Wirelss Devices

Getting Started With Palm Query Application Development

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Tue, 1 Jun 2010 06:57:00 -0700

Introduction

A Palm Query Application, or PQA as they are commonly called, is a special type of application for Palm VII devices that allows a user to interact wirelessly with Web content. A PQA takes the concept of interactive Web browsing a step farther by consolidating related, static content into an application that can be installed on a Palm VII device. Links within a PQA document can either refer to other pages within the application or they can refer to documents or scripts residing on a publicly available Web server. The pages retrieved from within that application result in no wireless data transmission. Pages not in the PQA, naturally, result in a wireless HTTP request. Before diving into the specifics of Palm Query Application development (it's painless...honest!), let's first spend a moment explaining what the Palm VII is and what its capabilities are.

The Palm VII Organizer

The Palm VII Connected Organizer is the first mass-marketed and mass-produced electronic organizer with wireless capabilities. The engineering design behind the product is worthy of a separate article in itself, but we won't bore you with the details here. Suffice it to say that Palm was able to design a handheld device that is nearly the same size and weight of a Palm III with the same memory, display, and operating system plus a wireless modem and antenna...all with no noticeable performance or power degradation! Just as impressive is the way that the device operates using the Palm.net service (based on the BellSouth Wireless Data network). The process to setup an account on the network and begin retrieving PQA data (known as Web Clippings) is very streamlined. Simply lift the antenna for the first time, enter in user information and a credit card, select the service you want (designed to accomodate light users all the way up to "power" users), and you're ready to roll! The Palm VII comes pre-installed with a number of useful PQA's including those from Amazon.com, Yahoo!, MapQuest, and The Weather Channel. All are impressive in their own right and provide real-world examples of the power of wireless information access. For instance, the Amazon.com PQA ties your wireless access to your "One-Click" account information set up on their standard Web site. Doing this eliminates the need to reenter address and credit card information and allows the user to simply click and buy wirelessly. Very cool (and dangerous for the impulse buyer!).

What is WLAN?

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Tue, 1 Jun 2010 06:52:00 -0700

What is WLAN?

WLAN - stands for Wireless Local Area Network. WLAN is a flexible data communication system implemented as an extension to, or as an alternative for, a wired LAN within a building. WLAN technology is being widely used to provide wireless internet access in public places like airports, hotels, and shopping centres but it is also increasingly being used in the home and office to allow computers to access the internet and network with each other without the need for special cables.

WLANs use radio waves in the 2.4 and 5 GHz range to transmit and receive data over the air.

What research has been undertaken?

The use of radio waves has been the subject of scientific research spanning more than 50 years. In that time, a wide variety of frequencies as well as modulations have been studied to determine whether there is any impact on our health. This large and growing body of research has been constantly reviewed by numerous independent scientific expert panels, government agencies, standard-setting organizations and health authorities from around the world. All have reached the same general scientific conclusion: that there is no established evidence of any adverse health effects from exposure to radio waves within the limits applied to mobile communications systems.

Are there safety limits for exposure to radio waves?

Yes there are. It is worth remembering that the use of radio waves is a common part of our everyday lives and bring us the benefits and enjoyment of television, radio and mobile phones. From the research that has been undertaken, safety limits have been established to provide protection for all members of our society - from the young to the very old.

These standards, endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other authorities around the world, establish exposure limits based on extensive reviews of all available scientific evidence and include substantial margins of safety to protect both users and the public. Member companies of the Mobile Manufacturers Forum test their products to assure their adherence to these rigorous safety standards.

What is TETRA?

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Tue, 1 Jun 2010 06:50:00 -0700

What is TETRA?

TETRA stands for TErrestrial Trunked RAdio. TETRA is an open digital two-way radio standard that defines a particular way to encode radio signals for enhanced communications for professional users such as emergency services, public utilities and transportation organizations. TETRA combines features of two-way radios, mobile telephony, messaging and data. TETRA shares many characteristics with other mobile communications networks such as GSM, D-AMPS and IDEN.

TETRA uses Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology and operates in the upper 300MHz range for emergency services, as well as within the 400 and 900 MHz range for civialian use.

What research has been undertaken?

Are there safety limits for exposure to radio waves?

