Wireless Key Terms

Read up on wireless key terms to better connect your world

Whether you're running a small home business or a sprawling corporate park, wireless Internet access is likely a key component of your productivity. From Wireless-N routers to WEP encryption, there are a slew of concepts and terms that you'll need to know before choosing a wireless setup for your workplace. Understanding wireless key terms can help you find the best system for your needs and help you avoid confusion while you shop.

 

Wireless-N

Known officially as IEEE 802.11n, wireless-N is the newest standard for wireless networking. Compared with earlier standards like 802.11b, wireless-N offers faster speeds, more flexibility and greater range.
Try: Visit Linksys to read more about Wireless-N and what it can do for your business. Computerworld also has an informative article on this new technology.

WLAN

A wireless local area network, or WLAN, allows computers to connect to the Internet and to each other without being plugged into an Ethernet port or modem. Wireless routers and networking cards are the key components of a WLAN.
Try: Check out the guide to WLANs at Lenovo. Not only does it cover the technology's basic features, but it also discusses potential associated health risks.

WPA

Short for Wi-Fi protected area, WPA encryption replaced wired equivalent privacy (WEP) encryption some years ago as the best all-around wireless security protocol. You can use it for a home network or in a small business environment.
Try: Microsoft has published a good primer on WPA security that covers its main technical specs and operational benefits.

Access point

A wireless access point, or WAP, allows computers and peripheral devices to connect to a wireless network and communicate with each other. Some WAPs also function as routers, dividing the Internet signal into multiple channels and sending them out through multiple Ethernet cables.
Try: D-Link makes a number of high-quality access points that make networking reliable and straightforward.

MIMO

Wireless access points and routers with multiple-in/multiple-out (MIMO) technology have multiple transmitters and receivers. This allows them to send and receive more information than traditional networking devices.
Try: There's a short explanation of MIMO technology on the website for Intel.

802.11

802.11 is the name for the set of wireless networking standards developed by the IEEE, formerly known as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The organization denotes different versions of the standard--for example, Wireless-G and Wireless-N-- by a lowercase letter at the end of this number.
Try: Check out WebMediaBrands to see a list of current and past variations on the 802.11 standard. To dig deeper into 802.11, visit the website of the IEEE.

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