In the midst of the slowdown in capital expenditures and telecommunications Wi-Fi wireless technology is booming. Prices are low and people understand the benefits of portability. Wi-Fi networks enable people in enterprises, homes, schools and hospitals as well as public facilities to access the Internet, corporate networks and cellular services from anywhere within range of Wi-Fi equipment.

What does Wi-Fi stand for?
Wi-Fi, short for wireless fidelity, is used synonymously with the term 802.11b. It operates over the same portion of the airwaves, 2.4-gigahertz, as microwave ovens, some cordless phones and Bluetooth devices. FCC approval to operate devices in 2.4 GHz spectrum is not required, as this spectrum is unlicensed.

What types of 802.11 services are available?
Most products now support only the 802.11b standard. However, the higher speed 802.11a service is just becoming available and many of the products are compatible with both standards. 802.11a operates at 5 GHz so interference from other devices is unlikely.

Who sells 802.11 services?
The main suppliers of business products are Cisco, Agere (just purchased by Poxim) and Symbol Technologies. Agere, which sells the Orinoco line also sells into the residential market. Other vendors in the residential market include Linksys, Netgear and Apple.

Components of Wi-Fi networks
Antennas for Wi-Fi networks are part of wireless access points, which are the link between users’ computers and either the Internet or corporate local area network. Each access point covers between 150 and 300 feet and is about the size of a dictionary. User’s computers with Wi-Fi network interface cards or Wi-Fi circuitry communicate with the access points.

In homes, a Wi-Fi arrangement is similar to a cordless phone’s base station. The wireless access point, is connected to the cable or DSL modem. Wi-Fi equipment enables people to share printers as well as high-speed Internet access. Microsoft is developing Wi-Fi for connections to games and home entertainment systems.

Security
Organizations who use Wi-Fi services need to make them secure from hackers. The standard security included in Wi-Fi equipment, WEP (Wired Equivalency Privacy) is vulnerable to hacking. Some organizations use additional security precautions on 802.11b local area networks. A new interim security standard, 802.11i, scrambles user data more effectively. However, it has not been tested extensively.

Site Surveys
Many enterprises have site surveys conducted to determine placement and number of wireless access points for proper coverage. For example, expected amount of traffic and construction material inside buildings can require additional numbers of access points to ensure adequate capacity to keep up with traffic and to handle interference caused by extra thick walls.