Wi-Fi, which stands for wireless fidelity, in a play on the older term Hi-Fi, is a wireless networking technology used across the globe. Wi-Fi refers to any system that uses the 802.11 standard, which was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and released in 1997. The term Wi-Fi, which is alternatively spelled WiFi, Wi-fi, Wifi, or wifi, was pushed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a trade group that pioneered commercialization of the technology.
In a Wi-Fi network, computers with wifi network cards connect wirelessly to a wireless router. The router is connected to the Internet by means of a modem, typically a cable or DSL modem. Any user within 200 feet or so (about 61 meters) of the access point can then connect to the Internet, though for good transfer rates, distances of 100 feet (30.5 meters) or less are more common. Retailers also sell wireless signal boosters that extend the range of a wireless network.
Wifi networks can either be "open", such that anyone can use them, or "closed", in which case a password is needed. An area blanketed in wireless access is often called a wireless hotspot. There are efforts underway to turn entire cities, such as San Francisco, Portland, and Philadelphia, into big wireless hotspots. Many of these plans will offer free, ad-supported service or ad-free service for a small fee. San Francisco recently chose Google to supply it with a wireless network.
Wifi technology uses radio for communication, typically operating at a frequency of 2.4GHz. Electronics that are "WiFi Certified" are guaranteed to interoperate with each other regardless of brand. Wifi is technology designed to cater to the lightweight computing systems of the future, which are mobile and designed to consume minimal power. PDAs, laptops, and various accessories are designed to be wifi-compatible. There are even phones under development that would switch seamlessly from cellular networks to wifi networks without dropping a call.
New wifi technologies will extend range from 300 feet (91.5 meters) to 600 feet (183 meters) and beyond, while boosting data transfer rates. Most new laptops nowadays come equipped with internal wireless networking cards.
Portable Wi-fi
A WiFi finder is a small, portable, battery operated device that locates wireless hotspots so you don't have to turn on your laptop to see if a network is available.
A personal WiFi hotspot is a portable bubble of Internet connectivity that can be used on the go to connect up to five devices. The personal WiFi hotspot is created by a battery-operated, pocket-sized, miniature router compliant with cellular broadband standards.
Wi-fi Company
Not only had companies started investigating the technology to make public wifi possible, but several startup companies were also created whose business goal was to build and maintain the necessary equipment for wifi hotspots to become more mainstream.
Many of these add-on applications for smartphones and PDAs are free of charge; as the penetration of portable wireless devices has increased, it has rendered hard-top WiFi sniffers obsolete for all but the most specialized of IT personnel. Some companies have banned WiFi sniffer software and applications that have the capability to randomly scan for available networks.
Pcmcia Wi-fi Card
A PC Card slips into this slot to provide additional features that were not built into the computer. A modem, Ethernet adapter, USB port or WiFi card are just a few examples of products that were manufactured to take advantage of the PC Card slot.
The PCMCIA port on a laptop is the port that accepts credit-card style devices, such as WiFi cards. A ZV-enhanced PCMCIA port accepts standard cards in addition to Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) cards that are ZV-compliant.
Municipal Wi-fi
Therefore, for larger wireless networks and connectivity, another standard was needed. These limitations are one reason municipal wireless networks have largely failed. WiMAX, short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a different standard known as the 802.
Many wireless hotspots are advertised for public use, such as when a city provides access from a central municipal network as a perk to the community. To use the hotspot, one only has to drive to that section of the city where the signal is strong.
Installation Wi-fi
In the case of a business, WiFi allows many computers to communicate with each other without stringing cable between them, saving considerable money and time in the installation process. Computers operating over the WiFi LAN can share databases, files, programs and resources including printers, scanners and fax machines.
If too many people attempt to connect at once, access may become sluggish for some users. When people order Internet, the company may set up a WiFi home network as part of their installation services. In other cases, the Internet will be activated, and a router will be sent out or the customer may need to buy a router.
Ethernet Wi-fi
The term can refer to any hardware device that is small and connects to a computer via a port, while other more particular meanings include a device to safeguard the security of proprietary software; any key that is needed for program operation and connected to a port; or an adaptor cable made to link a wireless card to an Ethernet jack. A WLAN is a Wireless Local Area Network, a computer network operating in a small area, with or without Internet access.
A WLAN access point can also be used to connect the wireless segment of a network with the wired Ethernet part of the network. Utilized in this manner, the access point is referred to as a bridge.
Wi-fi Direct
Wi-Fi Direct™, formerly Wi-Fi™ Peer-To-Peer, is a Wi-Fi™ Alliance technology that joins Wi-Fi™ CERTIFIED devices together without need of a hotspot or router. Similar to Bluetooth® but more robust, Wi-Fi Direct™ allows devices to automatically find each other and connect with the click of a button, to share files, synch, play video games, exchange text messages, or to use resources such as printing.
