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