Wireless at the Workplace
By Jonathan Coupal

Wi-Fi, or wireless fidelity, is a term promulgated by the non-profit Wireless Fidelity Alliance organization to designate products adhering to the IEEE 802.11 standard for wireless LANs. A Wi-Fi network broadcasts a radio signal, operating in the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, with a data rate of between 11 (IEEE 802.11b) and 54 Mbps (IEEE 802.11a).

“A new generation of ‘Wi-Fi certified’ wireless products have emerged which not only incorporate state-of-the-art security measures, but also ensure interoperability across Wi-Fi certified products from different manufacturers. ”

Benefits of Wi-Fi:

With Wi-Fi networks, an entirely new set of benefits and services can be offered:

· Access to the wired corporate network and the Internet for laptop users and guests, anywhere within corporate offices

· Freedom from wire connections, making it easy to move office locations without incurring network wiring costs

· True modular phone access within corporate buildings, where service is frequently spotty, by using Wi-Fi gateways to route phone calls and signals from other hand-held devices

· "Last mile" installations in which calling might be inconvenient or expensive

Planning the Installation:

The first step in any wireless installation is planning. That is, you must first determine who needs wireless access, where the users will be, and how they will access the network. It is recommended that you perform a walkabout of the area and obtain a blueprint of the building.

A Wi-Fi radio signal has a range of about 100 to 300 feet indoors, and up to 2,000 feet outdoors. And an access point can handle from 10 to 30 users, depending upon use patterns. For highly-populated cubicle areas, for example, multiple access points may be needed. Possible obstructions must be identified, as signals will pass through most walls but will stop at metal obstructions, such as elevator shafts. Also, overlaps in coverage should be built in to avoid blind spots.

Second, obtain the necessary equipment. Unless you have only a few users and will be using a peer-to-peer network, you will need base stations as determined by your plan. For the office, companies such as Cisco, Symbol, and 3Com offer enterprise-grade office equipment with the latest security features. To avoid conflicts, buy all equipment from the same company, and make sure that adjacent access points use the same frequency but different channels.