What is DECT

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Tue, 1 Jun 2010 06:48:00 -0700

What is DECT?

DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication. DECT is a common standard for cordless personal telephones and is a radio technology suited for voice, data and networking applications in residential, corporate and public environments.

DECT operates in the radio frequency range of 1880 - 1950 MHz.

What research has been undertaken?

Are there safety limits for exposure to radio waves?

Bluetooth

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Tue, 1 Jun 2010 06:47:00 -0700

What is Bluetooth?

Bluetooth wireless technology is a short-range radio technology that uses radio frequency fields to transmit signals over short distances between telephones, computers and other devices. The technology offers simplified communication and synchronization between devices without the need for cables.

Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz radio spectrum and in communicating with other devices, the signal is constantly adjusted amongst 79 frequencies which minimizes any interference from other radio frequency emitting devices.

What research has been undertaken?

Are there safety limits for exposure to radio waves?

Health and Safety Fact Sheet 3G

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Tue, 1 Jun 2010 06:44:00 -0700

What is 3G?

3G stands for third generation, and is a collection of international standards and technologies aimed at increasing efficiency and improving the performance of mobile wireless networks. 3G wireless services offer enhancements such as greater data speeds, increased capacity for voice and data and the advent of packet data networks versus today s switched networks.

3G is a generic term covering a range of wireless network technologies, including WCDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access), CDMA2000 (Code Division Multiple Access 2000), UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) and EDGE (Enhanced Data for Global Evolution). 3G combines high-speed mobile access with Internet Protocol (IP) based services.

What research has been undertaken?

Are there safety limits for exposure to radio waves?

Wireless Application Protocol

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:00:00 -0800

Here's what happens when you access a Web site using a WAP-enabled device:

You turn on the device and open the minibrowser.
The device sends out a radio signal, searching for service.
A connection is made with your service provider.
You select a Web site that you wish to view.
A request is sent to a gateway server using WAP.
The gateway server retrieves the information via HTTP from the Web site.
The gateway server encodes the HTTP data as WML.
The WML-encoded data is sent to your device.
You see the wireless Internet version of the Web page you selected.

To create wireless Internet content, a Web site creates special text-only or low-graphics versions of the site. The data is sent in HTTP form by a Web server to a WAP gateway. This system includes the WAP encoder, script compiler and protocol adapters to convert the HTTP information to WML. The gateway then sends the converted data to the WAP client on your wireless device.

What happens between the gateway and the client relies on features of different parts of the WAP protocol stack. Let's take a look at each part of the stack:

WAP protocol stack

Wireless Markup Language

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:57:00 -0800

WAP uses Wireless Markup Language (WML), which includes the Handheld Device Markup Language (HDML) developed by Phone.com.

WML can also trace its roots to eXtensible Markup Language (XML). A markup language is a way of adding information to your content that tells the device receiving the content what to do with it. The best known markup language is Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). Unlike HTML, WML is considered a meta language. Basically, this means that in addition to providing predefined tags, WML lets you design your own markup language components. WAP also allows the use of standard Internet protocols such as UDP, IP and XML.

There are three main reasons why wireless Internet needs the Wireless Application Protocol:

Transfer speed
Size and readability
Navigation

Most cell phones and Web-enabled PDAs have data transfer rates of 14.4 Kbps or less. Compare this to a typical 56 Kbps modem, a cable modem or a DSL connection. Most Web pages today are full of graphics that would take an unbearably long time to download at 14.4 Kbps. Wireless Internet content is typically text-based in order to solve this problem.

The Cellular Explosion

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:54:00 -0800

Probably the most important factor in the birth of wireless Internet has been the proliferation of digital cell phones in the last few years. The expanding network of digital cellular and personal communication services (PCS) has created a solid foundation for wireless Internet services. It is estimated that there are more than 50 million Web-enabled cell phones in use. In 1997, Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson and Phone.com came together to create the WAP because they believed that a universal standard is critical to the successful implementation of wireless Internet. Since then, more than 350 companies have joined them in the WAP Forum.

2008 HowStuffWorks

A typical cell phone

Making a Web site accessible through a wireless device is quite a challenge. So far, only a small portion of the more than a billion Web sites provide any wireless Internet content. As the use of WAP-enabled devices grows, you can expect that many more Web sites will be interested in creating wireless content.

