A wireless network consists of computers or devices that do not communicate through network cables, but instead through wireless signals. A wireless network uses wireless methods to transmit and receive data allowing you to roam around freely and even be connected to the network or Internet outdoors. While wireless networking can consist of several types of wireless communications like Wi-Fi, infrared light, or radio frequencies, it can also be used by many devices, such as computers, cell-phones, pocket PCs, and PDAs. For this lesson we will be concentrating on small home or office Wi-Fi networks, which are mostly used by home and office computers.

The advantage of Wi-Fi is its simplicity. You can connect computers anywhere in your home or office to a network or to the Internet without the need for wires. The computers connect to the network using radio signals, and computers can be up to 100 feet from the router. Wireless speeds for 802.11 started off at 2-11MBps, but over the years has improved to 54MBps with 802.11b and 802.11g. The latest 802.11g wireless standard transmits at 2.4 GHz.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) creates standards for networking. The 802.11 standard covers wireless networks. The a, b and g notations identify different flavors of the 802.11 standard:

• 802.11b was the first version to reach the marketplace. It is the slowest and least expensive of the three. As mentioned above, 802.11b transmits at 2.4 GHz and can handle up to 11 megabits per second.
• 802.11a was next. It operates at 5 GHz and can handle up to 54 megabits per second. It is mostly used in larger wireless network environments.
• 802.11g is a mix of both worlds. It operates at 2.4 GHz (giving it a cost advantage over 802.11b) but it has the 54 Mbps speed of 802.11a.

Windows XP has built-in wireless capabilities, which means non-Microsoft software is not required when configuring or connecting to a wireless network. Windows XP offers you two methods of connecting to wireless networks: Automatic and Manual. When automatically connecting to wireless networks in Windows XP you have the option of using the Wireless Network Setup Wizard or using the Automatic Wireless Network Configuration. Both of these automatic methods will help you detect, configure, and connect to wireless networks within your range. When manually connecting to wireless networks the specific wireless information must be entered before you can connect.