz range.
4. 802.11n -> transmit over 100Mbps.
5. Wireless devices communicate with a wired Lan using access points.
6. Access points is a  box consisting of a radio receiver/ transmitter and antennas that link to a wired network, router,or hub.
7. HOTSPOTS = one or more access points providing wireless internet access in a public place.
8. Some hotspots are free or do not require any aditional software to use. 
9. Wi-Fi hotspots can be found in hotels, airport lounges, libraries, cafes, and college campuses.
10. Wi-Fi technology poses several challenges -> Wi-Fi's security features, which make these wireless network vulnerable to intruders.

WiMax

1. The IEEE developed a new family of standards known as WiMax.
2. WiMax which stands for Worlwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is the popular term for IEEE Standard 802.16.
3. It has a wireless access range of up to 31 miles and transmission up to 75Mbps.
4. WiMax antennas are powerful enough to beam high-speed Internet Connections to Rooftop antennas of homes and businesses that are miles away.
5. Cellular handsets and laptops with WiMax capabilities are appearing in the marketplace.