WAP is designed to work on any of the existing wireless services, using standards such as:

How much you know about WiFi and what it does? Test your knowledge with our WiFi Quiz!

Short Message Service (SMS)

High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data (CSD)

General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)

Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD)

How WAP Works?

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:51:00 -0800

You and millions of other people around the world use the Internet every day -- to communicate with others, follow the stock market, keep up with the news, check the weather, make travel plans, conduct business, shop, entertain yourself and learn. Staying connected has become so important that it's hard to get away from your computer and your Internet connection because you might miss an e-mail message, an update on your stock or some news you need to know. With your business or your personal life growing more dependent on electronic communication over the Internet, you might be ready to take the next step and get a device that allows you to access the Internet on the go.

Wireless Internet can be built into your cell phone or received through a wireless card.

That's where wireless Internet comes in. You've probably seen news or advertising about cell phones and PDAs that let you receive and send e-mail. This seems a logical next step, but there are some questions that come up when you think about going mobile with the Internet. Will you still be able to surf the Web? How fast will you be able to get the information you need? You might have heard of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and wonder how it works. Learn just what WAP is, why it is needed and what devices use it.

Bluetooth Wireless Networking

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:09:00 -0800

Bluetooth technology offers three different types of defined ranges, based on output ranges. Class1 devices are the most powerful, as they can have up to 100 mW of power, with a regular antenna giving them a range of around 130 - 330 feet.

The class 2 devices are lower power, offering up to 2.5 mW of power. A regular antenna will give them a range of around 50 - 100 feet. Class 3 devices use even less power, up to 1 mW of power to be exact. With a regular antenna, they will have a range of around 16 - 33 feet.

Even though you may not realize it, Bluetooth wireless technology has never been intended for anything other than short distance types of communication. With Bluetooth wireless, the short range is actually a benefit.

Go here and see the newest Bluetooth Headsets:

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/socaltel/Items/BLUEV510?

For one, the short range will reduce the change of interference between your devices and those that belong to others who are nearby. Overall, this is a basic type of security, designed to protect you and your devices.

Secondly, the lower power used for short range means a longer battery life. Most Bluetooth devices will get their power from a battery, meaning that anything you can do to lengthen the battery life is very important.

The wireless networking offered by Bluetooth is actually among the best, even though it uses short range communication. Bluetooth is used with wireless controllers, the internet, and even wireless headsets.

For the best in short range technology, Bluetooth is extremely hard to beat. If you've never tried Bluetooth before, now is the time. It's the best with wireless networking, especially for those who enjoy hands free talking on their cell phone.

Go here and see the newest Bluetooth Headsets:

http://stores.channeladvisor.com/socaltel/Items/BLUEV510?

The Advantages Of A Wireless Network Connection

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:05:00 -0800

Having a wireless network opens up many possibilities.

Wireless networks provide an inexpensive and easy way to share a single Internet connection among several computers. This means you only need one modem, and you can add additional computers to the network just by plugging in a wireless card and turning them on. The new machines are connected to the Internet immediately.

A wireless network also lets you access files and printers from anywhere in your home. It allows you to synchronize files you have on your laptop with your home computer, and you can easily send files between computers as well. Using a wireless network to transfer files is faster than sending them via e-mail or burning them to a CD! Because printers connected to one of the computers on a network are shared by all the computers on that network, you can write documents anywhere in your home, press the print button, and collect the printed files from a printer that is connected to another computer.

If you are a game player, you have probably noticed that your games often have an option to play over a local area network or LAN. Wireless networks are LANs! This means you and your family can play these games together and do not have to be on computers that are next to each other to do so. Lets face it, it is more fun to play against real people, and it is even more fun to play against people you know instead of strangers on the Internet. Your games will also play much faster over your LAN. Additionally, you can connect game consoles to the Internet and begin playing these games online. It is much easier to experience online play through an Xbox or PlayStation 2 that is connected to a wireless network than have to use a modem!

Wireless network connections are always on. This means you can connect to the Internet whenever you want without waiting for your modem to dial in. Laptops can be carried from room to room, and they will always have access to the Internet. Since wireless networks operate without the need to log in, you do not need to set up usernames or passwords.

