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WiFiNetworking

There are various WiFi technologies available to home computer users. For a very extensive and well pitched background on what exactly WiFi is, visit the Wikipedia page on WiFi.

Even though WiFi protocols boast such data rates as 11Mbps, 54Mbps and higher, actual data throughput depends on distance between nodes, the number of nodes in a network and the network protocol(s) being used on the network. Collisions and retries are common, and although automatically handled they do reduce transfer rates.

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/tutorials/article.php/992011 has a good rundown of what kinds of transfer speeds you will commonly observe with 802.11b (i.e. 11Mbps). The news isn't that hot - typical speeds are between 2Mbps (i.e. fast JetStream?) and 6Mbps.

Also, if you are planning on running a WiFi network at home, bear in mind that even if you have two 802.11g capable WiFi cards (i.e. 54Mbps), they will only operate at 802.11b (11Mbps) unless there is a local access point providing a 802.11g service.

Also take a look at our WiFi Security Page

Meetings.2007-3-14 Connecting to the Otago Uni wireless network was discussed at this meeting.