I thought that a good follow up to my page on Ethernet cabling would be a page about wireless networks. In the last year wireless networking systems have become cheaper, easier to set up, and now more companies are producing them compared to the past. Although wireless networks have become popular for commercial use, they have not been implemented in home use as a result of high costs. This has started to change in the past few years.

Instead of mapping out your house and drilling holes through the walls and floors, you can now purchase a wireless system. At one point, it was hard to locate these systems, and then when you did, you would pay a high price to purchase one. Now the technology has advanced and there are many different types of wireless networks being produced today. Also, the price has dropped significantly. You can expect to pay about $200–$1000, depending on the setup that you choose.

There are two styles of wireless networks that you can decide between, HomeRF and IEEE 802.11, or Wi-Fi. HomeRF has been the standard in wireless networks in homes for years, but just recently, Wi-Fi has been integrated from corporate to private use. So, why is Wi-Fi becoming so popular with wireless network users?

Wi-Fi seems to do just about everything better than HomeRF. It runs faster, has a greater range, and more companies use it. Wi-Fi typically runs at 10 Mbps, and HomeRF runs at 1.6 Mbps. The speed difference is dramatic. HomeRF systems will be getting a speed boost in the near future. The new HomeRF units should be out some time this year. The range on Wi-Fi is also larger. Wi-Fi will usually have a range of 300 to 500 feet indoors, and HomeRF's range is typically 150 to 300 feet indoors. If someone has a lab-top computer they use at work on a Wi-Fi network, the Wi-Fi PC Card is already installed, which makes an easy transition to ones home. So, many people are choosing Wi-Fi for compatability reasons.

Security is an issue in Wi-Fi networks because none of the networks incorporate encryption algorithm. Here is a resent article about security problems in Wi-Fi networks (article from CNN.com). HomeRF uses Blowfish encryption, which provides some safety but is still not totally secure from hackers. If you have no need to worry about hackers because you lack sensitive materials on your home computer, than Wi-Fi is the speedy way to go. If you want a cheaper more secure network, then you should look into a HomeRF setup.

Below are some pages that go more in-depth about Wi-Fi and HomeRF networks and how to set them up. Some of the HomeRF pages are old because HomeRF networks have taken the back burner since Wi-Fi hit the market.

Wi-Fi and HomeRF

This is the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Allianceŭs home page. It is a group of companies and individuals that have banned together to support Wi-Fi technology. The company tests and certifies WLAN to promote quality. This page only has information about the security issues you run into when using a Wi-Fi network unless you become a member. It also keeps nonmembers informed about what is going on in the news.