Wireless Jargon - wireless networking terminology and definitions.

The words used to describe wireless networking terminology, just like for other computer-related issues contains some jargon we will now briefly explain to you.

802.11

This stands for the wireless networking standard, originally developed by the IEEE. It is the existence of these standards that guarantees the interoperability of wireless networks.

Driver

A part of computer software in charge of informing the computer about how to talk to plugged devices. In the case of wireless networking, the drivers to be installed come directly on a CD together with the equipment you purchase.

Ethernet

The most widespread method of connecting to a LAN. Today, wires that connect your computers together are all of this type, and the cable that connects your modem to your computer is almost certainly an Ethernet wire as well.

Ghz

Gigahertz. This is a measurement of frequency, one gigahertz being one billion cycles per second. The same unit of measurement is now used for describing computer processor speeds.

IEEE

It stands for The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the organization responsible for many computer-related standards (including the Ethernet standard) as well as the wireless networking standard itself. These standards make it possible for computer devices produced by different manufacturers to work together.

Interoperable

The term refers to the compatibility between two pieces of equipment - allowing you to use them simultaneously as they stick to the standards. So, make sure to get wireless equipment that is interoperable.

LAN

Local Area Network. A network that is generally restricted to one building, like your home or office. A wireless LAN is often called WLAN.

Linux

This is an alternative operating system to Windows that allows computers to run a lot of programs and connect to the Internet without having to use Windows. Linux can be downloaded for free and you are allowed to pass it on to your friends too. Many wireless devices run this system, or are at least compatible with it.

MAN

Metropolitan Area Network. This network can cover a larger area, such as a university campus, or even an entire town or city. Although Internet is spread all over the area by wireless MANs, these networks are expensive to set up.

Mbps

Megabits per second is a unit of measurement used to describe connection speed. Do not confuse it with MBps, which is megabytes per second. One megabyte is made of eight megabits.

PAN

Personal Area Network. These are networks having devices linked together in a little area. For instance, if you connect your computer with a USB keyboard and mouse, the result is a PAN. They can also be wireless with Bluetooth.

PCI

Peripheral Component Interconnect. It defines a method for installing new devices, such as graphics cards and network devices, in your computer. You will use this method when installing a wireless card as well.

PCMCIA

Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (some claim that it should mean 'People Can't Memorise Computer Industry Acronyms'). It refers to a standard for plugging into a laptop different credit card-sized devices to increase its capabilities. This way, by putting in a disk you can without any major difficulties add wireless networking to your laptop.

USB

Universal Serial Bus is a port that connects all sorts of equipment to your computer, such as keyboards, printers, mouse, external drives, etc. Getting a USB wireless device, to use for wireless networking , can be very useful in case you don't intend to open up your computer and you don't have a laptop.

WAN

Wide Area Network is a network that connects more than one physical site, as in the case of a company that uses computers in different locations connected on one network. The biggest example of a WAN is actually the Internet.

WEP

Wired Equivalent Privacy. This is the old standard used for encrypting wireless networks that isn't used any longer as it was found to be dangerous in 2001.

WPA

Wi-Fi Protected Access. This is practically an upgrade of WEP developed to overcome its safety problems. To avoid becoming vulnerable, WPA-encrypted networks modify their ways of encryption over and over again, and also shut down for thirty seconds when an attack is sensed.

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