The single greatest thing about a wireless network is that it is, well, wireless! The biggest reason to have a wireless network is because it eliminates the need for costly, ugly, and dangerous wires trailing all over your house. You can use your computer in any room you want no more being trapped near a phone outlet or walking over that tangle of wires in your home. The cost of getting enough Ethernet cables can add up, and sometimes, you may even have to make holes in your walls to set up a wired network. If you are renting, of course, this is impossible. With a wireless network, you do not have these problems - you can even use your computer outside if you want! And if you move, there is no need to disconnect and pack up all those wires, and you no longer have to examine all the wires for damage whenever your Internet connection goes down.

You can see how having a wireless network can simplify your life.

ADSL Routers

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:03:00 -0800

While there are many different types of ADSL routers that you can use, you may want to see some facts about these different internet routers. With this information you can then decide if you are looking for high speed connectivity or if your existing internet connection will be sufficient.These ADSL routers are ones that will help you to get the internet downloading speed and connection that you need with a minimum of time wastage. For those of you who are interested in using a router it is best if you know some information about this product before you buy the item.Among the information that you should look for are items like the cost of buying these ADSL routers. As there are various types of high speed internet routers you should look at the price tag for these different types. This will be of help when you are looking at the functioning capabilities of these different ADSL routers. You will also need to see what the connection capacity is before you choose the type of ADSL router to buy. These routers that you will find have the capability to deliver a vast amount of information to in minutes or seconds. This time frame is dependent on the type of ADSL routers which are available in your locality.While you are looking at these downloading speeds you may want to look at another aspect to ADSL routers. This is the question of using a wire connected router or that of using a wireless router.With both of these different types of ADSL routers you get lots of great features to use. The first item that you need to be aware of is that while there are some wires that you will be using with both of these ADSL router options, one has another great benefit to be looked into.For instance the wire connected ADSL routers are perfect is you are using only one computer. Which in turn requires the use of the internet. At this point you will not need to worry about using your computer in other places than where you have the internet connection located.The use of a wireless ADSL router on the other hand provides you with the capability of using the internet in any location of your home or business. It is these facilities which make using ADSL routers an interesting option to look forward to. As there are many different types of ADSL routers you may want to shop around until you find the one which is ideal for all of your computing needs.

Beware of Wireless Routers

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:01:00 -0800

Wireless routers are great, they reduce clutter, allow you to easily use laptops or PDAs around the house, and save money on wiring and wiring installation.However, when the big router companies had the decision of whether to make Wireless Routers easy to install or secure, the chose easy to install.

What does this mean?

This means that rather than having you go through a lengthy process of encrypting your signal and preventing outside users from taking your internet connection, the big wireless companies (Microsoft, Intel, Linksys, D-Link, and Netgear) wanted to make installation a snap! Did you ever notice how easy it was to get up and running with a wireless router right out of the box? Once you power up the router and connect your DSL line or Cable Modem, that signal is being broadcasted in every direction up to an average of 300 feet. That means your next door neighbor can easily pick up on your signal and surf the web for free!

Even worse, this means that if someone using your connection is doing something illegal, whoever traces that activity ends up knocking on your door since the internet connection is in your house!

Protect yourself by doing 2 things:

1. Encrypt Your Connection

This will vary between router manufacturers and models, but if you refer to your manual then it will explain it in detail. You'll basically go into the settings through the computer that's hard wired to the router and enter a password that will be further scrambled into what's called a Network Key. This network key is a series of letters and numbers that are then entered into each computer you wish to have access to the internet through your router.

2. Don't Broadcast Your Signal

This is also an option in the settings you go to from the hard wired computer. To see an example, click here. As you can see, as outlined by a red box, there is an option to not allow the router to "Broadcast" it's signal. If this box stayed in the "Broadcast" position, then anyone with a wireless card in their computer within 300 feet could pick up on your signal and steal your internet connection.

This has happened to my friend who happens to live in an apartment complex. There are three signals available for him to use the internet with, including his own. It's caused so much of a problem that now he can't even connect to his own router in his own house. So not only does this keep people from stealing your connection, it also helps to prevent any confusion or conflicts, especially in an apartment complex!

If you follow these steps to ensure a secure connection, then you can prevent someone from taking your internet connection!

