Windows XP Unwired

Connecting to a Wireless Network

Up to this point, I have discussed the various standards in wireless networks, in particular the IEEE 802.11 specifications. All the theoretical discussions are not very exciting unless you get your hands dirty and try to set up a wireless network yourself. In the following sections, I show you how to connect to a wireless network using three different wireless cards and adapters.

Although I demonstrate each example using different hardware from Cisco, D-Link, and Linksys, wireless hardware vendors use the same or similar chipsets in their equipment. So, the installation and configuration procedures will be somewhat similar across different vendors and different product lines from the same vendor. You should still consult the documentation that comes with your hardware before installing anything.

Most wireless cards in the market today use the following chipsets:

• Atmel

• Broadcom

• Lucent Hermes

• Intersil PRISM-II and Intersil PRISM-2.5

• Symbol Spectrum24

• TI wireless

Some newer 802.11g wireless products (such as those from Linksys) use the Broadcom chipset.

Centrino

Intel’s Centrino technology initiative promises smaller laptops with extended battery life and mobile features such as 802.11b networking. For the most part, this means that you’re buying a laptop with the Wi-Fi technology embedded deep inside the computer. At the time of this writing, Centrino is 802.11b only, and there is no indication that a Centrino laptop would be upgradeable to 802.11g or ...