A Wireless Router is a computer networking device that combines a wireless access point (base station), a wired LAN switch and a router with connections to a cable or DSL service. When the router connects to the internet, the wireless access point or base station that is connected to this router buffers and forwards data packets across an internetwork towards their destinations. These destinantions vary from a small number of wired and any number of wireless computers.
The Wireless acess points acts as the hub or central transit point for all the data flowing between the wireless network and wired network. There are as many types of wireless network as there are wireless standards: draft 802.11n, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, and Bluetooth. New standards are using MIMO technology nowadays, which allows them to achieve higher performance.[1,2,3]
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Routers are physical devices that join multiple wired or wireless networks together. Technically, a wired or wireless router is a Layer 3 gateway, Routers act as the gateway between your broadband connection (DSL or cable modem) and your home network and the router operates at the network layer of the OSI model.
Networking technicians often use an Internet Protocol (IP) wired or wireless router, IP being the most common OSI network layer protocol. An IP router such as a DSL or cable modem broadband router joins the home's local area network (LAN) to the wide-area network (WAN) of the Internet Service Provider.[1,2]
Wireless router is a small electronic device that allows us to build a home and business network in a simple way. The wireless router serves as the core or "centerpiece" of the network to which computers, printers and other devices can be connected. Such Wireless Networking with a router helps to achieve: [1,2]
* File Sharing between computers
* Internet connection sharing between computers
* Printer Sharing
* Connecting the game console or other home entertainment equipment to the Internet
*Convenience of easier maintenance as your network grows.
Wireless technology represents a progression in technology and perhaps a new era in telecommunications. This technology has been used for a century and has been synonymous with radio. The history of wireless technology takes us to the beginning of 19th century. Around that time the "Father of Radio" Guglielmo Marconi, began experementing with radio waves across long distances. In 1896 Marconi was able to get patent for radio signals and was able to transmit signals across the Atlantic.
Wireless technology eventually progressed to an extent to become an invaluable tool used by the U.S. Military. The Military configured wireless signals to transmit data over a medium that had complex encryption, which makes unauthorized access to network traffic almost impossible. This type of technology was first introduced during World War II when the Army began sending battle plans over enemy lines and when Navy ships instructed their fleets from shore to shore.
Wireless is also proving to be a valuable and secure communications medium for many businesses and schools. They can expand their computing arena by expanding their wired local area networks (LAN) using wireless LANs. The first wireless LAN came together in 1971 when networking technologies met radio communications at the University of Hawaii as a research project called ALOHNET. The bi-directional star topology of the system included seven computers deployed over four islands to communicate with the central computer on the Oahu Island without using phone lines. And so, wireless technology, as we know it, began its journey into every house, classroom, and business around the world.
(Multiple Input Multiple Output) Pronounced "my-mo," is the method of utilizing multiple antennas (transmitters and recievers) on wireless devices for improved performance. The basic principles behind MIMO is to use multiple recivers to increase data rate.When two transmitters and two or more receivers are used, two simultaneous data streams can be sent, which double the data rate. Multiple receivers alone allow greater distances between devices. MIMO technology appears in some WiFi routers, greatly enhancing their capability over single-antenna routers.
The protocols and signal ranges for MIMO WiFi routers are same as the ones used by non-MIMO routers. Standards which use MIMo technology tend to achieve higher performance by more aggressively transmitting and receiving data over WiFi channels. The advantages of using MIMO signaling technology are that it can increase network bandwidth, range and reliability, Althought it achieves all those benchmarks at the potential cost of interfering with other wirless equipment.[6]
The fast and upcoming IEEE 802.11n wireless standard uses MIMO at a minimum 108Mbps which is double the 54 Mbps speed of commonly used 802.11a and 802.11g.
802.11n is the third-generation WiFi standard for wireless home networking. 802.11n supports speeds comparable with Fast Ethernet. 802.11n equipment additionally offers increased wireless range over 802.11g and earlier 802.11b gear.
This enhancement to the IEEE 802.11 wireless network standard that increases transmission speeds to 108 Mbps and beyond. Expected in the 2007 time frame, there are two competing technologies, although both of them are MIMO based, which uses multiple transmitters and receivers.[6]
[1]
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/homenetworking/a/routernetworks.htm
[2]
http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/routers/g/bldef_router.htm
[3]
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wirelessrouters/tp/80211nprenhome.htm
[4]
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=80211&i=37204,00.asp
[5]
http://www.jhsph.edu/wireless/history.html
[5]
http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=80211n&i=37213,00.asp
Wireless Security
WiFi Security
Wireless Ad-hoc Network Intrusion Detection System
WiMax
Speed of WiMax
Author: Tarun Bagga
Last Revised: April 5, 2007