Less is more: Create a network with no wires
Wireless computing has arrived. It seems everyone wants to unplug, and it's easy to see why.
When computers connect with the Internet -- and to one another -- without bulky, tangle-prone cords, you can surf for recipes from the kitchen, share the Internet connection among your home's computers, and check e-mails from bed.
''Wireless bridges the digital divide," says Thomas A. McGonagle, computer engineering professor at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology and network engineer with the Federal Aviation Administration.
An advocate for the technology's proliferation, McGonagle volunteers with the Boston Wireless Task Force, which aims to build a free citywide network, and he organizes monthly meetings for the Boston Wireless Advocacy Group (BostonWAG).
''Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge are all building free-access, citywide networks," he says. ''It's a very exciting time for wireless."
McGonagle encourages everyone to establish a home wireless network. So how do you get started? Here are the basic ingredients he recommends: a computer with Windows XP, or a Mac with OS 10.3 or newer; a wireless network card; an Internet subscription service such as through Comcast or EarthLink, and a wireless router.
Expect to spend about $100 to $300 for wireless equipment, not including the computer and Internet service.
Your PC will also need a recent security-upgraded version of Windows XP. (You can download the latest security patches free of charge from Microsoft.com.)
Routers form the heart of any computer network. They allow your computer to connect wirelessly to a printer, share an Internet connection with other computers in the house, and move files among computers.
But McGonagle says to make sure that router is equipped with WiFi Protected Access, or WPA, to thwart hackers from stealing your data or jumping onto your Internet connection. And once you have the router, the first thing you have to do is configure it for security. ''All routers come with the security features turned off," he warned.
Your wireless network card should also have WPA security. That's why, if you purchased your computer in 2005 or earlier, you will probably need a new wireless network card for each machine. The older wireless network cards are not WPA-equipped, so your data would be vulnerable to thieves, even if your router has WPA.
''All manufacturers now produce wireless cards with WPA support," McGonagle said. ''But it can't hurt to ask before you buy, just to be sure."
Another caution: avoid MIMO routers. These Multi Input, Multi Output gadgets achieve excellent signal quality and range by hogging the wireless spectrum up to 219 yards away. If you live in the city or suburbs, your MIMO router will knock out your wireless-enabled neighbors' connections.
And if your neighbors also have MIMO, you'll all lose your connections. MIMO also won't work with those free Wi-Fi hotspots that are popping up in increasing numbers of cafes and libraries.
''The most useful routers are those based on the 802.11g standard," says McGonagle, whose own home router, an 802.11g, is the LinkSys WRT54G. 802.11g is a technical standard that allows devices from different manufacturers to work together.
WIFI RESOURCES
Check out the latest equipment and information at boston.com/business.