Serial to Ethernet and Wireless Device Servers

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:49:00 -0800

DeviceLinx external device servers from Lantronix can network enable just about any device with serial connectivity in a matter of minutes. Our serial to ethernet and wireless device servers provide the ability to remotely control, monitor, diagnose and troubleshoot your equipment over a network or the Internet. And they enable you to preserve your investment in your present equipment. You can choose serial to Ethernet, WiFi, or USB solutions, advanced encryption for maximum security, and ruggedized products for industrial applications.

Lantronix also carries print servers that allow multiple users to share printers anywhere on an Ethernet network and terminal servers that provide the power to connect terminals, modems, servers and virtually any serial device for remote access over IP networks.

Powerline Home Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:19:00 -0700

This diagram illustrates use of HomePlug equipment to build a powerline home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Powerline Home Network Diagram Featuring Powerline Router

Key Considerations - Powerline networks utilize the ordinary electrical circuity of a residence to carry home network communications. Available powerline equipment includes network routers, network bridges and other adapters. To connect to a powerline network, one end of the adapter plugs into a standard electric wall outlet while the other connects to a device's network port (usually Ethernet or USB). All connected devices share the same communication circuit.
The HomePlug Powerline Alliance develops technology standards supported by compatible powerline equipment.
Optional Components - Not all devices on the home network must be connected to a powerline router; hybrid networks with Ethernet or Wi-Fi devices can be joined with the powerline network. For example, a Wi-Fi powerline bridge can optionally be plugged into a wall outlet, enabling wireless devices to connect to it and in turn to the rest of the powerline network.
Limitations - HomePlug phoneline networking remains much less popular than Wi-Fi or Ethernet alternatives. Powerline networking products will generally be more difficult to find with fewer choices of models for this reason.
Powerline networks generally do not work as reliably if devices plug into power strips or extensions cords. Connect directly to the wall outlets for best results. In homes with multiple circuits installed, all devices must connect to the same one circuit to communicate with each other.
The maximum bandwidth of a HomePlug (version 1.0) powerline network is 14 Mbps, while the newer HomePlug AV standard supports more than 100 Mbps. Poor quality electrical wiring as found in older homes can degrade the performance of a powerline network.

Phoneline Home Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:17:00 -0700

This diagram illustrates use of Home Phoneline Networking Alliance equipment to build a home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Phoneline Home Network Diagram Featuring HPNA Gateway / Router

Key Considerations - Phoneline networks utilize the ordinary telephone wiring of a residence to carry home network communications. As with Ethernet or Wi-Fi networks, phoneline networks require each device to have a compatible phoneline network adapter installed. These adapters are connected by ordinary phone wires (or sometimes CAT5 Ethernet cable) to telephone wall outlets. When connecting multiple computers with phoneline networking, one central computer "gateway" must be established. The gateway represents the network's primary device for connecting to the Internet. A few models of home network routers (sometimes called "residential gateways") support phoneline networking today. Otherwise, you must designate one computer as the gateway and install two network adapters on this computer to enable it for gateway functions. Depending on the type of primary device chosen, hybrid networks with a combination of phoneline, Ethernet or Wi-Fi devices can be created.
The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance (HomePNA) develops technology standards that compatible phoneline equipment must support.
Optional Components - As mentioned above, a network router is optional when building a phoneline home network. Phoneline networking also works regardless of whether the residence is subscribed either to basic local telephone service or to DSL Internet service.
Limitations - HomePNA phoneline networking has proven much less popular than Wi-Fi or Ethernet alternatives. Phoneline networking products will generally be more difficult to find, and there will be fewer choices of models for this reason.
All phoneline network equipment must be connected to the same electrical circuit within the residence. Specifically, residences that have two phone lines installed, must choose one or the other line to connect all devices.
The range of an HomePNA (version 2.0) phoneline network is about 1000 feet (300 m). The maximum bandwidth of an HomePNA 2.0 network is 10 Mbps, while an HomePNA 3.0 network supports more than 100 Mbps. The speed of phoneline networking can suffer depending on the quality of phone cables installed in the residence.

