How to buy ... Wireless Networking Gear

A wireless home network offers more convenience than a wired one.

By PC World Staff / Monday, March 01 2004

In general, a wireless home network offers more convenience than a wired one--there's no need to install cables, and notebook users can roam untethered.

Any standard that uses 802.11 technology is commonly referred to as Wi-Fi. Prices for networking gear based on the popular 54-megabits-per-second 802.11g wireless standard have plummeted, especially since the introduction of products that transmit data up to twice as fast as 802.11g devices do. These so-called Pre-N (referring to the upcoming 802.11n standard), or MIMO, wireless routers and adapters also work with 802.11g products and with older 802.11b devices, which have a theoretical maximum speed of 11 mbps. Prices are also dropping on products using the older 802.11a standard, though not as quickly as for 11b and 11g. 802.11a offers a 54-mbps theoretical maximum speed, as well, but because it uses the less crowded 5.4-GHz frequency range, it is less prone to interference than are 802.11b and 802.11g, which run in the 2.4-GHz range that's also occupied by Bluetooth devices, some cordless phones, and other household electronics equipment.

For the ultimate in compatibility, vendors also make dual- and tri-band 802.11a/b/g equipment, but these products are more expensive than their single-band counterparts, and they provide more than most homes or even small offices require. While existing wireless technologies are only now approaching the speed of standard ethernet connections, which offer a theoretical maximum speed of 100 mbps, the forthcoming 802.11n wireless standard is expected to have a theoretical top rate of 500 mbps. (Actual speeds would be about half that.) The IEEE is expected to finalize the 802.11n standard in mid-2006, with products following several months later.

No matter which technology you choose, you'll need hardware known as a network adapter or a network interface card for each PC you want to connect to the network. You'll also need a router--a kind of switchboard that directs all data traffic between PCs on your network and between your network and your Internet connection.

Wireless access points, which connect wireless networks to wired ones, are another important consideration. This hardware communicates with Wi-Fi adapters, allowing the data in radio signals to reach the wired network, and then the wider Internet. All wireless networks begin with one adapter connecting to one access point, and most wireless home gateways act as access points.

Key Features

Network type: You have a few networking options. Wireless networks lack messy cord tangle, and they are especially convenient for notebook users who don't want to be confined to one physical location. Most notebooks come with built-in Wi-Fi cards that let you connect to public 802.11b and g Wi-Fi "hotspots" for Internet access. (Most hotspots don't support 802.11a, and it's doubtful they ever will.) A few notebooks now have integrated broadband wireless, which lets you connect to the Internet via a cellular broadband network.

Range limitations can make a purely wireless network impractical in spaces that are very large, occupy several floors, or contain lots of obstructions such as doors and walls. Plus, wireless networks have inherent security drawbacks; see the security section below for more.

Speed and range: If you plan to use your network primarily for sharing broadband Internet access, the speed limitations of your networking technology won't matter much: All of the popular standards significantly exceed the top speed (1 to 3 mbps) of residential DSL or cable service in most regions; some areas can take advantage of 5-mbps cable access. But if you plan to move large files between PCs on your network frequently, you'll appreciate the difference between a fast network and a slow one.
The fastest current wireless standards are 802.11g and 802.11a; both are rated at 54 mbps, but compatible components cost more than 802.11b counterparts. Because 802.11g products are targeted at a larger consumer market, generally speaking, they are cheaper than comparable 802.11a devices, which are mostly used in corporations. Along with the impending arrival of the 802.11n spec, you can expect to see another wireless standard emerging: 802.16a (or WiMax), which claims to offer greater range and bandwidth but isn't designed for home use.

With wireless protocols, speed deteriorates rapidly as distance from the access point increases or as obstacles such as doors, walls, metal objects, and ceilings intervene. Though many Wi-Fi vendors claim a range of up to 300 feet, don't count on a range of more than about 100 to 125 feet in a typical office, and somewhat less in a home, depending on the layout (and potential obstacles) in the environment.

Wireless range extenders, which improve the strength of a wireless access point's signal and increase the distance from which you can connect to a wireless network, may help. Extenders cost approximately $60 and up, and they appear to your wireless adapter as a separate network.

Security: Because intruders don't have to plug in to a physical port for direct access, as they do with a wired network, wireless networks are generally vulnerable to attack. Designers intended the encryption algorithm built into the 802.11x spec, called Wired Equivalent Privacy, to function as effectively as the physical barrier in a wired network. Unfortunately, encryption experts have shown WEP to be vulnerable to attack (though improvements are in the works, in the form of yet another IEEE spec, called 802.11i).

