How Do You Become a WiFi Hotspot?

WiFi is a very hot commodity worldwide...for both users & those wanting to cash in on the business potential. Below you'll find some things to consider if you're one of those interested in the business potential of WiFi. If you have more to add....please do.

I'll try to keep this as simple as possible.

Here's some simple ideas you should consider for becoming a WiFi Hotspot.

* To turn your business into a hotspot, you really only need 2 things:

- Hotspot Kit (which should include hardware, software, and remote monitoring)

- High Speed Internet (whatever is appropriate for your situation....DSL, T1, or DS3 connectivity)

* Before you order your hotspot kit, you need to first determine what type of service you will need:

- Single Access Point OR

- Multiple Access Point

The number of connection points you need is determined by the amount of area that you wish to make available for wireless internet access. For example....larger hotels will require one access point per every 20 rooms (on average) while a coffee shop can adequately service their clientele with just a single access point.

* The last decision you will need to make is whether or not to bill your clients for wireless internet access. Today, more and more enterprises are offering wireless internet access as a value-added service in an effort to attract more visitors to their hotels/shops. In today's competitive environment, offering complimentary hot zones can be the determining factor when customers weigh your offering against that of your competitors.

However, should you find that billing your customers is what you want to do, find a provider who can help you do that. Your hotspot kit should come with software that will enable you to take credit cards right over your gateway (the page the users 'see' when they try to access the web using your hotspot). You'll likely partner with that provider in that revenues would be shared by both you and "them". Thae provider you choose will make sure the hotspot is running efficiently. This allows you to focus on your key business and to receive a profit-share check each and every month your customers log on to the net in your hotspot.

The above is a simplistic description of what you'll need to think about before becoming a WiFi hotspot. Do your homework along these lines and you'll have a decent foundation to make a good business sense decision.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

WiFi Hotspots News is PDA Game Boon

I came across some intriguing WiFi access news on the TechNewsWorld site.

Seattle residents in the US are partaking of WiFi access made available by the King County Metro Transit.

While some folks in Seattle may be thinking of checking their email on the go and similar mundanities, I'll be thinking along distinctly different lines if the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission) suddenly adopts it.

Snails, Warfare Incorporated and some Stuntcar Extreme to whet my Pocket PC wireless multiplayer gaming appetite, for starters.

The only real problem would be convincing even the most dedicated PDA gamers in light of a recent, ill-timed bus shooting in the city.

Paranoia would presumably detract from the whole gaming experience.

Fortunately for Pocket PC and Palm gamers, there's been an enormous push towards WiFi hotspot availability recently.

My WiFi Hotspots gaming article spoke of the city of Philadelphia's talks to implement municipality-wide hotspot access.

It also mentions the recent WiFi access game agreement between McDonald's and Nintendo for Nintendo DS users.

It may be for the best.

It's advantageous to burn off some of the 1300 calories of a quarter pounder with cheese, large fries and large shake, albeit via rapid thumb movement.

With WiFi access becoming so prevalent, let's get ready for the plethora of WiFi PDA game goodness that will hopefully follow.

Damian Julien is a Pocket PC gaming authority and long time general gaming hobbyist and reviewer.

He is an IT specialist by trade and has posted numerous articles on Pocket PC emulators, gaming and trends in the industry.

http://www.pdagameguide.com/

Nintendo Outpacing PDA WiFi Gaming

Nintendo's WiFi plan for Nintendo DS handheld gaming is pushing it a few leagues ahead of the pack.

According to the TechNewsWorld site, Nintendo DS WiFi gamers on the move will partake of free online WiFi gaming in areas of Asia and Europe.

This will allow Nintendo DS owners to find online users at WiFi hotspots, even jumping in with home-based wireless configurations.

Nintendo has already one-upped Pocket PC WiFi gamers with their recent wireless access deal for McDonald's patrons.

The former delivered a knockout punch in the industry by making 7,500 available hotspots in the UK.

Some free access to fortunate Nintendo DS owners who are probably thanking the gaming gods at the moment.

It'll be sheer WiFi hotspot overload for WiFi PDA gamers who were already there, technology-wise.

Nintendo DS users are not only gaining ground-- they're passing the WiFi PDA game community. At least for the moment.

Selecting the wireless connection mode on this handheld is simple next to the comparatively encryption-saddled Pocket PC.

Third-party PDA apps help somewhat, but base WiFi configuration on the Pocket PC can be an exercise in frustration to some users.

It seems to get easier with each subsequent Winows Mobile release.

It's for these reasons that some say Pocket PC gaming is for the more technically savvy.

Let's instead hold out for easier WiFi gaming on Pocket PCs to level out the playing field.

Damian Julien is a Pocket PC gaming authority and long time general gaming hobbyist and reviewer.

He is an IT specialist by trade and has posted numerous articles on Pocket PC emulators, gaming and trends in the industry.

http://www.pdagameguide.com/

Connect to the Internet Through Wifi

Wifi known as Wireless Fidelity allows a user to connect to the internet without using network cabling. Whether it’s from your bedroom, couch, indoors or outdoors data can be sent and received within the range of a wireless base station. Wifi uses 802.11a or 802.11b technologies to provide a very reliable connection that is also fast and secure.

Wifi is available to every type of internet user and allows multiple users to connect to each other, other devices and the internet. However, your connecting device will need to have a Wifi certified card (PC Card or PCMCIA card) and it will connect to other certified products such as a base station or access point. It also saves on the cost and distance limitations of using cables, not to mention the unsightly look of running cables throughout an area.

These networks are very useful in the business and sales industry as they allow salespeople and travelers to connect to the network with ease and not be confined to one location to access applications such as email and databases. They allow business networks to easily expand and grow making a Wifi network a very useful technology in the business world. Businesses no longer need to abandon current network infrastructures and start over, they can simply use this wireless technology to easily change the network and allow for rapid growth.

Wifi networks work at the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands and possible speeds of 11 or 54 Mbps. Their speeds are very comparable to 10baseT networks and allow for easy network access. A Wifi network is essentially plug and play as you can turn on a certified device and connect to the wireless network providing you have the proper authentication and security credentials.

Wifi networks have security in the form of WEP (Wired Equivalent Protocol) that can provide the same level of security as that of a wired LAN. Wireless networks that are transmitted over radio waves are more susceptible to security problems, but WEP aims to provide security by encrypting the data sent over the radio waves.

James Hunt has spent 15 years as a professional writer and researcher covering stories that cover a whole spectrum of interest. Read more at http://www.wifi-central.info

NetGear Skype WiFi Phone Review

Stealing the show at CES 2006 in Las Vegas for the Hyper Cell Phone Category was the NetGear - Skype WiFi Phone. In reviewing this technology it is unbelievable the amount of technology going into this little handheld 3-in-one advice.

This phone only needs a WiFi network to use VoIP or surf. Meanwhile you can use it like a regular cell phone too. We are entering a new age of cell phones which are portable juke boxes, MP3 Players, video games, PDAs, watches, video phones, surfing units, VoIP phones, holographic displays, email enabled and full GPS capabilities too. This a beginning of a new era.

The NetGear Corporation and Skype also announced that the NetGear RangeMax Wireless Router (WPN824) with Smart MIMO technology at the CES Show and it will allow you obviously when working together to turn your walk-around house phone into a WiFi VoIP phone around the house.

You can sit by the pool or BBQ with your telephone and send emails and surf using these systems together. Or you can go out and about and anytime you are in range with a WiFi system you can use your phone for whatever you wish. Looks as if NetGear is on the leading edge of handheld devices, which can do multi-functions. Think on this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Huntsville, AL Offers Municipal WiFi Offering That Makes Sense

For the past several years, municipalities across the country have talked about and even begun implementing free WiFi offering. Many critics of these plans have claimed that cities have no business offering free high-speed wireless access as it competes with local telephone companies, cable providers of broadband, cellular companies and even local small business owners that use free wireless access to attract customers.

Proponents of free municipal provided WiFi say that it will bring internet access to lower-income households, improve tourism and benefit businesses. There are benefits, but many of these do not pass even the most basic cost-benefit analysis.