Ethernet Hub/Switch Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:15:00 -0700

This diagram illustrates use of an Ethernet hub or switch on a home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Wired Home Network Diagram Featuring Ethernet Hub or Switch

Key Considerations - Ethernet hubs and switches allow multiple wired computers to network with each other. Most (but not all) Ethernet hubs and switches support up to four connections. Optional Components - Networking of Internet access, printers, or game consoles and other entertainment devices is not required for the rest of this home network layout to function. Simply omit any of these components shown that do not exist in your design.
Additional hubs and switches can be incorporated to the basic layout shown. Connecting hubs and/or switches to each other expands the total number of computers the network can support up to several dozen.
Limitations - All computers connecting to a hub or switch must possess a working Ethernet network adapter.
As shown, unlike a network router, Ethernet hubs and switches cannot interface directly to an Internet connection. Instead, one computer must be designated as controlling the Internet connection and all other computers access the Internet through it. Internet connection sharing software can be installed on each computer for this purpose.

Ad Hoc Wireless Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:14:00 -0700

Common layout for WiFi-based home networks

This diagram illustrates use of a so-called ad hoc wireless setup in a home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Wireless Home Network Diagram Featuring Ad Hoc Wi-Fi Connections

Key Considerations - Using ad hoc Wi-Fi mode eliminates the need for a network router or access point in a wireless home network. With ad hoc wireless, you can network computers together as needed without needing to be in reach of one central location. Most people use ad hoc Wi-Fi only in temporary situations to avoid potential security issues. Optional Components - Networking an ad hoc layout for Internet access, printers, or game consoles and other entertainment devices is not required for the rest of the home network to function. Simply omit any of these components shown that do not exist in your layout.
Limitations - All devices connecting via ad hoc wireless must possess a working Wi-Fi network adapter. These adapters must be configured for "ad hoc" mode instead of the more typical "infrastructure" mode.
Because of their more flexible design, ad hoc Wi-Fi networks are also more difficult to keep secure than those using central wireless routers / access points.
Ad hoc Wi-Fi networks support a maximum of 11 Mbps bandwidth, while other Wi-Fi networks may support 54 Mbps or higher.

Direct Connection Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:12:00 -0700

Common layout for simple Ethernet home networks

This diagram illustrates direct connection without a router or other central device on the home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Wired Home Network Diagram Featuring Direct Connection

wired home network diagram direct connection

Key Considerations - Direct connection can be achieved with several different types of cabling. Ethernet cabling is the most common, but even simpler (slower) alternatives exist including RS-232 serial cable, and parallel cable. Direct Connection is common for game consoles to support two-player network gaming (e.g., Xbox System Link).
Optional Components - Connecting to the Internet requires that one computer possess two network adapters - one to support the Internet connection and one to support the second computer. Additionally, Internet connection sharing software must be installed to allow the second computer Internet access. If Internet connectivity is not necessary, these things can be omitted from this layout.
Limitations - Direct connection works only for a single pair of computers / devices. Additional devices cannot join such a network, although other pairs can be connected separately as shown above.

Hybrid Ethernet Router / Wireless Access Point Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:10:00 -0700

This diagram illustrates use of a hybrid wired network router / wireless access point home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Hybrid Home Network Diagram Featuring Wired Router and Wireless Access Point

Key Considerations - Most (but not all) wired network routers allow up to four devices to be connected via Ethernet cable. A wireless access point consumes one of these available ports, but it then enables many (dozens of) WiFi devices to join the network. Nearly any home network wireless access point will have no issue managing to support the number of wireless devices there. However, if all WiFi computers attempt to use the network at the same time, performance slowdowns can result.
All devices connecting to an Ethernet router must possess a working Ethernet network adapter. All devices connecting a wireless access point must possess a working WiFi network adapter.
Optional Components - Networking of Internet access, printers, game consoles and other entertainment devices is not required for either the router or access point to function. Simply omit any of these components shown that do not exist in your layout.
You can choose which devices to connect to the router and which to the wireless access point. Additional network adapters may be needed to convert some Ethernet devices, particularly printers and game consoles, to work wirelessly.
Limitations - The WiFi portion of the network will function only to the limit of the wireless access point's range. The range of WiFi equipment varies depending on many factors including layout of the home and any radio interference that may be present.
If the wireless router does not support enough Ethernet connections, add a secondary device like a network switch to expand the wired portion of the layout.

