Do you understand what a “Wi-Fi hotspot” is?  No?  Then do not despair, because you are certainly not alone, as has been pointed out recently by the BBC.  

In order to try and help, we thought it might be useful to list some of the terminology related to “wireless networking” or mobile computing which includes the term above.

Wi-Fi:  Wireless Fidelity - an inter-operability, or compatibility certification for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) products.  It is based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard.

Wi-Fi Hotspot:  An area within which your laptop computer will be in range of a wireless transmitter/receiver (an Access Point), that will connect you to the Internet without a cable.  (NB: The computer does need to be equipped with a small wireless PC card to achieve a connection).

802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g:  These numbers represent standards that have been developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers), and refer to a type of radio technology used for wireless local area networks (WLANs).  These three standards cover networking at different radio frequencies and support transmission speeds ranging from 11 to 54Mbps (Mega Bits Per Second)

From this you will deduce that whilst wireless networking is now becoming increasingly popular (due to its flexibility and “freedom” from physical cabling), it does not yet compete with conventional network speeds which can now operate at up to 1Gbps (Giga Bits Per Second); that’s 1000 times faster than Mega Bit).

For further information on IEEE, visit their web site at:

http://standards.ieee.org

Access point:  A wireless LAN transceiver or "base station" that can connect a wired LAN to one or many wireless devices.  Access points, as well as forming the central core of a wireless network, can also “bridge” one network to another.

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 for security purposes. Different network names are used when setting up your individual computer, wired network or workgroup.

PC card:  A removable, credit-card-sized memory or Input/Output device that fits into a Type 2 PCMCIA (see definition below) standard slot in a personal computer.  PC Cards are used primarily in portable computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and laptops.  PC Card peripherals include Wi-Fi cards, memory cards, modems, Network Interface Cards (NICs), hard disk drives, etc.

PCMCIA:  Credit card size expansion cards now referred to as "PC Cards" were originally called "PCMCIA Cards" because they met the standards created by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association.

Range:  How far will your wireless network stretch? Most Wi-Fi systems will provide a range of a hundred feet or more.  Depending on the environment and the type of antenna used, Wi-Fi signals can have a range of up to a mile.  Multiple Access Points can be used to provide adequate coverage in a difficult radio environment (e.g. buildings with significant concrete and steel construction etc.)

WEP:  Wired Equivalent Privacy is a security protocol, specified in the IEEE Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard, 802.11b.  It is designed to provide a wireless local area network (WLAN) with a level of security and privacy comparable to what is usually expected of a wired LAN.  Most Wi-Fi products have built-in WEP security.  However, it has been shown that this protocol is not sufficient on its own to provide adequate security against unauthorised access to a Wireless Network. 

Wi-Fi Networking has begun to take off within Europe.  Many airports, railway stations, coffee shops and many other public places are being fitted out with Wi-Fi compatible access points to the Internet.  For a small charge, you can now take your laptop computer to any of these locations and browse the Internet.

The technology is also ideal for the small (and sometimes not so small) business, as it does not require extensive cabling and the associated disruption to the business premises.

For those who might like to find out more about mobile computing and wireless networking technology, a major event is taking place in London in November.

The Enterprise Wireless Technology exhibition and free conference is taking place in London’s Olympia on November 19 and 20.  For more information and to register, visit the exhibition site at:

http://www.enterprisewirelesstechnology.com