| Wireless networking, like so many things in life -- | | | | up. They are sometimes used on university |
| and especially the ones that have anything to do | | | | campuses.Mbps. Megabits per second, a |
| with computers -- is filled with jargon. Hi-tech | | | | measurement of connection speed. Not to be |
| babble baffles many Don't be intimidated, though: | | | | confused with MBps, megabytes per second. |
| here's a quick computer-speak to English guide to | | | | There are eight megabits in a megabyte.PAN. |
| help you out.802.11. The name of the wireless | | | | Personal Area Network. These are networks |
| networking standard, set by the IEEE. Ensures | | | | made up of devices connected together in one |
| that wireless devices are interoperable.Driver. A | | | | small area. For example, your computer with a |
| piece of computer software that tells the | | | | USB keyboard and mouse connected is a PAN. |
| computer how to talk to devices that are plugged | | | | PANs can be wireless, using a technology called |
| into it. For wireless networking, the drivers you | | | | Bluetooth.PCI. Peripheral Component Interconnect. |
| need to install will come on a CD with any | | | | This is a way of installing new devices inside your |
| equipment you buy.Ethernet. The most common | | | | computer, such as graphics cards and network |
| way of connecting to a LAN. Any wires you | | | | devices. If you want to install a wireless card |
| might have connecting your computers together | | | | inside your computer, you will be using |
| now are Ethernet wires, and the cable connecting | | | | PCI.PCMCIA. Personal Computer Memory Card |
| your modem to your computer is probably an | | | | International Association (some say it should stand |
| Ethernet wire too.Ghz. Gigahertz. A measurement | | | | for 'People Can't Memorise Computer Industry |
| of frequency -- one gigahertz is one billion cycles | | | | Acronyms'). A standard for plugging credit |
| per second. You may recognise the measurement | | | | card-sized devices into a laptop, to give it extra |
| from computer processor speeds, which are now | | | | capabilities. PCMCIA is a great way of adding |
| also measured in Ghz.IEEE. The Institute of | | | | wireless networking to your laptop as easily as |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In charge of | | | | inserting a disk.USB. Universal Serial Bus. A port |
| the wireless networking standard, as well as many | | | | used for connecting all sorts of devices to a |
| other computer-related standards (including the | | | | computer, including keyboards, mice, printers, |
| Ethernet standard). They ensure that computer | | | | external drives, and almost anything else you can |
| equipment made by different manufacturers can | | | | think of. If you don't want to open up your |
| work together.Interoperable. Means that two | | | | computer and you don't have a laptop, you can |
| pieces of equipment are compatible -- you can | | | | get a USB wireless device.WAN. Wide Area |
| use them together, because they stick to the | | | | Network. A network that is connected over more |
| standards. You should not get any wireless | | | | than one physical site, such as a business that has |
| equipment that isn't interoperable.LAN. Local Area | | | | its computers in two countries connected on one |
| Network. A network that is generally confined to | | | | network. The Internet, for example, is a WAN -- |
| one building, such as a home or office. A wireless | | | | the biggest WAN in the world.WEP. Wired |
| LAN is also known as a WLAN.Linux. An | | | | Equivalent Privacy. The old standard for |
| alternative operating system to Windows. | | | | encrypting wireless networks. Unfortunately, it |
| Computers running Linux can run many programs | | | | was found to be insecure back in 2001, and so |
| and connect to the Internet without needing | | | | should no longer be used.WPA. Wi-Fi Protected |
| Windows. Linux is free to download and you are | | | | Access. Basically an upgrade of WEP to fix its |
| allowed to give it to friends to use. A lot of | | | | security problems. WPA-encrypted networks |
| wireless devices run Linux, or are compatible with | | | | change their encryption method often, to avoid |
| it.MAN. Metropolitan Area Network. A network | | | | becoming vulnerable, and also shut down for thirty |
| that covers a larger area, for example a town or | | | | seconds if they detect a suspected attack.Written |
| city. Wireless MANs (men?) spread Internet | | | | by Jason Keno of Private Investigation and PC |
| access all over the area, but are expensive to set | | | | Security Software. |