According to the Wi-Fi™ Alliance, Wi-Fi Direct™ can operate at distances of up to 656 feet (200m) and can join devices 1:1 or one to many, depending on the equipment and its certification(s). It operates in the 2.4 GHz band, but can also operate in the 5 GHz band, though not all certified devices operate in both bands.
This technology is not intended to replace WLANs but to make sharing easier among Wi-Fi™ CERTIFIED devices. Only one device in a group need be Wi-Fi Direct™ compliant to connect several devices. The certification calls for all devices in range to be scanned for basic information such as power management and the type of services that might be offered by the device. An invitation appears which a user can decline or accept. Upon acceptance, a secure link via second generation Wi-Fi™ Protected Access (WPA2) is established.
A Wi-Fi Direct™ network might optionally join a traditional wireless local area network (WLAN) to provide a shared Internet connection, compatible with 802.11/a/g/n Wi-Fi™ CERTIFIED equipment. The ability to maintain a Wi-Fi Direct™ network simultaneously with a traditional WLAN is an optional capability that might not be offered in every product.
The specification of Wi-Fi Direct™ calls for management of the network by the most optimal device in the group. Power capabilities, software and other considerations play a part in self-determining which device becomes the soft access point (AP) for the network, though all Wi-Fi Direct™ devices have AP capability.
In practical terms, a Wi-Fi Direct™ digital camera can stream home videos to a Wi-Fi™ CERTIFIED high-definition television or Blu-ray™ player; a cell phone can share pictures with another phone or computer; or two people traveling on a train can play a video game against one another. Remote printing and text messaging are additional uses. Wi-Fi Direct™-enabled kiosks could open the door to more convenient printing on-the-go, offloading of data to flash media or other transit services.
Wi-Fi Direct™ is backwards compatible with Wi-Fi™ CERTIFIED devices, and depending on the equipment, can reach data transfer speeds of up to 250 megabits per second, according to the Wi-Fi™ Alliance. In most cases, applications on the connected devices will limit the content available to the network, prohibiting free-range browsing. Power saving features are also built into the specification.
Marketed since October 2010, Wi-Fi Direct™ products are Wi-Fi™ CERTIFIED and carry the Wi-Fi Direct™ logo. For a full list of certified products, see the Wi-Fi™ Alliance website.
Wi-fi Sniffing
Sniffing can be a synonym for snooping, and WiFi sniffing refers to uncovering the location of and/or the activity on a WiFi network, either for innocent or even laudatory purposes, or in an attempt to gain access illegally, or at least, unethically, and possibly to do damage. The terms WiFi sniffing and packet sniffing are sometimes used interchangeably, but packet sniffing does not refer to locating WiFi networks, only to monitoring activity on them.
WiFi sniffing to locate viable networks is legitimately used for activities like searching an unfamiliar urban area for a WiFi hotspot. This can be done with a device or with software. The same device can be used to detect and steal WiFi from a neighbor, or a homeowner on a street where one’s car is parked. When used with ill intent, this practice is sometimes referred to as wardriving. Apple® removed all WiFi sniffing software from its App Store in March of 2010, but the iPhone® has a built-in WiFi scanning feature to locate WiFi hotspots.
The sort of WiFi sniffing that can also be called packet sniffing is used by network administrators to find faults in a network so they can be plugged. This kind of sniffing identifies the packets of data that are be transmitted from or received by the network. The name of the tool for this job is a network analyzer when used by an authorized person, but is more likely to be called a packet sniffer when used by a thief to capture and decode other people’s data. Thus, illegally gaining access to these packets is very similar to wire-tapping. This is the type of activity that Google® admitted to in spring of 2010 as it was collecting data on the Google® Street View® (GSV) vehicles.
To protect a WLAN for WiFi sniffing, useful steps including changing the default administration password for the access point, such as a router, and making sure the firmware is up to date. One should also change the SSID (Service Set Identifier) name of the router, which is the public name and usually comes with a brand name as its default. Using network encryption and choosing WPA, rather than WEP for encrypting, if one’s devices are new enough to handle it, are also good steps. Using SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption for browsing is another step that can be taken.
Wi-fi Hotspot
A personal WiFi hotspot is a portable bubble of Internet connectivity that can be used on the go to connect up to five devices. The personal WiFi hotspot is created by a battery-operated, pocket-sized, miniature router compliant with cellular broadband standards. The router broadcasts a personal cloud or Internet bubble with a radius of up to 30 feet (9.14m). Products with compatible wireless modems or adapters can jump on the network to collect mail, stream videos or just surf the Web.
The advantage of a personal WiFi hotspot is that it can be created anywhere within the carrier’s broadcasting range. On a beach, backpacking in the woods, in a ski lodge, waiting room, taxi, train, or stuck on the tarmac inside an airliner, you can be working, playing, or just passing the time. What’s more, you can share your network with up to four companions for a total of five connected devices.
