 |
| EMagazine Volume 5 Issue 4 Aug / Sep 2000 |
Features |
|
|
|
Interviews |
|
Free
Email Updates |
|
|
 |
| Home
Toys Article - August 2000 - [HTI Home Page] |
DIY Marketing Program Promote Your Products and Services [Click Message To Learn More] |
|
By using radio frequency based wireless networking (wireless Ethernet) systems with notebook computers, computer users can access the entire network from anywhere on their property. Radio signals travel easily through walls, floors and ceilings, so you can even work outside in your deck chair. |
ORiNOCO Residential Gateway will be available Mid July through various e-commerce merchants, numerous computer manufacturers as well as from Lucent’s partners and distributors. For more info: |
How many computers do you have at home? Is your family connected? Mom and dad have their own computers in the office and den…the kids have their own in their bedrooms and study areas.
You may also have have various peripherals like printers, scanners and computer controlled appliances as well as Internet connections.
|
By using a home networking system, these various users will be able to share the various peripherals and Internet connections, as well as the files and resources stored on various computers.
However, there are numerous options for setting up your own home networking system. You can use standard Ethernet cabling but that requires drilling holes in floors and walls, as well as running cables. If you are home-repair challenged, you can use a networking technology that uses existing power lines and telephone lines.
However, using those types of networking still means you are restricted to being near a power or phone outlet. This works fine for fixed location computers used in offices and bedrooms. However, if you want to compute outside, in the garage or even while strolling around your property, there is only one choice, wireless.
By using radio frequency based wireless networking (wireless Ethernet) systems with notebook computers, computer users can access the entire network from anywhere on their property. Radio signals travel easily through walls, floors and ceilings, so you can even work outside in your deck chair. Depending on where you place the residential gateway and the construction of your home, you can get a range of up to 1200 feet.
Your kids can do their homework in the backyard patio or in their tree house. Your significant other can access the Internet while working on a project in the garage workshop. And grandpa can sit in the garden downloading cultivation tips from the Internet. All can be on the Internet, all can share their files, and all can print using the same printer. You can even carry your notebook or handheld computer from room to room while you are working or downloading files from the Internet.
There are a variety of wireless home networking and Internet access products hitting the market. For example, Lucent Technologies recently announced the ORiNOCO Residential Gateway for high-speed wireless home networking and Internet Access.
The
ORiNOCO solution uses PC cards that slide into a notebook computer’s PCMCIA
Type II slots, or by using ISA or PCI slot adapters, into desktop computers. The
ORiNOCO Residential Gateway includes a built-in 56K modem and an Ethernet jack
for connecting to a network or to a DSL and cable modem. In addition to linking
ten or more computer users, the ORiNOCO includes a built-in NAT router that
enables all users to share the same Internet connection.
Like other Wi-Fi and 802.11b compliant wireless home networks, the system operates at an 11 Mbps throughput, much faster than most phone line and power line based systems.
Wi-Fi compliancy means that the ORiNOCO system will work with other 802.11b wireless networking systems. Wireless LAN cards from manufacturers like Apple, Cabletron, IBM, HP, etc.
In addition to being able to compute anywhere, Wi-Fi wireless networking provides security. By using individual keys and encryption, these Wi-Fi wireless systems provide what’s known as WEP (wired equivalent privacy). In other words, they offer the same level of privacy you can expect using an Ethernet based system. In addition, several different radio channels are provided so you can select the best channel for your home wireless system.
The ORiNOCO system also enables you to use your wireless notebook outside the home, at the office or in public hot spots like airports and hotels. Many offices, universities and business centers are already using 802.11-compliant wireless LAN technology and the new ORiNOCO will work with it. Within the next few years, Lucent is working with a variety of organizations and companies to roll out high security versions of ORiNOCO in public area hot spots worldwide. This means you will be able to use your wireless notebook in all of these areas, without having to change out wireless cards or configurations.
Wireless Ethernet lets you enjoy the freedom and flexibility of modern computing technology without compromising performance and security. Finally, wireless LAN products are not expensive. As an example, the Lucent ORiNOCO home network, with the Residential Gateway and one extra card, costs $449.
ORiNOCO will be available Mid July through various e-commerce merchants, numerous computer manufacturers as well as from Lucent’s partners and distributors.
For more info, check www.lucent.com/Orinoco / WECA info www.wi-fi.org