Even with free internet access, the cost for a computer and wireless card are still a large barrier for many low-income households, but the “digital divide” is one that does need continued attention. A better program would include a program for providing refurbished computers, training and fixed line broadband at no cost.

General businesses use a tremendous amount of bandwidth and currently pay large fees for these services. If a municipality offers free access WiFi, business will begin to transition to the free service. With the increased load on the municipal network and decreased service provider revenue from the businesses, the service fees the municipality pays will increase drastically. As these costs increase, the general tax base will need to cover these services, which fundamentally spreads the costs among all, even those people and businesses that are not using the internet.

Some municipalities have proposed offering WiFi for a cost and simply providing free services for low-income households, but this still leaves the cost of the initial computer hardware as a barrier to internet access and moves the city into the position of a utility/service provider.

There is a noticeable benefit to tourism, especially business travel, when advertised, but most municipalities have only proposed these all encompassing wireless offerings.

Enter a simple but novel approach from Huntsville, Alabama. Many do not think of Alabama as a technology front mover, but Huntsville is home to 1) one of the country’s two U.S. Space Camps 2) Intergraph Corporation, 3) sizeable offices for Boeing, Northrop Grumman, LG Electronics and Lockheed Martin 4) Redstone Arsenal which houses several military and NASA installations, plus external associate firms 5) many other large technical installations and smaller R&D houses.

Huntsville’s approach to WiFi is to partner with Traveller Internet Solutions to offer a limited free WiFi solution to visitors of the Big Spring International Park, which covers the Von Braun Convention Center (170,000+ square foot center) and much of downtown.

Technicians are still fine tuning the service and will fully activate the links shortly. When completed, each user will be given three free house of service per month, with the ability to pay for extended service.

This three hour free offering will serve the need of most business and personal travelers and are projected to be a great new benefit for the convention center. In exchange for the right to offer and charge for extended services, Traveller provides the WiFi network, under municipal supervision, at no cost to the city. This arrangement also allows businesses and even the convention center the ability to work with Traveller to provide additional complimentary hours.

Other municipalities would do well to copy this arrangement from Huntsville. It provides wireless data access to visitors and residents for basic needs at little cost to tax payers, may even become a revenue stream from commissions on extended plans sold by the service provider and leaves open the possibility of helping low-income households access the internet.

Kurt Uhlir, a Chicago technologist and regular commentator on video games by day, oversees products and strategy for Extremely Sharp Swords, Knives & Martial Arts. Visit ES at http://www.extremely-sharp.com

ARP, MAC, Poisoning, & WiFi

In this paper we will cover the basics on Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), Media Access Control Addresses (MAC), Wireless (WiFi), and layer 2 communications. I hope to explain how a “Man in the Middle Attack” works. The common name for this is ARP poisoning, MAC poisoning, or Spoofing. Before we can get into how the poisoning works we need to learn about how the OSI model works and what happens at layer 2 of the OSI Model. To keep this basic we will only scratch the surface on the OSI model to get the idea of how protocols work and communicate with each other.

The OSI (open Systems interconnection) model was developed by the International Standards Organization (ISO) in 1984 in an attempt to provide some standard to the way networking should work. It is a theoretical layered model in which the notion of networking is divided into several layers, each of which defines specific functions and/or features. However this model is only general guidelines for developing usable network interfaces and protocols. Sometimes it may become very difficult to distinguish between each layer as some vendors do not adhere to the model completely. Despite all this the OSI model has earned the honor of being "the model" upon which all good network protocols are based.

The OSI Model

The OSI Model is based upon 7 layers (Application layer, Presentation Layer, Session Layer, Transport Layer, Network Layer, Data Link Layer and the Physical layer). For our proposes we will review layer 2 (data link layer), Data Link layer defines the format of data on the network. A network data frame, aka packet, includes checksum, source and destination address, and data. The data link layer handles the physical and logical connections to the packet's destination, using a network interface. A host connected to an Ethernet network would have an Ethernet interface (NIC) to handle connections to the outside world, and a loop back interface to send packets to itself.

Ethernet addressing uses a unique, 48-bit address called its Ethernet address or Media Access Control (MAC) address. MAC addresses are usually represented as six colon-separated pairs of hex digits, e.g., 8A:0B:20:11:AC:85. This number is unique and is associated with a particular Ethernet device. The data link layer's protocol-specific header specifies the MAC address of the packet's source and destination. When a packet is sent to all hosts (broadcast), a special MAC address (ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff) is used. Now with this concept covered we need to explain what APR is and how is corresponds to the MAC address.

The Address Resolution Protocol is used to dynamically discover the mapping between a layer 3 (protocol) and a layer 2 (hardware) address. ARP is used to dynamically build and maintain a mapping database between link local layer 2 addresses and layer 3 addresses. In the common case this table is for mapping Ethernet to IP addresses. This database is called the ARP Table. The ARP Table is the true source when it comes to routing traffic on a Switch (layer 2 device).

ARP Table

Now that we have explored MAC addresses and APR Tables we need to talk about poisoning. APR Poisoning; also referred to as ARP poison routing (APR), ARP cache poisoning, & spoofing. A method of attacking an Ethernet LAN by updating the target computer’s ARP cache/table with both a forged ARP request and reply packets in an effort to change the Layer 2 Ethernet MAC address (i.e., the address of the network card) to one that the attacker can monitor.

The Attack

Because the ARP replies have been forged, the target computer sends frames that were meant for the original destination to the attacker’s computer first so the frames can be read. A successful APR attempt is invisible to the user. Since the end user never sees the ARP poisoning they will surf online like normal while the attacker is collecting data from the session. The data collected can be passwords to e-mail, banking accounts, or websites. This kind of attack is also known as “Man in the Middle Attack”. This kind of attack basically works like this: attackers PC sends poisoned ARP request to the gateway device (router), The gateway device now thinks the route to any PC on the subnet needs to go though the attackers PC. All hosts on the subnet thinks the attackers IP/MAC is the gateway and they send all traffic though that computer and the attacking PC forwards the data to the gateway. So what you end up having is one PC (attacker) sees all traffic on the network. If this attach is aimed at one user the Attack can just spoof the victims MAC to his own and only affect that MAC on the subnet. Keep in mind that the gateway (router) is designed to have lager routing tables and many sessions connected to it at once. Most PC’s can not handle too many routes and sessions so the attackers PC has to be a fast PC (this depends on the volume of traffic on the subnet) to keep up with the flow of data. In some cases a network can crash or freeze if the attacker’s PC is unable to route the data effectively. The network Crashes because the number packets dropping due to the fact the Attackers PC is unable to keep up with the flow of data.

Wardriving Anyone?

Now a lot of people think there safe because there home network is inside there house. Well this is not true you first should always have a firewall on any internet connection. An attacker can just as easy spoof the ISP’s devices (Cable modem or DLS router) to get all your out bound data. If you are using wireless remember to setup encryption or you have just invited Attackers into you home with no firewall to block them. I have drove in many cities with my wireless card on seeing over 60% of all AP’s open with no security. There is a sport called Wardriving witch involves driving in your car with a wireless network card to find wireless networks. Most Wardrivers do not get onto the networks they find but they do document them (normally with GPS). The idea behind Wardriving is just to see how many AP’s you can find and this sport has caught on big in the US. It would be very easy to get an IP on a Wireless network and then ARP Poison the subnet.

This can be done in less than 2 minutes on an open wireless access point. Once the attacker is on your subnet they can start receiving all your data so if you buy anything online the attacker now has you credit card info. There are ways to prevent this kind of attack but most switches are vulnerable to this kind of attack. To prevent ARP Poisoning you need a Switch that supports security features and most vendors’ equipment can handle this but theses kinds of switch devices normally cost more money. Keep in mind that there are many free tools on the internet that perform ARP Poisoning/Spoofing. It is not hard to use the tools and with more and more home users going wireless the risk of an attacker getting you data keeps rising. The best thing to do for protection is to understand the basics of your network and if you want wireless make sure you have WEP enabled.

The Good Guys

So far we have covered how attackers use APR Poisoning to intercept user’s data but there are also good reasons to ARP Poison a network. Most network engineers need to sniff the protocols on a network to make sure the data is flowing correct. The problem with sniffing on a switch network is that you can only see data bound to your interface and broadcast traffic. On unmanageable switches there is no way to see all host traffic to inspect it. With ARP Poisoning you can now divert all traffic to pass though the sniffers interface and see all data on the network and analyze the traffic for possible issues.

