In Part 1, we discussed some basic
equipment to help you build your wireless network. Now here's a
quick overview of some of the terminology:
The Internet
Protocol
Address is a unique number used to
refer to a specific device. The IP address can be static or
dynamic, depending on the situation. You can manually assign each
device an IP address, but normally you will use
Dynamic
Host Configuration
Protocol to automatically assign the
addresses and prevent assignment conflicts. Think of the IP
Address as a PO box, and DHCP as the local postmaster. The main
thing you need to know here is to enable DHCP for automatic IP address
assignments when setting up your router.
A Domain
Name
System is a database that
cross-references a domain name (i.e.
www.yourname.com) with its related IP Address (i.e.
151.162.160.205), making it easier for you to type the
Uniform Resource
Locator address in the address box
of your browser. Network
Address
Translation can be enabled, if
available, in your router to add an additional layer of security.
A NAT basically reassigns the device address broadcast to the web,
making it harder for someone to gain unauthorized access to your device.
Wired Equivalent
Privacy is another way to help
secure your wireless network. This encryption method has been
superseded by Wi-Fi
Protected
Access, and eventually by WPA2, but
it is still widely used and may be the first encryption method offered
for you to secure your network. Be sure to enable at least WEP on
your router when you set it up. You will have to establish a
Service
Set Identifier
for your network (give the network a unique name via the router
interface), and set up a network key -- essentially a network passcode
-- that the router and the network device (a computer, for instance)
will exchange. The router will generate an encrypted code based on
the passcode you enter. You will enter this encrypted code in the
network setup interface on your computer or other device. Devices
that cannot give the router the correct code will be unable to access
the network. This helps prevent someone from sitting on the street
and using your network and Internet connection. This may sound a
bit confusing, but it will make more sense as you follow the wizards to
set up your router and configure your computer for access. A lot
of the setup is handled by the computer wizard simply by asking you to
respond to a series of questions. Of course, you can set
the network up manually for extra control. In fact, you may find
that you manually fine-tune your network once in awhile after you have
it set up and begin to get comfortable with the process.
802.11 is the primary
communication standard currently in use for wireless networks right now.
It comes in several flavors, but you will normally want
802.11g
at a minimum. This allows you to communicate at speeds of 54
Megabits
per second.
As a frame of reference, Ethernet (wired) network connections usually
transmit and receive at speeds of 100 Mbps. In actual fact, the
speed designations are there primarily for reference. Most
technicians will tell you that your network speed is affected by many
factors and may not normally attain the speed designation assigned.
Let's review. Be sure to get a router with 802.11g capability
and preferably a NAT. Enable WEP and DHCP when you set up your
network.
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