Wireless Network

Wireless Network

Definitions:

Router: A router is a device that forwards data packets along networks, A router is connected to at least two networks.

Modem: Refers to modulator-demodulator is an electronic device that converts a computer’s digital signals into specific frequencies to travel over telephone or cable television lines. At the destination, the receiving modem demodulates the frequencies back into digital data. Computers use modems to communicate with one another over a network, and also these days its working to provide the ADSL lines for a very high speed internet connection using the normal telephone lines.

Wireless Adapter: Wireless Adapter cards are necessary for mobile workers to take advantage of hot spots and Wi-Fi Internet access in hotels, airports and train stations. Working on the road is much easier when you can connect to the Internet or company network using a wireless laptop adapter, it also describes the adabpters used by normal PCs to provide the wirless connectivity to the Wireless networks.

ISP: Internet Service Provider.

Access Points: A station that connects users to other users within the network and also can serve as the point of interconnection between the WLAN and a fixed wire network. Each access point can serve multiple users within a defined network area; as people move beyond the range of one access point, they are automatically handed over to the next one

IEEE:The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, The IEEE fosters the development of standards that often become national and international standards.

Wireless Network
What is a Wireless Network?Wireless Network

It is a number of computers and devices connected together through Wireless connection via a Router to share information and to transmit data between them or for using the internet by many users using a single internet source.

What are the benefits of using a Wireless network?

1. Simplify the network physical installation (where no cables needed to be installed).
2. Having the network signal everywhere without being restricted to specific cable terminal locations.
3. Increasing the number of users is so easily.
4. It reduces the building's networking overall cost comparing with the wired network.

What are the wireless network components?

There are basically four components:

1. Modem: To provide the Internet to this network.
2. Wireless Router: To provide the network to the local network end points such as computers, laptops, printer …. Etc.
3. Cables: To connect the Router to the Modem and to configure the Router as well.
4. Wireless adapter: In case your computer doesn’t have a built in wireless component you have to have a Wireless Adapter.

What is the structure of building a wireless network?

1. The Modem receives the internet data signals from your ISP (Via ADSL line, cable Modem, wireless connection…etc) and convert and transmit those data to the Wireless Router via a Network cable.

Note: The Modem is transforming the Internet data signals from one medium (such as a ADSL connection medium) to an Ethernet medium (or we can call it LAN which is a network type used normally for home networks which is the abbreviation of Local Area Network) to make the data understandable for the computers and the devices.

2. The Wireless Router receives those data signals and transmits them to all the network terminals via wireless network medium.

Note: You can setup your wireless network without a Wireless Router in case if your Modem has a Router capabilities like the most of the new internet Modems.

3. The network terminals such as Computers and laptops have Wireless Adapters which communicate to the wireless network and complete the connection with the Wireless Router.

What are the benefits of having a Wireless router in my network?

Off course the below points would fit the case if your Modem is not a Router or your Router has no Wireless capabilities:

1. The dedicated Wireless Router will provide more security to your network hence it will work as a hardware firewall between your local network and the Internet line.
2. Your network connectivity signal strength will be more powerful especially when you purchase a Router with two antennas.
3. It’s more reliable to use a dedicated Router.

What are the things I have to take in consideration when building my own home wireless network in structure perspectives?

Before starting the Wireless network implementation you have to study the locations where you want the wireless signal to reach and to take the considerations on some important points:

1. When purchasing network devices such as Routers, wireless Access Points, wireless adapters…etc it’s better to choose their brands as the same brand for better compatibility and performance, you can choose equipment that supports three different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. Basically we recommend choosing 802.11g, because it offers excellent performance and is compatible with almost everything.

Note: Those different types of wireless networking technologies are referring to the IEEE standards which different amendments have implemented during the past years to enhance the Wireless technology performance in thier standards.

2.When purchasing a Wireless Router try to choose the one with two antennas for better signal strength and communication speed.


3.The Wireless network is affected by the Microwave devices and wireless devices such as a cordless handy phone so it’s better to prevent putting the wireless access points or wireless Routers near such devices and better to choose frequency bands which are different than the ones used by the cordless telephone, also the Wireless Networks affected by some kind of materials such as foils, hence all of the mentioned devices and materials would make an attenuation to the Wireless Networking signals and will reduce or might block the signal.
4.The Security of your Wireless network is the most important issue you have to take care about, if your Wireless network is not secured your neighbors might use your internet without your consent.
5.The location of your Wireless Router should be placed on a place where the signal can reach almost everywhere in your house equally, such location might be in the middle of the house or in a middle floor.
6.If you want to install a wireless network in a huge building you can simply use the Wireless Access points to extend the Wireless signals everywhere.



Wireless Network Installation

How to begin?

First of all you have to have the basic wireless network elements which are:

1.A Modem or a Wireless Modem/Router
2.Ethernet Cat 6 cables
3. Wireless Router (in case you have only normal modem)
4. Wireless Adapter card (in case your computer or Laptop doesn't have built in one)

Note: There are modems that have built-in routers so no need to purchase a standalone Router to spread out the Wireless signal. The Router modem can perform the two functions together which receiving the internet signals and spread them out to the wireless network.


Secondly, There are several points you have to take it in consideration while planning for your Wireless network, think about hardware compatibility and the network designs, there are many different Wireless network types out there like wireless G (which is the older type and most devices are compatible with), there is Wireless N which is much faster than G but less compatible with many wireless devices so it’s better to select the correct wireless type that is compatible with all your wireless devices. Hence wireless devices can be PC, laptop, Video game devices, mobile phones and blackberries.


Try to plan where to locate a better location to put the Wireless modem / Router inside the house or office to cover all the area equally. Hence that the wireless signal is like an umbrella shape so by putting the Wireless router on a higher place provides wider coverage signal.

Don’t forget as well that the wireless signal get affected by interference with other wireless devices such as cordless phones and Microwave devices (to read more about this please refer to the Wireless Network page by clicking here).

Third thing, after the installation and during the configuration of the wireless Router you have to secure your Wireless network by implementing the best encryption methods and firewall settings (which you will see in my video below).
Note: Using modem or Wireless Router is designed to be compatible with Broadband internet connection like Cable modem, ADSL… etc so it cannot be implemented with the Dial-up connection.
How many ways to setup the Wireless Network Connection?
Using a Wireless Router Modem



The network setup going to be in the below sequence:

Using a normal modem with Wireless Router



The network setup going to be in the below sequence: