Here's what you need to know about wireless networking, from the standards and technologies to the best products for your home or office.
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You may already have a home network and now want to connect it with your friend's network across the street, or perhaps you want to create a public hot spot to draw customers to your business. With the right equipment, you can expand your network for more extensive coverage in your own home or bridge the digital divide in your neighborhood by starting a community network.
Wireless bridges |
Antennae |
Signal boosters |
Repeaters
 Wireless bridges
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A bridge connects two or more wireless networks in a large home, across the street, or across campus. Bridges attach networks together either through point-to-point or point-to-multipoint connections. Not long ago, bridges were expensive high-end products, but now you can find consumer bridges at very reasonable prices. Unfortunately, this technology varies based on the chipset and the firmware, so bridges tend to work only with other bridges of the same type and model. If you decide you want to bridge two networks, we suggest you settle on a brand and stick with it.
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Linksys WET54G
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Things to consider about a bridge
• Is it compatible with other bridges and access points?
• Does it have a removable antenna or an external connector?
• How many Ethernet ports does it have?
• Does it include both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint modes?
• Is it easy to install?
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Antennae
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The best way to increase the range of your wireless network is to add a better antenna. Antennae transmit signals in different ways. For example, if you want to share Internet access with your immediate neighbors, install an omnidirectional antenna on your roof. If you want to cover a specific location, such as the park across the street, a directional antenna works best. For faraway areas, you will need a high-gain antenna capable of bridging the gap. In general, the higher the gain of the antenna, the further its reach will be. Look for an antenna that has been certified by the FCC to work with the router, the access point, or the adapter that you plan to use with it. Also be sure that the antenna has the right type of connector to mate with the connector on your networking gear.
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Buffalo AirStation extended range antenna |
Things to consider about antennae
• Do you want to cover a broad area or make a long-distance link to another location?
• What is the gain of the antenna?
• What type of antenna connector do you need?
• Is the antenna certified by the FCC for use with your equipment? |
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Signal boosters
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Signal boosters can increase your range by amplifying the radio signal on your access point or router. This can give you the added range you're looking for if your signal stops just short of where you want it to go. There are legal power limits on the 2.4GHz radios inside wireless networking gear, so you'll need to check to see whether an FCC-certified signal booster is available for your specific device. Signal boosters amplify both the signal and the noise coming out of the radio and can increase interference problems with other 2.4GHz devices, which makes using an antenna a more elegant and more neighborly means of extending your range.
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Linksys WSB24 wireless signal booster |
Things to consider about amplifiers
• Is the signal booster FCC certified for use with your device?
• Could you use an antenna to increase your range instead? |
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Repeaters
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As a digital signal travels down a cable or through the air, it gradually gets weaker. To get the signal to go farther, you need a device that can pick it up, then send it off again at full strength. Repeaters do just this. Repeaters are easy to confuse with bridges, and in fact, some access points and bridges include a repeater mode that allows the device to receive a signal from another access point and repeat it to adapters or other access points within its range. However, some bridges are capable only of talking to other bridges. Look carefully at the feature set to see if the product you are considering offers a repeater mode.
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Buffalo Wireless repeater |
Things to consider about a repeater
• Is it compatible with your other repeaters and access points?
• Does it have a removable antenna or an external connector?
• How many Ethernet ports, if any, does it have?
• Does it include both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint modes?
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