Admins & Engineers maybe trouble shooting speed issues on a subnet and need to see all the traffic. Once you spoof the subnet to sniff the traffic you will be able to see if viruses or a bad NIC card is causing a broadcast storm on the subnet. With any tool there are always good and bad uses and the thing to remember is be careful of what you do online line because anyone could be monitoring you. If you have any question about poisoning feel free to send me an e-mail at slimjim100@gmail.com.

By Slimjim100 (Brian Wilson)
http://www.middlegeorgia.org
http://www.middlegeorgia.info

Automobile Pedestrian Radar Hurt WiFi Performance

And for those of us to have WiFi enabled computers, we know it is very important to get a good line of site connection when we use our computers or laptops from our vehicles. Unfortunately some of the new pedestrian high-tech radars being installed in modern automobiles will cut the signal.

So if you are a real estate agent downloading your e-mails on your computer in the parking lot at Starbucks or in front of the best Western hotel or even the parking lot outside your office, you may become very frustrated with someone in a new SUV with high-tech everything electronics balances in the parking lot and over the speed bump, as their pedestrian radar will cut your signal short.

Recently I talked with some Honda engineers at a trade show and I asked them if I am inside Starbucks using their WiFi and one of your cars with the special pedestrian radar parks out front facing in through the glass; will it cut my signal? They said that is entirely possible, however if the key is out of the ignition to pedestrian radar is turned off.

They did tell me that the new Volvo pedestrian radars do have a stronger signal and they would definitely cut my signal. At the SEMA autoshow there were several new prototypes of aftermarket pedestrian radars, which hooked into the dashboard or directly to the battery and they would go off even if the car was parked in the key was out of the ignition. This poses a problem also for those who are trying to pick up a WiFi signal from across the street and a delivery truck drives by with one of those aftermarket pedestrian radars. Bummer.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

WiFi and You - A First Look

Just about everyone remotely interested in computers has heard of Wi-Fi. Much less people know of what it is, what it stands for, or what it does. It has many applications in home and business life- so it is important to know about this bit of technology.

The Wi-Fi revolution started when the branded name was used to describe the wireless local area network technology that was being developed. It has been used in keyboards, phones, cars, televisions, and many more applications. It is the technology that lets two or more electrical devices ‘communicate’ with one another.

Modernly, the term is used to describe internet access- but it should be noted it has many other uses. (The Nintendo Wii being named after the technology, being a good example of gaming applications)

Typically, the process involves setting up an access point, or AP. The AP will transmit information to computer in range of its frequency, and usually can do so with great speed. This lets you set up LAN’s without the dreadful wiring, and take advantage of ‘hot spots’, or public internet access points.

The only drawback is that it drains batteries, if they are being used. Information can sometimes be intercepted, if you are running it on an un-secure transmission. If you have experience, and can properly set up your own Wi-Fi point, you should be perfectly fine. Otherwise, get a professional to do it- no need to risk an intrusion.

The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, and in the future it seems that Wi-Fi will become a standard. It is good to get to know the technology now, rather than wait until later and be lost. If you are tech savvy, this is the perfect way to clear the messy, tangled wires at your next LAN.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on computers and the internet and visit our associated site articles for free.

What Can WiFi Technology Do For You?

Wifi (wireless fidelity) has brought a new dimension in the field of wireless networking. The transmission of data is done through the radio waves in the free space. It cuts down the cost of laying down the cables for network connections. Wi-Fi allows the user to access the Internet anywhere in or around the given location, but requires a separate Internet service.

These days Wifi hotspots are installed in various public places, where people can connect to the network such as, Libraries, Hotels, college campuses, office buildings, coffee shops, and many other public areas. That made business users who can gain extra work time, by squeezing in Internet time at various Wifi hotspots in need for the service.

Having a good Wi-Fi experience directly translates into a satisfying Internet experience. Hence we see that wifi has numerous advantages. If we consider the present world, we find that the demands for the wifi connections are increasing. People are beginning to appreciate the advanced features wifi network provides to the user. Due to its increasing demand the scope of the wifi network is also on the rise.

You can have a better speed of Internet connection by using wifi network. Since the bandwidth provided by wireless cutwork is large connection speed between two nodes is faster. It is also faster to transmit data between two devices connected through wifi. Wifi cuts down the cost of laying down the cable for network connection. With no wires attached it is possible that the sender node can be mobile. The equipments required to fully establishing the wifi network anywhere is relatively cheap. So the cost incurred in establishing the wireless wifi connection is cheaper and also very easy to install. Wifi established in small place do not even need the wireless routers.

Wifi is rather amazing, you can surf the world, download songs, send email and transfer files conveniently at high speed and at some distance away from your Internet connection. In addition you do not have to call or pay electrician to string the Internet network wiring in your home. If you wish to move your computer, you can just pick it up and make the move. Wifi is actually quite simple, useful and most of all convenient.

M.Awara onlineweblibrary.com
You can read more articles about Satellite TV and many other Science & Technology different topics provided with featured videos
Visit: http://www.onlineweblibrary.com

Brief Write Up On WiFi

With the worlds technology booming so fast it was inevitable that the means of networking and connecting to the internet would become more advanced and way more convenient. Wired connections of networks and a means to connect to the internet have been here for quite some time and will still be around for a very long time. This is because it provides a relatively fast connection and a more secure connection than wireless. But if we look at the needs and wants of all consumers of internet, we all want convenience, and to be tied down to phone lines is not the answer to the problem. This is the very reason why wireless connection has come out. However with convenience comes a big price; and that is none other than security. We all look for privacy and security. We all would like to think that we can be rest assured that our emails are not being read by others or that our online banking is safe and secure. This is not always the case; any computer connecting to the internet runs the risk of being hacked or hijacked. However this is just done more easily when using a wireless network or connecting to internet wirelessly.

It's like having a huge supermarket that has no walls just few security guards around the stock. It's clear that the stock of the supermarket can be stolen easily just by outsmarting the security or by moving around them so that you don't get caught.

Similarly; when using wi-fi, your packets of data is like the stock of the supermarket. Your packets of data is protected by an encryption; however, just the same as the guards being outsmarted so can this encryption be broken or cracked. Last, is the fact that your data is moving through the air, that is why it's called wireless; this is seen as the whole supermarket that has no walls.

The steps a hacker would take are very easily done and anyone with a computer is capable of doing it. There are three main steps.

The first step would be to look for your "supermarket". In other words, searching and picking up a connection in your range; this can be done by simply keeping your laptop on and walking or driving around till you find a network.

The second step would be to locate the "stock of the supermarket". In other words, sniffing through the air, using simple hacking programs, to find data packets.

Once these packets of data is located and sniffed for important data, then it's on to the final step. The final step would be to crack the password or encryption of the data that you have found. This can be easily done with another hackers program that allows a brute force attack on the encryption. This simply means that the program will try every possible combination to crack the password.

That's all it takes to hack another persons wi-fi to get important data or just to use the victims network so that the hacker has free internet. However, one may take simple steps to make ones data more secure and make the hackers job more harder to do and possibly stop him/her from even trying.

These steps may help

1) Use a good firewall and antivirus
2) Change the admin and users passwords
3) Keep you WEP or WPA encryption on
4) Turn the auto connect feature off (only connect when trusted!!)
5) Turn off WiFi off completely when not in use
6) Surf using a VPN (virtual private network)

These are just some steps to take to keep yourself a bit more secure. But the main thing to know is that "NOTHING IS HACK PROOF". If you can keep that in mind then you might understand the importance of security.

WiFi Turns Internet Into Hideout for Criminals

In February of this year, the Washington Post ran a story that made Americans aware that with all the strides that have been made to keep criminals away from children online, the effort is far from over. The previous summer, detectives arrived at a high rise building in Arlington County to arrest a suspected pedophile who had been traced to an apartment from his online trading of child pornography.

