Wireless LANs

							            Wireless Networking Your Home

Wireless LANs
   Understand it
   Plan it
   Do it
   Use it
   Support

Wireless LANs – Understand It
   Wired vs. Wireless
   Sharing – internet, files, printing
   Wireless – Access Points, Routers, Repeaters, Clients
   Ad-Hoc vs. Infrastructure
   Costs, Benefits, Flexibility, Limitations, Interference

Wireless LANs – Understand It
   2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz
     Microwave frequency range
     line-of-sight
     shorter distances as frequency increases
     slower speeds as distance increases
     more hardware costs to maintain strength & speed


   Interference?
       Indoor obstacles
       Multipath
       Overlapping channels
       Other wireless devices/protocols, such as cordless telephones, Bluetooth


Wireless LANs – Plan It
   Location, location, location
       Find a central location with a clear path to most of the home
       Diagram it/floor plan (will use for site survey later)
     Possibly include one PC as a “wired” client.
   Minimum requirements.. a.k.a Impacts to your current PC’s
     CPU speed, memory, OS version
   Printer – local, network (direct, indirect, or via router.)
   K.I.S.S. - Standardize, Modularize
   Maximize “Bang for the Buck”
   Maximize features
   Minimize costs (direct & indirect)
Shopping List
   Things to look for:
       Up to 108Mbps*
       Advanced Firewall & Parental Control
       Easy Installation
       802.11g, 802.11b Compatible
       Increased Security with 802.1X and WPA
    *vendor unique implementations. Odds of mixing & matching low



Wireless LANs – Do It
   Identify equipment you need to buy
   Identify vendors/resellers
   Review tech support from each
       Available firmware upgrades,
       online manuals & training
   Sales, rebates, etc.
   Investment vs. benefit
   Purchase

Wireless LANs – Use It
   Installation
       Get latest version of drivers
       Consider upgrading to XP SP2
       Follow directions on installation (particularly with USB solutions).
       Remember… location, location, location… is the key to better signals/speed


Wireless LANs – Install hints
   Keep the number of walls and ceilings between the router and other network devices to a
    minimum - each wall or ceiling can reduce your wireless product’s range from 3-90 feet (1-30
    meters.) Position your devices so that the number of walls or ceilings is minimized.

   Be aware of the direct line between network devices. A wall that is 1.5 feet thick (.5 meters), at
    a 45-degree angle appears to be almost 3 feet (1 meter) thick. At a 2-degree angle it looks over
    42 feet (14 meters) thick! Position devices so that the signal will travel straight through a wall or
    ceiling (instead of at an angle) for better reception.

   Building Materials can impede the wireless signal - a solid metal door or aluminum studs may
    have a negative effect on range. Try to position wireless devices and computers with wireless
    adapters so that the signal passes through drywall or open doorways and not other materials.

   Keep your product away (at least 3-6 feet or 1-2 meters) from electrical devices or appliances
    that generate extreme RF noise.
Wireless LANs – Use It
   Setup
       Ensure one client is “wired” to router to change settings!!!
       Review default settings
       Change security settings!!!
         SSID
         Use WPA-PSK, if available. Otherwise, use
           WEP – at its strongest setting
           MAC address filtering



Wireless LANs – Range
   Tips for extending access point coverage
       Adjust transmit power settings
       Relocate the access point
       Utilize higher gain antennas (6dB vs 2dB)
       Add repeaters or additional access points


Wireless LANs – Support
   Vendor website a wealth of knowledge
     Firmware updates
     Drivers
     Online documentation
     FAQ’s
     Configuration Emulator
     Knowledge Base
     Email/Chat links to Vendor Tech Support