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Gadgetman builds an airport at home - no strings attached |
 Ever dreamt of browsing the internet, checking your email, or playing multi-player games while on the hammock in the back yard? No? Well, I have and now I can.
The computers in our house are connected by radio signals. This means that they can share an internet connection and files wherever they are, without the need for multiple cables and phone ports. Our house no longer has ethernet cords trailing around like blue boa constrictors.
We use an Apple system, in which the wireless network is called an ‘Airport’. All Macs and iBooks now come ‘Airport’ ready, which means the software is incorporated into the system and the connectors and antennae are invisibly built into the case. An optional $199 airport card is required to drive the port. It is also available through a number of suppliers for Windows based PCs, as the more prosaically named IEEE 802.11 DSSS standard.
The network requires a ‘base station’, which is plugged into a telephone line, and becomes a router enabling other computers on the network to access the internet. The base station can be a standalone piece of futuristic looking hardware (Apple $690), or one of your computers can be configured as a base station using the supplied software. This can have a normal modem or DSL connection.
The network has a speed of 11 megabytes per second, which is satisfactorily fast, and has a range of about 50m. Cordless phone like, it can go through walls.
Wireless networks come into their own when one of the computers accessing them is a laptop. I use a laptop on my desk at work (it takes up less space, is less obtrusive in the consultation, stays on in a blackout, and I can take it home at night).
The system was easy to set up and use. I have had some trouble with the base station not disconnecting from the internet connection after an idle period which I trust will be fixed in the next software release.
There are some security issues. The network is password protected to prevent your wireless enabled neighbour from using your internet connection to watch the Naked News each night. However, there are reports that the encryption used is not strong, and that a computer science masters student (or any boy aged about 12) can hack into the system. This makes it currently unsuitable for accessing patient data in the surgery.
Wireless networking now provides a relatively cheap, flexible and fun solution to setting up home networks.
tlembke@medicineau.net.au
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