When detectives arrived at the apartment, they found an elderly woman who lived alone. It did not take long to realize that the problem was her wireless router which, obviously, one of her unscrupulous neighbors had tapped into in order to conduct his online pedophilia. Anybody in any apartment in the elderly woman?s 10 story building could have accessed the internet through the woman?s router. The detectives had to go back to the drawing board on this crime.

The authorities were aware that one of the neighbors probably were uploading photographs of nude children via the woman?s router, and doing so made the perpetrator virtually untraceable.

There are almost 46,000 WiFi access points across the nation. Quite a few of these are free. Hundreds of thousands of people are logging in to wireless networks every day from places like restaurants, rest stops, hotels, and in some cases, even park benches. Although the majority of those people are simply checking their e-mail and surfing the Web or shopping online, authorities said an increasing number of criminals are taking advantage of the anonymity offered by the wireless signals to commit a raft of serious crimes -- from identity theft to the sexual solicitation of children.

"We're not sure yet how to combat that," said Kevin R. West, a federal agent who oversees the computer crimes unit in North Carolina's State Bureau of Investigation. "Free wireless spots are everywhere, and it makes it easy for people . . . to sit there and do their nefarious acts. The fear is that if we talk about it, people will learn about it and say, 'I can go to a parking lot, and no one will catch me.' But we need to talk about it so that we can figure out how to solve it."

Most newer computers come equipped with a wireless card, and many users of even older models are buying wireless cards for their machines. Anyone with this device can access the Internet from any of the public WiFi "hotspots," as they're called. People with wireless cards who live in close proximity to others who have unsecured wireless routers can also access the internet through their neighbors? networks. This renders offenders of internet crimes almost untraceable, and causes major headaches for law abiding citizens.

"It's frustrating for officers," said Todd Shipley, director of training services at the National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. "If a suspect is going from coffee shop to coffee shop and using free signals to commit crimes, the police probably aren't going to catch him. That's the reality." Authorities say that businesses and cities that offer free connections need some way to track the users, such as filtering measures that could scan to see who is accessing the network.

West tells about a recent case, where a truck driver used free wireless signals at motels across the country to post and view pornographic images of children at a web site. By pure luck, the man was caught, West says. When the suspect got online from his home computer, authorities were able to trace his computer's Internet Protocol address, or the unique set of numbers assigned to every computer that uses the Internet. That number, which serves as a virtual street address, often leads authorities to the offender's physical residence.

"Otherwise he would've slipped through the cracks," West said. "We wouldn't have been able to identify him."

Nowadays, the Internet is as much a part of an officer's arsenal as his gun and handcuffs. A growing number of officers are being assigned to patrol cyberspace. Across the nation, 46 multi-jurisdictional Internet Crimes Against Children task forces have been created to carry out online sting operations aimed at ensnaring sex offenders, because a man tapping away on a computer in Delaware might very well be soliciting a child in California. Every week, federal and local authorities cast their nets.

Those assigned to the task forces patrol the virtual streets for pedophiles and others who are attempting to commit crimes against children. Using tracking devices, the officers trace a suspect's IP address. But as technology improves, so also do the tactics of criminals. Closing cases is more difficult if the IP address originated from a wireless signal because it often leads back to the owner of the network instead of the criminal, much like the case where the officers were led to the home of the elderly woman. The network's owner's only "involvement" might have simply been possessing an unsecured network.

The problem is going to get worse, authorities said. Every day, more homes, businesses and entire jurisdictions are outfitted with wireless networks, creating an almost seamless patchwork of available Internet connections to anyone with a laptop and the desire to get online.

"This is part of the future . . . and we're working to catch up and educate the public," said Capt. Tommy Turner of the Virginia State Police.

For information about keeping your kid safe on the internet, visit http://www.geocities.com/questionmarque/parents_peace_of_mind.html

WiFi and You: A First Look

Just about everyone remotely interested in computers has heard of Wi-Fi. Much less people know of what it is, what it stands for, or what it does. It has many applications in home and business life- so it is important to know about this bit of technology.

The Wi-Fi revolution started when the branded name was used to describe the wireless local area network technology that was being developed. It has been used in keyboards, phones, cars, televisions, and many more applications. It is the technology that lets two or more electrical devices ?communicate? with one another.

Modernly, the term is used to describe internet access- but it should be noted it has many other uses. (The Nintendo Wii being named after the technology, being a good example of gaming applications)

Typically, the process involves setting up an access point, or AP. The AP will transmit information to computer in range of its frequency, and usually can do so with great speed. This lets you set up LAN?s without the dreadful wiring, and take advantage of ?hot spots?, or public internet access points.

The only drawback is that it drains batteries, if they are being used. Information can sometimes be intercepted, if you are running it on an un-secure transmission. If you have experience, and can properly set up your own Wi-Fi point, you should be perfectly fine. Otherwise, get a professional to do it- no need to risk an intrusion.

The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, and in the future it seems that Wi-Fi will become a standard. It is good to get to know the technology now, rather than wait until later and be lost. If you are tech savvy, this is the perfect way to clear the messy, tangled wires at your next LAN.

Eric Hartwell oversees "The World's Best Homepage" intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions on computers and the internet and visit our associated site articles for free.

Truck Stops and WiFi and In Motion Internet Access

With most Truck Stops now being WiFi enabled truck drivers can turn in daily reports, contact dispatchers, file reports, find return loads, shipping and receiving departments and stay efficient while on the road. They can be in constant communication throughout their travels and each night while parked at the truck stop.

This is a major efficiency enhancement for the Independent Truck Driver who is on the road so much he basically lives in his truck. Before truck driver's would rent phone-lines at the truck stops and try to access the internet by dial-up, can you imagine the hassles? Then some had plug in lines with DSL or Cable. Now all real serious truck stops have WiFi blasting away and truck drivers are in heaven.

Of course many truck drivers also use 3G Wireless Internet Access and pay the extra fee on their phone bill each month. It is also great to have and if they are a driving team often one person can sit in the back on the Internet while the other person drives and that is a great benefit as well. Most services like that run about $75.00 per month for access, but we have noted recently some only cost $39.00 per month.

The WiFi at the truck stops depending on which service run about $25.00 per month. There are also systems available that allow trucks to have their own link directly to the satellite. In fact I had the opportunity of Beta Testing one of the first of these types of systems while working with a company, which had a strategic alliance with GM Hughes, which later became DirectPC. These are pretty cool but the up front costs are high.

L. Winslow is an Internet, Communication and Economic Advisor to the Online Think Tank, a Futurist and retired entrepreneur. Currently he is planning a bicycle ride across the US to raise money for charity and is sponsored by http://www.Calling-Plans.com and all the proceeds will go to various charities who sign up.

The Archos 604 WiFi is a Versatile Device

One of the great benefits of a lot of the new technologies coming out these days is the fact that so many devices are so versatile when it comes to what they do. Consider for a moment what the well connected traveler would have needed twenty years ago in order to communicate with the outside world during a trip and stay entertained in a variety of mediums. For music, they would have needed a portable cassette player like a walk man. For photographs, they probably would have had some kind of an old fashioned thirty five millimeter film camera. For video, they would have needed one of those huge camcorders that recorded on VHS. While a mobile phone of some sort probably would have been useful, such technology didn't really exist at that time, and the same thing would have been true for the Internet. In any case, that translates into a lot of luggage.

Now we have technology that allows people to have all of those needs taken care of by a few compact devices.

One example of such a device that handles a wide variety of technological needs is the Archos 604 WiFi. This device is basically a portable video device that's had a lot of features added on top the basics for such a device. Like other portable video devices the Archos 604 WiFi has a color LCD screen and a high capacity hard drive combined into a compact casing. The screen is 4.3 inches wide with a 16:9 aspect ratio and the hard drive stores up to thirty gigabytes of data. It can play video, play audio, and display digital photos.

All of the above is pretty standard for a portable video, but the Archos 604 WiFi goes well beyond the features of other portable video devices. For example, in addition to playing video, it can also record video. This alone opens up a lot of possibilities for this device. For example, with the proper docking stations, the Archos 604 WiFi becomes a full fledged digital video recorder that can replace a home TV set top model. Plus, with the fact that it can record in MPEG-4 video compression format, the Archos 604 WiFi can record over one hundred hours of video. That video can then be played back on the device itself or back over the TV set. Thus the Archos 604 WiFi can serve as a truly functional digital video recorder.

