|
Access Point
Hardware device that serves as a hub to provide a
wireless connection to a wireless-enabled computer. Acess
Points currently have of range up to 300 feet.
Ad-Hoc mode
Client setting allowing peer-to-peer connectivity in a
wireless LAN.
Backbone
A large network that links two or more subnetworks and is
the primary path for data transmission for a large
business or corporation. An example of a backbone
provider are Worldcom, AT&T and Pier1.
Bandwidth
Amount of the frequency spectrum that is usable for data
transfer. It identifies the maximum data rate that a
signal can attain on the medium without encountering
significant loss of power, and specifies the amount of
the frequency spectrum that is usable for data transfer.
Baud Rate
The rate at which data is transferred.
Bits per second (bps)
A measurement of how fast data moves over a communication
line. A bit is the basic measure of data.
Bluetooth
A technology specification for linking notebook
computers, PDA's and mobile phones for short-range
transmission of voice and data across a global radio
frequency band without the need for cables or wires.
Bluetooth operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency spectrum,
with a range of 30 feet.
Bridge
A bridge connects devices that all use the same kind of
protocol.
Broadband
A high-speed, high-capacity transmissions channel.
Broadband channels are carried on coaxial or fiber-optic
cables that have a wider bandwidth than
conventional telephone lines, giving them the ability to
carry video, voice, and data simultaneously. Broadband is
often used to send different types of signals
simultaneously.
Cable modem
Used to connect a computer to a cable TV service that
provides Internet access. Most cable modems have an
Ethernet out-cable that attaches to the user's Wi-Fi
gateway.
Client
Any computer connected to a network that requests
services (files, print capability) from another member of
the network. 'Client' also refers to the software that
makes this connection possible.
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)
Digital Subscriber Line is a connection type that uses
the existing copper telephone wiring to allow for a
simultaneous, constant Internet connection and standard
telephone service. DSL comes in various forms that
allowfor speeds ranging from 32 Kbps upwards of 25 Mbps.
Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum
(DSSS)
A wireless LAN technology, Direct Sequence Spread
Spectrum (DSSS) uses a radio transmitter to spread data
packets over a fixed range of the frequency band,
spreading its signal continuously over a wide frequency
band.
Dial Up
A dial-up connection is a connection from a computer to a
server over standard telephone lines, establishing a
direct connection to the Internet.
DHCP
Utility that enables a server to dynamically assign IP
addresses from a predefined list and limit their time of
use so that they can be reassigned.
DNS
Translates URLs to IP addresses by accessing a database
maintained on a collection of Internet root servers. DNS
server converts a name like wi-ficanada.com to a series
of numbers like 204.174.223.1.
Driver
A driver is a program that controls a device; it acts as
a translator between the device and programs that use the
device.
Encryption key
A series of alphanumeric data to be encrypted and then
decrypted so it can be safely shared among members of a
network. WEP uses an encryption key that automatically
encrypts outgoing wireless data. On the receiving side,
the same encryption key enables the computer to
automatically decrypt the information so it can be read.
Ethernet
The most widely used LAN access method, which is defined
by the IEEE 802.3 standard. Ethernet is normally a shared
media LAN meaning that all devices on the network segment
share total bandwidth.
Firewall
A system that secures a network and prevents access by
unauthorized users. Firewalls can be software, hardware
or a combination of both. Firewalls can
prevent unrestricted access into a network, as well as
restrict data from flowing out of a network.
FireWire
FireWire is the IEEE standard for input/output technology
that connects multimedia and storage peripherals to a PC.
FireWire can provide a bandwidth of about 400 Mbps.
Gateway
A gateway is an access point with additional software
capabilities such as providing NAT and DHCP. Gateways may
also provide VPN support, roaming, firewalls, various
levels of security.
Gigahertz (GHz)
One billion hertz. A Hertz is the international unit for
measuring frequency, equivalent to the older unit of
cycles per second. The standard U.S. electrical
power frequency is 60 Hz and wireless 802.11 LANs operate
at 2.4 GHz.
