Overview

The wireless market over the last few years has been a particularly exciting environment, with advancements in technology bringing mobile convenience to the hands of the consumer. Access to the Internet and personal area networking through cellular phones and mobile devices is being made possible through new and exciting technologies such as WAP (wireless application protocol), 3G cellular networks, and Bluetooth.

In the home also, consumers are requiring solutions that do not add any additional wires or phone jacks in their homes. The solutions must also be simple to install for the consumer, easy to use and low cost. It certainly must provide bandwidth to support common home networking applications, while not compromising the security of the home.

Wireless technologies such as Bluetooth, HomeRF, IEEE 802.11, and HiperLAN2 can be used in areas where we can not take advantage of the existing wires or cost can not be justified for additional wiring. Wireless networking allows mobility but bandwidth remains an issue. Bluetooth is a popular personal area network technology gaining momentum through the backing from several corporations. IEEE 802.11 and HiperLAN2 are wireless LAN technologies focussing on telecommuters, SOHOs, and hospitals. HomeRF remains focussed on transmission of voice and data around the house.

Wireless home networking solutions bring their advantages and disadvantages. Wireless technologies provide the traditional flexibility and mobility. The ability to access data from anywhere at anytime is very convenient. Wireless technologies support a broad geography on any specific frequency. The biggest advantage wireless technologies bring is configuring them to augment wired technologies. Wireless technologies however come at an added up front cost. While they may turn out cheaper long term, wireless networks do have additional costs. There is also a distance limit of 150 feet. Wireless networking brings an added worry about security. Eaves-dropping on a wireless network is much easier because there is no physical connection. The biggest disadvantage of wireless networking is narrowband interference due to reflections but this can be avoided by advancements in technology.

Leading Technology

HomeRF
Bluetooth
Wireless LANs (IEEE 802.11, HiperLAN2)