Archos also supplies a number of optional accessories that can expand the uses of the Archos 604 WiFi even further. One great accessory is a special helmet camera that can be connected to Archos 604 WiFi. Together, the two can be used as a full action camcorder that's great for recording everything from family vacations to extreme action sports. The resulting video can then be played on the unit's screen, a normal TV, or be uploaded onto the Internet to share with others.

Add all of these video features to wireless web browsing and optional accessories that can turn the Archos 604 WiFi into a car stereo system, and you have a seriously versatile piece of electronics.

You will find only the best technology information in J. Hall's articles. Check back frequently for new submissions from Hall about new technological advances and how you can find the best technology info for your home and family.

Night Vision WiFi Cameras - Extremely Useful And Versatile

The Grand WiFi Camera Pro Model II Night Vision camera is an extremely versatile system with the ability to serve as a webcam, security cam or to record multimedia content.

The camera is totally wireless and can be used to monitor or watch a baby from anywhere in the world. It can do the same for a door, or barn or swimming pool, to help deal with children sneaking in to use private pools and prevent drownings or other injuries. The camera sells with everything needed for installation to a network and the manual is downloadable from the internet.

The camera is compatible with wireless LAN 802.11g (54Mbps), and also supports 802.11b (11Mbps). The camera can support 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 176 x 144 formats. The camera will also easily switch from USB to IP cam modes with provided cables for IP mode and a button on the camera itself.

The bundled software allows MPEG 4 capture, automatic replacement of the oldest saved video files when space is no longer available and a motion detector which can sound an alarm when motion is detected.

The camera does have requirements. These are a router (with DDNS or PPPoE function), 10Base-T Ethernet or 100Base TX Fast Ethernet, Intel Pentium3 800 MHz, AMD 800 MHz or Faster processor, 64M RAM or above, VGA card with 8MB memory or above, Microsoft DirectX 9 and Internet Explorer 5.0 or above. The system does not come with a self contained power source, and thus requires a power connection.

There are six infrared LED?s to allow the use of the night vision mode.

The camera currently sells for $136 and ships around the world. The camera operates in Operating Systems in several languages, English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, Russian, French, Japanese and Traditional Chinese while the manual is available in English, German, Dutch and French.

The obvious uses of the camera include serving as a movable security camera, as part of a web conference system to allow the camera to be moved easily about a physical conference room to facilitate the view of people at other sites or even as a means of keeping an eye on something from far away, from the baby mentioned above to a display at a zoo or even a soft drink machine. These cameras can be used to watch outdoors pets at night, or farmers can use this system and a signal repeater to keep watch on barns or fields. For webconference use, this camera appears desirable due to the ease of moving around a conference room, allowing the users to switch from one location to another for the convenience of the off-site participants.

In theory, a user can even use this camera to create a home security system, not up to professional standards, but certainly capable of seeing what is stealing the dogfood or knocking over the trash cans at night. It might even be used to see how squirrels are breaking into the squirrel-proof bird feeders.

Practical Solutions provides complete GPS, mobile navigation/mapping and other hi-tech solutions! Check us out at: http://www.ps-gps.com

Grand WiFi Camera PRO Model II

The Grand Wi-Fi Camera PRO can be used in a wireless environment. You can use Internet Explorer browser to remotely view and monitor your home or baby room from anywhere in the world via the internet or the local wireless network. Coupled with an embedded web server, Grand Wi-Fi Camera PRO is more than just a camera. There are many applications for The Grand Wi-Fi Camera PRO - Grand Wi-Fi Camera PRO can be used in a wireless environment. You can use Internet Explorer browser to remotely view and monitor your home or baby room from anywhere via internet. Features built-in 6 infrared LEDs, let you can also see the excellent image in the dark. (only for night version) Supports 4, 9, 16 cameras MPEG-4 recording.

Product Features * Sensor * Omni Vision (USA) * IP Address Auto Detect and Setup * Model 2: 4 in 1 ( IP CAM + PC CAM + Wi-Fi CAM + Divx MPEG4 capture). * Wi-Fi camera with wireless LAN 802.11g (54Mbps), and also supports 802.11b (11Mbps). * High Resolution Image Processor ( 640 x 480 320 x 240 176 x 144 ). * Ethernet RJ-45,10/100 Base-T auto-sense. * Remote view through the IE browser using an IP address * Supports multi languages OSD: English, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, Russian, French, Japanese, Traditional Chinese * Supports multi languages manual: English, German, Netherlands, French. * 6 infrared LEDs and special lens supports the night vision function. ( only for night version ) * Supports many valuable Internet services: Email, FTP, PPPoE, Dynamic DNS, NTP service, User Management, and Image Quality Control. * USB 1.1 Interface, compatible with Microsoft MSN and NetMeeting. Bundled Surveillance Software with the following functions: * DIVX MPEG 4 capture * MPEG 4 Video File Management: Video File DataBase and Playback Control * Storage Recyclable: When running out of disk space, files with the earliest date will be overwrite automatically * Motion Detection: Detect any movement in the mask area and invoke the alarm as soon as movement is detected. System Requirements: * Router( with DDNS or PPPoE function ) is required * 10Base-T Ethernet or 100Base TX Fast Ethernet * Intel Pentium3 800 MHz, AMD 800 MHz or Faster * 64M RAM or above * VGA card with 8MB memory or above * Microsoft DirectX 9 * Internet Explorer 5.0 or above

Are you interested in the Grand WiFi Camera PRO? Visit ps-gps.com and make the most of our offer. All products are internationally free shipping have an insurance and a tracking number. For 10% off any product use the following discount code: ctrend

Bluetooth and WiFi Comparisons

Bluetooth can be defined as a wireless form of communication that enables devices to send and receive communication. It is a global initiative set up by manufacturers such as IBM, Intel, Ericsson, Toshiba and Nokia to create a standard for linking up devices such as mobile phones, mobile PCs, handheld computers and other peripherals. Bluetooth relies on short-range radio technology to allow the wireless connectivity. The key features of Bluetooth are robustness, low power and low cost. Both data and voice transmissions can be handled simultaneously. Examples of innovative solutions which users can perform include printing or faxing capabilities, synchronising PDA, laptop or computer and making or receiving calls from a mobile phone, with many more applications available.

Wifi is short for 'wireless fidelity' and is a limited-range wireless networking code which is used in many airports, hotels or other services, who offer public access to Wifi networks, to allow people to log on to the Internet and receive emails whilst on the move. As Wifi is a reasonably fast method of transmitting information in wave form, it is often used in computers and also notebooks. In future, it will become possible to access the Internet from just about anywhere, without the use of any wires. The advantages of using Wifi are that the networks are fairly cheap and straight-forward to set up. Wifi is also quite inconspicuous and can hardly be noticed unless it is being looked for specifically, whilst in a Wifi 'hotspot.' For a wireless network to be created, communication is transferred like a two way radio, using radio waves.

Both Bluetooth and Wifi have both been in the news more especially in recent years. Both technologies are relatively new on the market and, with time, a trend may be seen favouring one or the other. As more and more Bluetooth devices become available, most people will own devices for Bluetooth and Wifi. There are several advantages for opting for Bluetooth networking over Wifi and vice-versa. WiFi and Bluetooth are actually very different technologies with very different reasons to exist. The question should not be Bluetooth versus Wifi but more how Bluetooth can work with Wifi.

Advantages of Bluetooth

Bluetooth can connect devices from point-to-point and probably better on security than Wifi, as it can cover shorter distances. In addition, Bluetooth offers an optional two levels of password protection. Up to seven devices can be connected at any one time which makes it easier to find and connect the device being searched for, as Bluetooth highlights itself to the other devices. Bluetooth technology is also more ideal for consumer electronics devices as it has a smaller power requirement. Microsoft have also recently announced that Bluetooth support will be built into a future version of windows XP. Another advantage is concerning voice communication. For an office or home environment, Bluetooth can be used in a cordless phone within a 10m range, without the need to be passed around. It is not likely that Wifi technologies will have a required voice-over-IP to support voice communication, within the near future. Bluetooth was also introduced much earlier in the market and is installed in much more user devices and products, in comparison to Wifi products.