Host
A computer connected directly to the Internet that
provides services to other local and/or remote computers.
It functions as the beginning and end of data transfers.
A host is also a computer to which an expansion device
attaches. When a LAN card is installed in a PC, that PC
is the host to that adapter.
HotSpot
A place where you can access Wi-Fi service such as
coffeeshops, airport lounge, train station, or hotels.
Corporations and campuses are also implementing HotSpots
to provide low cost wireless Internet access.
Hub
A device used to connect PCs to a network via Ethernet
cabling or WiFi. A hub transmits packets it receives to
all the connected ports. A small wired hub may only
connect 4 computers; a large hub can connect 48 or more.
Wireless hubs can connect hundreds.
HZ
International unit for measuring frequency, equivalent to
the older unit of cycles per second. One megahertz (MHz)
is one million hertz. One gigahertz (GHz) is one billion
hertz. Wireless 802.11b LANs operate at 2.4 GHz.
Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
A membership organization based in New York that includes
engineers, scientists, and students in electronics and
allied fields. It has more than 300,000 members and is
involved with setting standards for computers and
communications.
IEEE 802.11
IEEE 802.xx is a set of specifications for LANs from the
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE).
802.11 defines the standard for wirelessLANs encompassing
three incompatible (non-interoperable) technologies:
Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), Direct Sequence
Spread Spectrum (DSSS), and
Infrared.
Internet
A global network of computer networks, evolved from the
ARPANET that use TCP/IP to communicate and share
information. Often, the Internet refers to a group of
Local Area Networks (LAN) connected by wire, radio,
satellite signals or some other form of communication.
Internet Protocol (IP)
A method or protocol by which data is sent from one
computer to another on a network or over the Internet. IP
provides the basis of the Internet.
IP Address
A 32-bit number that identifies each sender or receiver
of information that is sent across the Internet. An IP
address has two parts: the identifier of a particular
network on the Internet and an identifier of the
particular device (which can be a
server or a workstation) within that network.
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
An organization that provides access to the Internet.
Small ISPs provide service via modem and ISDN while the
larger ones also offer private line hookups (T1,
fractional T1, etc.). Kilobytes per second (Kbps) It is
1,000 bits per second, a measure of the speed in which
data can be transmitted from one device to another.
ISS
A special software application that allows all PCs on a
network access to the Internet simultaneously through a
single connection and Internet Service Provider (ISP)
account.
Local Area Network (LAN)
A high-speed, privately owned computer network covering a
limited geographical area, such as an office or a
building. The benefits include the sharing
of Internet access, files, and equipment such as printers
and storage devices. Wireless LANs use wireless
communications in a home or office to network all PCs
together.
Megabyte
A megabyte (MB) is a standard measure of data size. A
megabyte is equal to 1024 kilobytes (KB).
Modem
A device used to connect a computer to a phone line or
coble, which converts signals between a digital form and
an analog form.
Network
Two or more computers connected together sharing
resources.
NAT
A network that enables numerous computers to dynamically
share a single incoming IP address from a dial-up, cable
or xDSL connection. NAT takes the single incoming IP
address and creates new IP address for each client
computer on the network.
Network name
Identifies the wireless network for all the shared
components. During the installation process for most
wireless networks, you need to enter the network name or
SSID. Different network names are used when setting up
your individual computer, wired network or workgroup.
NIC
A type of PC adapter card that either works without wires
(Wi-Fi) or attaches to a network cable to provide two-way
communication between the computer and
network devices such as a hub or switch. Most office
wired NICs operate at 10 Mbps (Ethernet), 100 Mbps (Fast
Ethernet) or 10/100 Mbps dual speed. High-speed
Gigabit and 10 Gigabit NIC cards are also available.
Peer-to-peer network
A network that has no server or central hub or router.
All the networked PCs are able to act as a network server
or client, and each client computer can talk to all the
other wireless computers without having to go through an
access point or hub.