Networks created by portable cellular routers are encrypted with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). Technologies and product features vary between brands and models, but typically the router’s settings can be accessed by entering 192.168.11 in the Web browser’s address field. From here various tweaks and customizations can be made such as changing the network’s password, renaming the personal WiFi hotspot, limiting connectivity to specific computers, or enabling port forwarding, (an option sometimes required for online gaming or for running remote desktop applications).
Some routers designed to create a personal WiFi hotspot do not have a built-in modem. In this case one must purchase a wireless USB modem separately, which plugs into the USB port of the portable router. Cradlepoint® is one such brand, (though future versions might have built-in modems). This setup is somewhat bulky and cannot easily or cleanly fit in a pocket because of the attached adapter.
The more streamlined MiFi® by Novatel®, is a router with an integrated cellular modem. This product is only a few times thicker than a credit card, slipping easily into a pocket or purse. Once the router is turned on, the connectivity bubble is created within 30 seconds. A fully charged MiFi can run for four hours straight or for 40 hours on standby before requiring a re-charge, according to specifications.
The cost of a portable router varies according to plan discounts and the type of plan chosen, but cellular broadband remains one of the most expensive types of connectivity. It also carries bandwidth caps with it, with some carriers offering cheaper plans for lower caps and more expensive plans for higher caps. If you prefer a personal WiFi hotspot as a backup plan or for emergencies only, at least one major carrier offers a pay-as-you go plan where the user pays a flat one-time fee for a 24 hour pass.
A router can only be used with the carrier for which it’s branded, so explore all options before purchasing. Routers manufactured to use the newest and fastest cellular technology are typically more expensive, at least initially, than those pumping slower broadband, though a built-in modem also factors into price. Check your preferred cellular carrier for details.
Wi-fi Detectors
Wifi detectors are devices that are used to locate the presence of Wifi service within a limited area, as well as define the strength of the signal within that immediate area. Available as a handheld device or as a small device that can be connected to a computer via a USB port, the wifi detector is an important tool for anyone who wishes to make use of wireless communications made available by different vendors who operate wifi hotspots. Choosing the right wifi detector often involves considering such factors as range, convenience, and price.
Not all wifi scanning equipment provides the same ability when it comes to detecting nearby wifi signals. Some detectors are specifically designed for short-range detection, an attribute that may work very well for anyone living in an area where there are wifi hotspots every few blocks. For people who live in less populated areas, going with a detector that is capable of locating wifi signals over longer distances may be a better option. For this reason, always check the range of the device before making a purchase.
Another aspect to consider when choosing a wifi detector is whether a handheld model would be more convenient, or if a unit that can be connected to your smart phone or laptop computer would be a better option. Both types of the wifi scanner come with different ranges, so the issue here is mainly one of personal preference. If you find that it is easier to carry the handheld model in your pocket than to use a design that requires connecting it to your system via a USB port, then waiting for the software to initiate, then go with that option. Alternatively, if you prefer to keep all your laptop related equipment close at hand and prefer to simply connect the device when needed, the smaller detector that attaches directly to the computer may be more to your liking.
As with most electronic devices, price is also a consideration when selecting the right wifi detector. In general, devices with a shorter range will cost less. This does not mean that you cannot find a good quality wifi detector with a wider range for a lower price, but be prepared to research various brands in order to find the right combination of price and performance. While this may take some time, the end result is that you will find the wifi detector that will allow you to quickly find a wireless signal that is strong enough for your use, and be able to get on with enjoying the benefits of modern communications
Wi-fi Wardriving
Wifi wardriving is a process by which a person physically drives around an area attempting to locate wireless networks within the region. This may be done through a laptop computer with a wireless network adapter, through a hand-held video game system, or a cellular telephone or similar device. While the act of locating such networks may not be inherently illegal, depending on the region in which the wardriving occurs, there are some legal issues. Wifi wardriving is typically done to document the available wireless networks in an area, and this can be done purely for the sake of knowledge or to attempt to “piggyback” onto a network.
The term Wifi wardriving stems from the popularity of Wifi technology in most early 21st century wireless networks, and the similarity of the practice to wardialing. Wardialing is a term coined in the late 1980s and early 1990s to refer to the practice of using a computer with a modem to dial hundreds or thousands of phone numbers in search of lines connected to a modem. The practice became especially popular following the release of the film WarGames in which the protagonist of the film wardials phones to find modem connections.
Wifi wardriving typically involves a somewhat similar process, but rather than sitting in a stationary location calling to find modems, a wardriver physically drives around looking for wireless networks. This can be done individually or with assistance from someone else, and may be a fairly harmless process. In general, a wardriver may simply document wireless networks, including those that are open and those that are password protected to “map” the networks in an area. This will often include open networks intended for use by other people, and Wifi wardriving can be used to find such networks and help others find them as well.