Advantages of Wifi

The most prominent advantage which Wifi has over Bluetooth is that Wifi operates at a much faster rate - of about 11mbps, whereas Bluetooth only operates at a much slower rate of around 720kbps. This makes Bluetooth too slow for video transfers or for moving large amounts of large photo images from a digital camera. Wifi is also designed to link up entire networks, rather than computer to computer. Wifi can achieve this too but it is not its real purpose. Originally intended to be used for mobile computing devices, such as laptops, it is now often being used for increasingly more applications, such as Internet access, gaming and basic connectivity for home electronic appliances such as televisions or DVD players. Wi-Fi may be used by cars in highways, as standards rise in development, in support of an Intelligent Transportation System to increase safety, gather statistics, and enable mobile commerce.
Having taking in the advantages of both forms of communication, it can not be said that one is better than the other. The two wireless protocols can be used to perform separate things and it is not essential to opt for one, rather than the other. Bluetooth should be the first choice for when connecting single devices, only when speed is not an issue. It has a short range of approximately 30 to 60 feet and common applications can include sharing printers, syncing PDAs or using a mobile phone as a modem. As time goes by it will be very interesting to see how both Bluetooth and Wifi develop and what new uses they will have and for what devices.

Think4 supplies consumers and businesses with a vast spectrum of IT and technology products encompassing systems, components, peripherals and consumables, such as Bluetooth / WiFi networks, PCs /servers, handheld PDAs, laptops, computer memory, MP3 players, sat nav systems, LCD and plasma TVs. We focus on supplying the latest products available at competitive prices with prompt delivery. Find all IT, electronics products and accessories at Think4.com - the home of informed technology shopping.

Municipal WiFi - A Free Public Utility

Municipal WiFi networks ("MuniNets") are city-wide 802.11x (b,e,g,n) (wireless) mesh networks that can run an average city $10-15 million. Wireless transmitters are positioned throughout the city in public right-of-ways like atop street poles, traffic lights, and pedestrian traffic areas. The mesh network creates a "fabric" of connectivity that allows anybody with a wireless device to see the network, attach to it, and, subsequently, use the Internet for free.

The state of Muni-WiFi currently look like this: 159 existing and operational networks; 54 networks under construction; and 78 Mini-WiFi's under RFP (request for proposal). Muni-WiFi is a big deal - some big names are getting into the picture like Google, Microsoft, Earthlink, Cisco, and Motorola; example - Portland, Oregon is getting their MuniNet up by the end of 2007 through a partnership with Microsoft and a company called MetroFi; Google's in San Francisco in partnership with Earthlink.

Okay, so everybody wants a piece of the action but if the connectivity is free, you might wonder, "er-what action"? Well, in Portland, MetroFi will push banner ads at the top of the browser for free connectivity, and if you want connectivity with no ads, that'd be a cool $20/month paid to the local municipality, please.

Think of it: a free, public domain hot spot the size of downtown.

If you're into finding unique ways to fund city government, this is looking pretty compelling: suddenly you're an ISP and capable of directly competing with local teleco's, LEC's, and ISP's. You've got economy of scale on your side - a literal city of interconnected users - and a bunch of advertisers salivating over a steady stream of narrow-targeted ads to WiFi owners.

On the other hand, if you're not about open services and are into private enterprise, the explosion of "MuniNets" must look pretty scary. Think how LEC's and ISP's are going to find it even harder to compete against a public utility. Further, think of all of the hardware investments made by thousands of individuals and businesses to setup their own hotspots throughout town - key to their strategy to attract and retain customers, now people can wifi whereever they want and they don't need to be sipping your coffee.

And if you're a technology service provider, you've got to be in a downright panic. No more wifi routers to configure within the home or office; no more problems with privacy and security; no more threatening scare tactics about who may be sniffing your wireless packets. Why? Connectivity on a "MuniNet" is professionally managed and available from the street... just like water. Crap - there goes next year's business plan.

There's a lot of risk here, though. MuniNet's are being implemented with current standards of wifi that don't hold a candle to the next generation of technology - 802.16 WiFiMax: 75mbps throughput in a 30-mile radius operating at 2.5-2.7ghz. Providers of this technology might be able to leapfrog the MuniNet and tap right into suburban areas that are beyond the municipal reach, rendering the MuniNet obsolete.

Regardless, the writing's on the wall: WiFi as a utility is here. If you're not preparing for a mass consumer exodus from privatized services like cable, xDSL, or ISP's to a nearly costless public utility, or, if your business depends on any of those services (like router hardware and software sales, service and support relationships, installation and deployments), or, if you're not planning on how to leverage free bandwidth to lower your own operating expenses, ouch - it's going to leave a mark after it whacks you upside the head next year.

Russell Mickler works a technology consultant in Battle Ground, WA. With over thirteen years of experience, Mickler holds a CISSP, MCSE, and a Masters Degree in Information Technology, and teaches graduate and undergraduate technology curriculum. His website can be found at http://www.micklerandassociates.com and he can be contacted at 360.600.9508; mickler@micklerandassociates.com

When RFID Meets WiFi; Now that is Good Use of Technology

With RFID Tags (radio frequency identification) there are active tags, which have enough power to transmit to the system. But now RFID Tag developers have gone one step further using RFID tags and interfaced WiFi enablers to them so the active RFID Tag can transmit in the 2.45 Ghz range using end user or destination companies wireless 802.11 WiFi network.

Pretty cool beans indeed and these new systems have been talked about in Industry White Papers, but only in theory, but now they exist and there was a write up about them in the May/June Issue of RFID Journal. The developers of the active RFID RTLS (real-time locating systems) are happy with the interest in the market place.

Some industry analysts are already calling them the World?s Most Expensive RFID tags at $50.00 to $60.00 per pop, yet that is not really true as the solar charging active RFID tags cost more than that currently. Still as the industry is trying to get the price for RFID tags under $.20 and eventually down to $.15 and then $.10 and then $.05 you can see why they are barking about the costs.

However for high-end goods for AeroSpace, Weapons Systems, Health-Care Equipment, etc. the price of $50.00 is not so bad and these tags are reusable of course. So far two companies are braving this new field; AeroScout.com and Ekahau.com and these little units look pretty neat, maybe you might want to check it out yourself? Consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philosopher and perpetual tourist.

To WIFI or Not to WIFI

Many people are confused with the huge amount of contradicting information on WIFI. I want to make this as simple as possible.

There are two main types of network setups. One is wired and the other is Wireless. WIFI is great for homes and small offices wanting a fast way to build a new network setup or upgrade an existing one. WIFI is especially good for families with multiple PCs wanting to share an Internet connection. But keep in mind that even though WIFI producing companies state that WIFI is secure, they don't hold a candle when it comes to cable based networks. Cable based networks are much more secure and offer higher transfer rates. On the other hand cabling needs additional work and planning to fully implement like trucking and In-wall Installation.

So if you want to install a WIFI DSL router for the soul purpose of sharing your internet connection amongst family members, then make sure to turn off File & Printing Sharing. This can be accessed from network connections located in the Control Panel.

In conclusion; data sensitive companies should stir away from WIFI for present time and the near future. But if WIFI is used just for sharing the internet connection, there would be no problem there. Home users can safely use WIFI but must make sure that no sensitive data resides on the PC (E.g. data from work) and secure the connection with a user name and password.

Another thing; always choose a Router over a Switch and a Switch over a Hub for cable based networks. The three devices mentioned earlier are all used to connect different computers together. But the Router is the most secure, smart and highly customizable of the three. The Switch on the other hand is easy to use with no configuration needed and costs so much less than a Router. Forget about Hubs they are plain stupid.

**You are free to publish this article by any delivery method you see fit. But you are kindly asked keep the article intact and as is.

Riad Haddad is a Software Developer and Internet Marketer specializing in state of the art custom solutions; from database development to website marketing.

www.fitsoftinc.com

RV Internet Service: How about WiFi?

