What is a Wireless LAN?
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) connects computers together
through radio technology, giving the benefits of a wired network but
without the costs of wiring cables to every computer. It also gives
mobile devices, such as laptop or handheld computers, access to a
local network and the Internet.
 

With wireless technology, you are able to access your e-mail, the Internet, and even your files and applications, anywhere you have access to a wireless network. You can stay connected in public places like airports, hotels and restaurants, wherever wireless access is
available.

How Do Wireless Networks Work?
Wireless technology works in a similar way to a mobile phone system: radio waves, instead of wires, carry data from one point to another. Like a mobile phone network, there are limitations on where
you can access the network. You must be within range of an access point (AP), the radio transceiver part of a wireless network that transmits data to your computer. However, unlike a mobile phone
network, APs can be set up in organisations or homes, to link computers without line rental or connection charges.

Wireless Standards
802.11 is the original standard, established by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 1997. It operates at a radio frequency of around 2.4GHz and provides for data rates of 1Mbps
and 2Mbps. This standard is now largely obsolete, with little if any equipment still commercially available.
 

Most current wireless networks use the 802.11b standard for transmission. Established in 1999 as the successor to the original 802.11 standard, it provides a range of up to 100 metres and a data
rate of up to 11 Megabits/second. Its transmission frequency (2.4 GHz) does not require a licence, but that frequency band is also used by microwave ovens and other consumer devices, and this can
interfere with the signal and lower the data rate.
 

The 802.11a standard was established at the same time as 802.11b, but its adoption has been slower, because it requires more complex equipment and, until recently, it needed a licence for operation in the UK. This standard gives a higher data rate, of up to 54 megabits/second. It also uses a different coding scheme to transmit the data that has been specifically designed for use indoors.
The main drawback of 802.11a is that it uses a higher frequency for the transmission (5GHz) than 802.11b. For a given power, its range is shorter, which may mean installing more APs. Also, a computer with an 802.11a card cannot access a network using 802.11b APs. For compatibility, some recent APs offer support for both standards.
 

802.11g is a newer standard that gives the same speed as 802.11a and also has the advantage of being backward compatible with 802.11b. But the compatibility comes with a penalty: It operates on
the same crowded frequency as 802.11b. Equipment for this standard is becoming more widespread and cheap, but earlier versions of products were not always compatible between different vendors.
 

The 802.11h standard is being devised to meet requirements for using the 5GHz band in the European Union, and may replace 802.11a in Europe. It provides for a data rate of up to 54Mbps,
dynamic channel selection and transmission power control.

If you feel wireless is the way forward for your school and you would like some testing carried out, then call us on 01279 730800 / 900 to arrange an appointment.