Personal Computer Memory Card
International Association (PCMCIA)
A credit-card sized device designed as a platform for
add-on memory for portable computers, but later expanded
to include a wide range of peripherals including pagers
and radio modems.
PDA
Small computers but with many of the same computing and
communication capabilities as a laptop. PDAs can provide
wireless connectivity via embedded
Wi-Fi Card radios, slide-in PC Card radios, or Compact
Flash Wi-Fi radios.
POTS
Plain Old Telephone Service or the standard analog
telephone service.
Proxy server
A proxy server is able to prevent direct communication
between two or
more networks. The proxy server forwards allowable data
requests to remote servers and/or responds to data
requests directly from stored remote server data.
Radio Frequency (RF)
A generic term for radio-based technology. The unit for
measuring radio frequency is Hertz (Hz), which is
equivalent to the older unit of cycles per second.
Range
A measure of the distance that a transmitter can send a
signal.
Roaming
Seamlessly moving from one coverage area to another with
no loss in connectivity.
Router
A router can connect networks that use differing
protocols. It also reads the addresses included in the
packets and routes them to the appropriate computer
station, working with any other routers in the network to
choose the best path to send the packets on.
Server
A computer that holds information and responds to
requests for services from other computers known as
clients.
Service Set Identifier
A common identifier that all computers on the same
wireless LAN share.
Spread Spectrum
A radio transmission technology that "spreads" the user
information over a much wider bandwidth than otherwise
required in order to gain benefits such as improved
interference tolerance and unlicensed operation.
T1
A high-speed, leased-line connection for data traffic.
Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
Protocol used to send data in the form of individual
units called packets between computers over the Internet.
IP takes care of handling the actual delivery of the
data, whereas TCP keeps track of the packets that a
message is divided into for efficient routing through the
Internet.
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A wide area network connects local area networks
together. Typical WAN includes DSL, cable, T1, T3 and
ISDN.
Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)
Data communication system implemented as an extension to
or as an alternative for a wired LAN within a building,
campus or business. WLANs transmit and receive data over
the air, minimizing the need for wired connections.
WISP
Wireless Internet Service Provider is similar to a
traditional Internet Service Provider (ISP) providing
access to the Internet for a fee. An example of this is
t-mobile or fatport.
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a non-public
connection between two computers that sends private data
over a shared or public network. VPNs allow users to gain
access to corporate resources with security features that
can include encryption, authentication and tunneling.
10BaseT
IEEE standard (802.3) for operating 10 Mbps Ethernet
networks with twisted pair cabling and a wiring hub.
802.11 standard
802.11, or IEEE 802.11, is a type of radio technology
used for wireless local area networks (WLANs). Currently
there are three standards used inculind 802.11a, 802.11b
and 802.11g. Most providers are moving to the 802.11g as
it offers faster speeds over the other two standards.
Wi-Fi
Several standards operate in different radio frequencies:
802.11b is a standard for wireless LANs operating in the
2.4 GHz spectrum with a bandwidth of 11 Mbps; 802.11a is
a different standard for wireless LANs, and pertains to
systems operating in the 5 GHz frequency range with a
bandwidth of 54 Mbps and 802.11g, is foroperates in the
2.4 GHz frequency but with bandwidth of 54 Mbps.
802.11a
The IEEE specification for wireless networking that
operates in the 5 GHz frequency range with a maximum 54
Mbps data transfer rate.
802.11b
The IEEE specification for wireless networking that
operates in the 2.4GHz frequency range with a maximum 11
Mbps data transfer rate.
802.11g
Similar to 802.11b, but has throughput of up to 54 Mbps.
It operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency but uses a different
radio technology in order to boost overall bandwidth.
|
|
|
Wi-Fi
Recommended
Sony
Notebooks
Dell Handheld
Fujitsu
Notebook
  
Dell Handheld
Low Cost
Flights
 
Rent a Car
Sony Handheld
|
|