For those high-tech individuals who love the internet, they may be wondering if RV internet service is a suitable option for them while they are out on the road. Both full time RVers and those who are only on the road a few weeks or months out of the year may find that the convenience of RV internet service is worth it. You can use it to work or simply for personal reasons such as e-mailing and surfing the internet. WiFi is a popular fairly low-cost choice for RV internet service.

What is WiFi? It is short for Wireless Fidelity. It uses unlicensed 2.4 GHz radio frequencies to broadcast to your computer either through a wireless device that is integrated into your portable computer (such as a laptop) or a wireless device that is plugged into your desktop computer. Speeds for WiFi RV internet service are generally 11Mbps (on a 802.11b) or 54 Mbps (on a 802.11g.) The signals are broadcast from an access point (which is usually a tower of some type.)

If you are not sure what speed of RV internet connection to get, you should keep in mind that most RV resorts and parks offer 801.11b service and if you get ?g? it will only run as fast as the ?b? operating speed. Your speed will never be faster than the park?s speed if you choose to use their WiFi provider.

For better quality service, there are several things you can do. When you register for a site at the park, ask to be put where there are the fewest obstructions in between you and the WiFi tower. Get a strong external antenna to pick up the signal better. Use your internet during the time of day when microwaves and portable phones are less likely to be used because they will cause frequency interference.

Julie Jacobs writes articles about RVs, and how to finance them. For more information about getting RV internet visit dscrvs.com

FON - Worlds Largest WiFi Community

I guess most of you have heard of FON, if not, then it?s about time you do. FON is the largest WiFi coomunity in the world.

The FON community consists of users spread out across the globe that make their wireless internet access available to others and in exchange they gain access to FON hotspots wherever they go.

Different levels of community membership:

- Linus: Being a Linus means that you share your WiFi at home and in return you get free WiFi wherever you go.

- Bills: Bills want to make money from their WiFi and instead of free roaming they get 50% of the fee that Aliens pay to access their hotspot.

- Alien: Aliens are people who don?t share their WiFi or don?t have a WiFi yet. They are charged $3/day to access the WiFi of Bills.

FON?s homepage contains an implementation of Google Earth where all FON users have marked where their hotspot is. This means you can have a look at the map and find where you have free internet access on your business or vacation trip.

FON also sell a wireless router, La Fonera, at a very reduced price. It?s currently just $5/5 euro! The router is a social router with 2 wireless signals, one private and one public. The private signal is encrypted and offers complete privacy. The other signal is the public signal that is accessible to other Foneros. La Fonera supports the 802.11 standard for speeds up to 54 Mbps.

So, what are you waiting for? Join FON today and gain access to WiFi almost anywhere on the globe or monetize on your own FON hotspot! Become a Fonero!

Greg Thomson is working on building his own FON Hotspot. You can read about his progress at his blog wireless-internet-provider-laptop.blogspot.com. Do you have questions about wireless internet and different providers, have a look at internet laptop services wireless. See you!

Skypestyle.com is the first UK company to begin shipping Skype WiFi Phones!!

With the release of 4 Skype WiFi Phones, Skypestyle.com has added the 'big four' to their already existing wide range of Skype Phones and Skype accessories and is the first UK store to have 3 out of the 4 phones in stock and begun shipping pre-orders.

The Skype WiFi Phones allow you to make a Skype or Skype IN/OUT call through the phone via the wireless network. As the phones work directly off the WiFi network it also means that there is no need to have a computer switched on in order to use Skype.

Although NetGear was the first to release a prototype of their Skype WiFi Phone, they have had the release date delayed several times and the phone has only now begun shipping in the UK, thus facing increased competition from other manufacturers such as SMC and Edge-Core.

Despite the availability of these phones, many consumers are still waiting for the highly anticipated release of the Belkin Skype WiFi Phone. Both the Belkin and Edge-Core phones provide stiff competition to NetGear as both are very competitively priced with rumors that the Belkin phone will retail for under ?100.

This aside, Skypestyle.com has been particularly impressed with the Edge-Core Skype WiFi Phone in terms of its functionality, usability, sleek design and cost.

All of the above Skype WiFi Phones are available from www.skypestyle.com - an ecommerce store that specialises in providing Skype Phones, USB Phones and VoIP Phones throughout the UK and Europe.

For more info and high res images please contact Mike Williams.

Mike Williams is responsible for Skypestyle.com's PR. Skypestyle.com speacialise in selling Internet Phones such as, Skype Phones, USB Phones and VoIP Phones.

What Is Wifi , What Are Wifi Hotspots & What Can They Do For Me?

Wifi is an internet technology which allows you to access the internet within a local area without the need to physically connect your computer to a computer network, instead a wireless broadband signal is sent around the local area allowing computer users to connect to the internet in that area wirelessly. In case you were wondering Wifi stands for Wireless Fidelity and Wifi hotspots are public areas where you can access one of these wireless broadband signals. Public places where you can find Wifi hotspots these days are hotels, airports, restaurants, cafes, bars and railway stations. All this means you can travel around pretty much anywhere in the world and find Wifi hotspots from which you can wirelessly and easily access the internet, meaning you can keep up to date with your emails, surf the internet and do all the other useful things you do on the internet whilst on your travels. This technology is particularly good for business users who can gain extra work time by squeezing in internet time at various Wifi hotspots.

What Do I Need To Use My Computer In A Wifi Hotspot?

Well first of all you will need a wirelesss LAN network card installed in your laptop. This can be bought in your local computer store or in an online computer store and is not very expensive to buy. The other thing you will need is an account with a Wifi internet access provider so that you can connect to the net when in a Wifi hotspot. One thing to note is that there are several different Wifi internet access providers and that not all Wifi hotspots can be accessed by all the different Wifi internet access provider?s networks. This means that if you want to have maximum choice of Wifi hotspots to use, then it is a good idea to sign up with more than one Wifi internet access provider. The other thing you need to know is that most Wifi service providers charge you an hourly fee for using their service. These charges can add up, so if you are a regular or heavy user then it might work out cheaper for you to sign up for a monthly service plan which some providers offer and this could save you a lot of money as you will be paying a fixed monthly fee regardless of the amount of time you access the internet through Wifi hotspots.

Miguel Poza runs a website about broadband & broadband service providers with many reviews of UK and US broadband services, a guide to broadband technology and links to cool broadband content. You can check it out at http://www.broadbandassistant.com

What Is Wifi , What Are Wifi Hotspots and What Can They Do For Me?

Wifi is an internet technology which allows you to access the internet within a local area without the need to physically connect your computer to a computer network, instead a wireless broadband signal is sent around the local area allowing computer users to connect to the internet in that area wirelessly. In case you were wondering Wifi stands for Wireless Fidelity and Wifi hotspots are public areas where you can access one of these wireless broadband signals. Public places where you can find Wifi hotspots these days are hotels, airports, restaurants, cafes, bars and railway stations. All this means you can travel around pretty much anywhere in the world and find Wifi hotspots from which you can wirelessly and easily access the internet, meaning you can keep up to date with your emails, surf the internet and do all the other useful things you do on the internet whilst on your travels. This technology is particularly good for business users who can gain extra work time by squeezing in internet time at various Wifi hotspots.

What Do I Need To Use My Computer In A Wifi Hotspot?

Well first of all you will need a wirelesss LAN network card installed in your laptop. This can be bought in your local computer store or in an online computer store and is not very expensive to buy. The other thing you will need is an account with a Wifi internet access provider so that you can connect to the net when in a Wifi hotspot. One thing to note is that there are several different Wifi internet access providers and that not all Wifi hotspots can be accessed by all the different Wifi internet access provider?s networks. This means that if you want to have maximum choice of Wifi hotspots to use, then it is a good idea to sign up with more than one Wifi internet access provider. The other thing you need to know is that most Wifi service providers charge you an hourly fee for using their service. These charges can add up, so if you are a regular or heavy user then it might work out cheaper for you to sign up for a monthly service plan which some providers offer and this could save you a lot of money as you will be paying a fixed monthly fee regardless of the amount of time you access the internet through Wifi hotspots.

Miguel Poza runs a website about broadband & broadband service providers with many reviews of UK and US broadband services, a guide to broadband technology and links to cool broadband content. You can check it out at http://www.broadbandassistant.com

The WiFi Blues

Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love has it. Many in San Francisco want it.