While Wifi wardriving is not inherently illegal in many areas, it can be considered invasive and there is little legal precedent for the practice. Piggybacking, the act of not only finding a wireless network but also utilizing that network, may be illegal in some areas and while the two terms are often used synonymously, they are not necessarily the same. There are also certain practices similar to Wifi wardriving, including warbiking and warwalking that are performed while on a bicycle or while on foot in a neighborhood or throughout a small town.
Wi-fi Antenna
In order to enjoy optimum wireless internet connection, having an appropriate wifi antenna is sometimes necessary. There are several things to consider before buying one. These include the size of the antenna, the range of the router, and the direction of wifi signal in your home or office. Other important issues are the amount of interference in your area and also your budget.
A big wifi antenna can often boost the range of a wifi signal. One of the first things to consider before making a purchase is its size. A bigger and stronger antenna will usually ensure a most reliable wifi signal.
It is also important to determine the range of your wifi router. If the router is giving a weak signal, it may be due to many factors including power output, distance, and obstructions. Obstructions often include large furniture, walls, and trees. Considering these obstacles when choosing a wifi antenna is frequently beneficial. Your choice should be one that is powerful enough to amplify your wifi signal even with all the obstructions in the area.
The direction of wifi signal should also factor in to your wifi antenna choice. If you are just using it on one computer or if you are passing the wifi signal from one router to a single or even multiple receivers in one direction, it is often advantageous to consider a directional wifi antenna. When there are several devices in your home or building and they are situated in different areas, an omnidirectional wifi antenna will usually work best. There are generally many different types of wifi antennas being sold, and knowing their specifications may help you determine the best one to fit your needs.
Whether you are thinking of getting an indoor wifi antenna or an outdoor wifi antenna, it is often necessary to take into consideration the amount of interference your wifi signal will encounter. This is different from the physical obstructions that your signal usually encounters. Interference will invade your wifi signal, causing a weaker signal or sometimes, total interruption. Things that can cause interference include microwave ovens, microwave transmitters, and some lighting systems.
Budget is another important factor to consider. Some excellent wifi antennas may be too expensive, but this kind of equipment is often a good investment especially if you are going to use it for business. There are, however, cheaper ones you can buy that you can modify according to your needs and requirements.
How to use Wi-fi
Important Note: Using default settings, a wireless router allows anyone with any knowledge to easily connect to your network and use your internet connection and do what they will with your computers. But there are safe ways to use these devices. Enabling encryption, turning off ssid broadcasting, Mac address filtering, and changing your router's password are a must. High speed internet is a must. Buy the wireless router and any other necessary devices to connect to the router, such as pcmcia cards for laptops, usb devices, etc.
Steps:
Make sure your internet connection is working directly from your modem prior to connecting your router.
Hook your router up as per instructions. Any wired computers will plug into the LAN connections and one cable will go to the modem.
Log into the router using a wired computer with the ip address that is provided in the manual. Most are 192.168.0.1. Inputting this address in your browser's address window should get you there. Default login is "admin" , passwords vary, so check your book.
Turn on WPA-PSK encryption so that the data from your computer is encrypted and not visible by your neighbor.
Change the default router access password so that only you can logon.
Turn off SSID broadcasting as this tells anyone passing by with a wireless device that you have a connection available; also name SSID what you want. You will use this name when connecting from your wireless device.
Mac address filtering allows only your computer(s) to connect to your network so enable this as well. Finding your Mac address of your network device(s) is done by starting a command prompt window and typing "ipconfig/all" without the quotes. A typical Mac address is 00-06-5B-04-B4.
Click enable Mac address filtering, then type your computer's Mac addresses in and save.
WAN connection type will most likely be set to DHCP and should work fine at this setting for most applications.
Fire up your computer with the wireless device installed. You did type the Mac address for this device, right?
Start wireless setup wizard in Windows XP and it will walk you through connecting to your router. Use manual settings and check the box for wpa at the bottom. Remember that wpa-psk key/password you made earlier? You will input it here. SSID name will also be entered here.
If you have more than 1 computer and you would like to enable share files, click start>my network places then if you are using a Windows XP, on the side toolbar click "set up a home or small office network" and follow the steps with every computer.
If all went smoothly you will now be able to safely connect wirelessly.
Tips
Don't ever connect a wireless router without doing the above safety settings. By default they are setup "loose" so that they get the fewest tech support calls. A central location of where you are most likely to use your wireless devices is desirable.
Warnings
If you don't do the MAC address filtering or put a encryption then you computer is vulnerable to hackers because they can put files into your shared documents, print out of your printer (if you shared the printer) or they can do illegal stuff and get you fined.
~networld
