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Wireless networking - Jargon Buster
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Today's wireless networking equipment is easy to set up: just plug it together and sometimes install some software. Here's a list of some terms used.
| Adaptor | A plug-in device that gives computers and laptops wireless capabilities. |
| G or 802.11g | The standard WiFi connection speed, 54 megabits per second (mbps). It refers to the speed at which data moves between devices on the same network, NOT the speed of your Internet connection. |
| G+ 802.11g | A faster WiFi connection speed, over double that of G at 125mbps. |
| Hotspot | Public access point allowing wireless connection to the Internet, often located in places like airports, hotels and bars. |
| MBPS | Megabits per second. A measurement of how fast information is transmitted on a computer network. |
| N1 or N+ | The fastest current WiFi connection, at 300mbps. |
| NAS | Network Attached Storage. A hard disk (or other storage device) that's linked to your computers via the wireless network, rather than plugged into your computer directly. The advantage is your computers can share it. |
| Network | A series of computers or devices linked together by wires or wirelessly. |
| Print server | A network device that enables multiple computers to share and operate a network printer wirelessly. |
| Range | Distance and ability of the network signal to travel around the home. Measured in either Standard or Wide radius. Wide is preferred if the building has thick walls or if the user intends to be further away. |
| Router | The heart of a wireless network, a box through which your computers and printers connect to each other and to the Internet. If you receive your internet service by cable, a cable router plugs into the cable modem; if you get broadband over the phone line, a modem router connects to your phone socket. Both allow the connection to be shared. |
| USB | High-speed multipurpose connection on your PC, used by wireless adaptors. USB2.0 is best; the older USB1.0 still works, but is slower. |
| VoIP | ‘Voice over internet protocol’ allows you to make phone calls via your boardband connection. |
| WiFi | The generic term for wireless networking. The area within which you can connect to a WiFi network (its range) is called a 'hotspot'. |
| Wireless laptop card | A credit card-sized card that can be installed in most laptops to facilitate wireless communication. |