If you're stuck with equipment that supports only WEP security, you can improve your odds by purchasing network adapters that support 128-bit encryption (versus the 40-bit encryption possible with basic wireless cards). But if security is vital, take additional precautions, such as using a virtual private network and/or sturdy firewall,

Hardware support: Not all types of network components are available for each network technology. For example, if you want to share a single broadband Internet account over a wireless network, you can find several 802.11b and 802.11g routers that combine the components you need--basically an access point for the wireless connections and a router to manage network traffic. (Most wireless routers also provide a few wired ethernet ports, as well.) And 802.11b or 802.11g adapters--USB or PCI cards for desktops, and PC Cards for notebooks--are widely available, too. But because 802.11a's primary appeal has been to businesses that want to offer their notebook-wielding employees fast wireless access to an existing ethernet network, choices are far more limited.

Firewall features: If you use a router or gateway to connect your network to the Internet, it will typically have a built-in firewall to ward off intruders. But the configurability of such firewalls varies widely. Some make it easy for authorized applications to connect directly to a designated PC on your network--useful for certain videoconferencing and messaging applications, not to mention online games. If you have a static IP address, some gateways will even help you set up a Web server. Others offer parental controls, allowing you to block access to Web sites by URL or even by certain keywords. In addition to turning on your router's hardware firewall, it's a good idea to install a software firewall, which can protect you from Trojan horses and other PC malware.

Specs explained
Use our table to assess what speed you want to travel on the wireless networking highway.

Home Networking Shopping Tips

Shopping for networking products can be confusing. Our tips can help you simplify the process before you plunk down a big chunk of cash.

General Networking Tips

Plan your network on paper. Figure out how many computers and other devices you plan to network, which rooms they're in, and how far apart the rooms are.

Buy a network with room to grow. Your networking needs may increase as new applications (such as connecting to home entertainment devices) arrive. Look for gear that allows you to add devices or network types. When you buy a wireless residential gateway, for example, choose one that has multiple local area network (LAN) ethernet ports--in addition to the wide area network (WAN) port you'll hook up to your broadband modem. This will allow you to create a hybrid network that lets you connect multiple computers or devices, whether they're wired or wireless.

If you'd like to provide network access to your printer without having to hook it up to a single, always-on PC, look for a gateway with a built-in print server.

Wireless Network Tips

802.11g is best for most uses. Wireless 802.11g networks offer the best combination of convenience and price for most people. Different 802.11g products made by different manufacturers should be able to work together, and more public places like hotels, airports, and coffee shops are offering wireless Internet access via 802.11b or g. Because 802.11b networks can be fairly easily breached by a skilled hacker, consider upgrading to a WPA- or WPA2-protected 802.11g wireless network instead. 802.11g products are compatible with the 802.11b standard, so installing 802.11g in your home or office won't limit your ability to take advantage of public hotspots that use 802.11b. Unless you are deploying a network in which you know everyone will be using the same standard, skip the pricier, more business-oriented 802.11a products.

Look for WPA compatibility. The older WEP encryption standard first released with 802.11b access points has flaws that hackers can easily overcome to break into your network. Newer 11b and all 11g devices support a more recent standard--Wi-Fi Protected Access, or WPA--that is far less vulnerable, though not perfect. Even more secure are products that support the newer WPA2 standard. Some models offer firmware upgrades to add WPA and WPA 2 support, while others include it in the box. Check the manufacturer's Web site for this information before you buy. Remember, though, that your security is only as strong as the weakest component on your network. If three out of the four clients are protected with WPA but the remaining client has WEP, then your network is only as secure as the WEP device. Most networkable consumer electronic devices, such as media streaming devices, are WEP only.

802.11a can help beat interference problems. Products using the 802.11a standard provide more channels (11b and 11g products are limited to nine) and operate at the higher 5-GHz frequency range, both of which make them less susceptible to signal interference. Initially, the 5-GHz frequency reduced the range of 802.11a products to about half that of their 11b and 11g counterparts, but vendors have enhanced the range of their newer 802.11a products so that they are comparable with their 11g and 11b equivalents.

Consider distance. Wireless network transmission is limited to about 125 feet; walls and doors limit transmission even more. Wireless range extenders can double the range of a network; they cost about $60.