Ethernet Router Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:06:00 -0700

This diagram illustrates use of a wired network router as the central device of a home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Wired Home Network Diagram Featuring Ethernet Router

Key Considerations - Many (but not all) wired network routers allow up to four devices to be connected via Ethernet cable. All devices connecting to an Ethernet router must possess a working Ethernet network adapter.
Optional Components - Networking the router for Internet access, printers, game consoles and other entertainment devices is not required for the rest of the home network to function. Simply omit any of these components shown that do not exist in your layout.
Limitations - If the Ethernet router does not support enough Ethernet connections, add a secondary device like a network switch to expand the layout.

Wireless Router Network Diagram

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 23:04:00 -0700

This diagram illustrates use of a Wi-Fi wireless network router as the central device of a home network. See below for a detailed description of this layout.

Wireless Home Network Diagram Featuring Wi-Fi Router

.Key Considerations -

All devices connecting to a wireless router must possess a working network adapter. As illustrated in the diagram, connecting to the router a broadband modem (that has one or more built-in adapters) enables sharing of a high-speed Internet connection.

Wireless routers technically allow dozens of computers to connect over WiFi links. Nearly any residential wireless router will have no trouble supporting the number of wireless devices found in typical homes. However, if all WiFi computers attempt to use the network at the same time, slowdowns in performance should be expected.

Many (but not all) wireless network routers also allow up to four wired devices to be connected via Ethernet cable. When first installing this kind of home network, one computer should be cabled to the wireless router temporarily to allow initial configuration of the wireless features. Employing Ethernet connections after that is optional. Using permanent Ethernet connections make sense when the computer, printer or other device lacks WiFi capability or cannot receive an adequate wireless radio signal from the router.

Optional Components - Networking the router for Internet access, printers, game consoles and other entertainment devices is not required for the rest of the home network to function. Simply omit any of these components shown that do not exist in your layout.

Limitations - The WiFi portion of the network will function only to the limit of the wireless router's range. The range of WiFi equipment varies depending on many factors including layout of the home and any radio interference that may be present.

If the wireless router does not support enough Ethernet connections for you needs, add a secondary device like a network switch to expand the wired portion of the layout.

Wireless Range Extender

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:49:00 -0700

Wireless Range Extender

Linksys WRE54G Wireless Range Expander

A wireless range extender increases the distance over which a WLAN signal can spread, overcoming obstacles and enhancing overall network signal quality. Several different forms of wireless range extenders are available. These products are sometimes called "range expanders" or "signal boosters." The Linksys WRE54G (compare prices) 802.11g Wireless Range Expander is shown above. A wireless range extender works as a relay or network repeater, picking up and reflecting WiFi signals from a network's base router or access point. The network performance of devices connected through a range extender will generally be lower than if they were connected directly to the primary base station.
A wireless range extender connects wirelessly to a WiFi router or access point. However, due to the nature of this technology, most wireless range extenders work only with a limited set of other equipment. Check the manufacturer's specifications carefully for compatiblity information.

Wireless Internet Video Cameras

noreply@blogger.com (seapiano683) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:48:00 -0700

Wireless Internet Video Cameras

Linksys WVC54G Wireless Internet Video Camera

linksys.com

A wireless Internet video camera allows video (and sometimes audio) data to be captured and transmitted across a WiFi computer network. Wireless Internet video cameras are available in both 802.11b and 802.11g varieties. The Linksys WVC54G (compare prices) 802.11g wireless camera is shown above. Wireless Internet video cameras work by serving up data streams to any computer that connects to them. Cameras like the one above contain a built in Web server. Computers connect to the camera using either a standard Web browser or through a special client user interface provided on CD-ROM with the product. With proper security information, video streams from these cameras can also be viewed across the Internet from authorized computers.
Wi-Fi Internet video cameras can be connected to a wireless router using either an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. These products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete initial Wi-Fi configuration of the device.
Features that distinguish different wireless Internet video cameras from each other include:

resolution of the captured video images (for example, 320x240 pixel, 640x480 pixel, and other image sizes)
motion sensors, and the ability to send email alerts when new activity is detected and captured
ability to timestamp images
built-in microphones and/or jacks for external microphones, for audio support
types of WiFi security supported, such as WEP or WAP