Wireless broadband Internet access (WiFi) seems too good to be true. At relatively low cost, anyone can get on the Internet anywhere in a city. All the city needs to do is install WiFi antennas.

An argument in favor of citywide WiFi is that it will reduce the digital divide: the poorer you are, the more limited your access to the Internet and its information resources. Cities like Philadelphia and San Francisco are actively trying to close the digital divide. One option is WiFi.

Yet in weighing the options, virtually nothing is heard about the potential health risks. Saturating an entire city with WiFi adds to the existing burden of nonionizing radiation. That burden, called electrosmog by some, consists of long-term exposure to low-level concentrations of nonionizing radiation from familiar sources like radio and TV signals, electronic and electrical devices, and the ubiquitous cell phone.

Wireless Internet Access

Local area networks (LANs) link computers, printers, modems, and other devices. Traditional LANs make the links physically using wire cable. Messages between computers and the other devices on the network are managed by a device called a router.

A wireless LAN does away with the wire cable by using a router that transmits and receives radio signals. To use a wired LAN, you have to plug the computer or other device into a wall socket. A wire leads from the socket to the router, which manages signal traffic between the devices on the network.

With a wireless LAN, each device on the network is built so that it can send a signal to the router and receive signals back. Wireless routers typically have a range of a hundred to several hundred feet. The range can be increased by adding a booster that increases the signal strength.
As with all radio signals, the closer you are to the transmitter (the router) the stronger the signal. Cell phones work on the same principle. The difference is that cell phones work at a different frequency and put out a stronger signal than wireless LANs.

Radio Frequencies

Cell phones operate at frequencies in the 3 to 30 GHz range, similar to microwave ovens. Wireless LANs operate at one tenth of that range?0.3 to 3 GHz, the range of UHF television broadcasts. GHz stands for gigaHertz, a standard measure of radio frequency radiation (RFR)?electromagnetic radiation created by sending an alternating electrical current through an antenna. The higher the GHz, the faster the current alternates.

Frequency by itself does not measure the potential effect of RFR. As you would guess, the strength of the signal also matters. The strength of a signal is measured in watts, a standard measure of electrical energy. For example, a 100 watt light bulb is brighter because it puts out more energy than a 60 watt bulb.

Think of the effect of waves at the beach: small waves far apart (low strength, low frequency) versus large wave close together (high strength, high frequency). The former is likely to have less of an effect than the latter.

The exposure to RFR is measured using SAR?specific absorption rate. SAR is expressed either in milliwatts/kilogram (mW/kg) of body weight or milliwatts/cubic centimeter (mW/cm2) of exposed body area: the size of the wave and how much of your body it strikes.

Health Risks

WiFi enthusiasts dismiss health risk concerns because the power output and SAR exposure is significantly below the minimum standard set for cell phones. But cell phone standards are set for the short term exposure of a cell phone in use pressed to your head. In addition, the standards are set based on the thermal (heating) effect of the radiation.

Nonthermal effects of cell phones are documented at exposures below the current US standards, including

- memory loss,
- sleep disruption,
- slowed motor skills and reaction time,
- decreased immune function,
- spatial disorientation and dizziness,
- headaches,
- lowered sperm count,
- increased blood pressure and pulse,
- DNA breakage and reduced DNA repair capacity, and
- cell proliferation.

A second problem is that cell phone exposure is intermittent, whereas WiFi exposure is constant. A more accurate comparison is to the effect of cell phone broadcast antennas. These antennas send and receive radio frequency signals constantly.

The signal strength from an antenna is comparable to a cell phone only at very close range. The exposure is not a cell phone?s brief blast but a persistent bath of low-strength RFR. In addition to the health effects documented for cell phone use, exposure to cell phone antennas include

- increased blood pressure and pulse,
- sleep disruption,
- emotional effects such as increased depression and irritability,
- memory loss and mental fog,
- fatique and vertigo, and
- increased cancer risk.

Because of these effects, the International Association of Fire Fighters (AFL-CIO) decided in 2004 that they will not permit cell phone antennas on fire houses.

RFR Hypersensitivity

Much of the discussion of RFR health effects is framed as a concern with people who are hypersensitive. Hypersensitivity is the technical term for allergies and similar immune system overreactions. But instead of pollen, RFR hypersensitivity is a reaction to nonionizing radiation. It seems that an unlucky few are affected while the rest of us are off the hook.

Research by Olle Johansson and ?rjan Halberg of the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm suggests otherwise. They looked at the incidence of cancer in Europe and the US and found a striking association between the increase in certain cancers during the 20th Century and exposure RFR as measured by radio and TV broadcasts.

What the hypersensitive really represent is one extreme in a complex landscape of effects and risks. Just like any other environmental stressor, RFR will affect some people more than others. And as with other environmental stressors, the greater the overall burden, the greater the risk of becoming one of the the ?unlucky few.?

Wireless LANs add to the existing burden of RFR. Just as burning more fossil fuels adds more smog, adding more RFR adds more electrosmog. You don?t have to expose your home or your city to the increased burden created by WiFi. There?s a viable alternative: a wired LAN. The hype might make it seem less convenient and more expensive. But what?s a good night?s sleep worth? Or reducing your risk of cancer?

Resources
International Association of Fire Fighters. 2004. Position on the Health Effects from Radio Frequency/Microwave (RF/MW) Radiation in Fire Department Facilities from Base Stations for Antennas and Towers for the Conduction of Cell Phone Transmissions. Access at http://www.iaff.org/safe/content/celltower/celltowerfinal.htm.
Johansson, Olle and Doug Loranger. 2005. Electrosmog. Your Own Health And Fitness. Broadcast November 29, 2005.
Sage, Cindy. 2005. Comment on San Francisco TechConnect Community Wireless Broadband Initiative. Sage Associates: September 2005.

Jeffry Fawcett, PhD is a writer, health educator, and political economist who publishes the quarterly health newsletter the Progressive Health Observer and co-produces the weekly radio show Your Own Health And Fitness. Information at http://www.yourownhealthandfitness.org.

Wifi - So What Is It?

In this article we're going to begin to define what wifi is and just how it works.

Relatively speaking, wifi is a new technology, created within the last couple of years at the time of this writing. However, the basis on which is created is not really new. Wifi is short for wireless fidelity as applied to connecting multiple computers. Or in other words, wireless networking.

The reason this is not really new is because we've had wireless forms of communication for some time now. One needs to look no further than ones own hi fidelity stereo system. The signal from the ration station transceiver travels wireless through the air until it reaches the antenna connected to your radio. This technology has been around for ages. But as applied to computers, yes, this is something very new.

So, how does wireless networking work?

The 802.11 standard, on which networks are based, defines two modes which are infrastructure mode and ad hoc mode. With infrastructure mode, the wireless network is composed of at least one access point which is connected to the wired network infrastructure which includes a set of wireless end stations. This particular configuration is called a Basic Service Set or BSS. An extended service set, or ESS, is a set of multiple BSS sets which form a single subnetwork. Because most WLANs require access to a wired LAN for services such as file servers, printers and Internet links, they usually operate in infrastructure mode.

The difference between Ad Hoc mode and Infrastructure mode is that Ad Hoc mode is just a set of 802.11 wireless stations that communicate directly with each other without using an access point or any connection to a network that is wired. This mode is great for quickly and easily setting up a wireless network where a wireless infrastructure doesn't exist or is simply not needed for services. Some places where this would be true are hotel rooms, convention centers and airports or any place where wired networks are forbidden.

While connected to a wireless network, you can do most basic things that are not too intensive such as check email, browse the Internet, connect to conferences, access your home directory, use programs such a network word processor and use printing services. You should not use wireless networks for streaming audio or video, downloading anything that is large or viewing web sites that are intense in graphics.

Even though wireless networks are nice to look at you will still get the best performance and highest speeds from wired networks. Generally speaking, a wireless connection works the same way as an Ethernet connection. The speed of a wireless network is about 11 megabits per second. The problem is that with a wireless network you have to share the bandwidth with all the users connected to the wireless network in a given network. This is what slows the network down and makes intensive operations difficult to perform. It is because of this that wireless networks will never be as fast as a wired Ethernet network.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Wifi