Mainstream Wireless Networking

Wireless networking products have hit the mainstream market lately. Before these products were released wireless networking was either very slow or very expensive.

One of the older methods of wireless networking was to aim an inferred laser at an inferred detector and transmit the information by pulsating the laser. This had the obvious disadvantage of needing line of site in order to work. Other methods have more resemblance to the mainstream products just released. They would use radio transmitters like in cordless phone to communicate. These radio Ethernet adapters were not practical because they were either to expensive, the range was to short, or they were to slow.

Three main types of wireless networking products are out now. The first kind uses radio communication to make the networking connection. These products have serious range limitations. Two different frequencies of products are available. The first type is 2.6 GHz, which has a maximum range of 150 feet. The other uses 900 MHz, which has a range of 125 feet. The second type uses power lines already installed in the walls to transmit over. The idea here is by transmitting at frequencies not present in the power cables clean communication will be achieved. The problem here is that with heavy load on the power lines the connection becomes unstable. The last type uses phone cables already installed in the walls to transmit over. This system is the fastest, has the greatest range and is the most reliable. The disadvantage here is that it is not truly wireless.

Some of the different wireless products out there are the Diamond HomeFree Wireless Desktop Pac (Radio Transmitters), the Proxim Symphony Suite (Radio Transmitters), The WebGear Aviator Wireless Networking Kit (Radio Transmitters), Intelogis PassPort Plug-in Network (Transmits over power wires), and the Tut Systems HomeRun (transmits over phone wires). This last one seems the best if true wireless connectivity is not required. Of the three it is the fastest, most reliable, and the easiest to install.

After reviewing all these systems I think that I would stick with traditional Ethernet for now. All these systems say that they can achieve 1 Mbps but in practice don't even get close. When I compare this to the ultra reliable 10 Mbps speeds of my current network it does not make me want to change.

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