The Pro’s & Con’s of Wireless and Wired Networks
Man Dies From Wireless Network Exposure
Is what the headline would read if the stress from wireless network problems ever killed me. The fact of the matter is, it hasn’t, not yet anyways but that doesn’t mean I haven’t reached critical mass a few times with business networks. There are typically a lot of thoughts flooding my mind as I struggle through the networking troubles and I decided to write them down for you, so you can make the best possible decision when deciding between wireless and wired networking for your home or business.
How Wireless Networks Work
A wireless network uses radio waves, just like cell phones radios do. In fact, communication across a wireless network is a lot like two-way radio communication. Here’s what happens:
1. A computer’s wireless adapter translates data into a radio signal and transmits it using an antenna.
2. A wireless router receives the signal and decodes it. It sends the information to the Internet using a physical, wired Ethernet connection.
The process also works in the opposite direction, the router receiving information from the Internet, translating it into a radio signal and sending it to the computer’s wireless adapter.
(insert wireless network graphic)
Some Advantages To Wireless
So there certainly has to be a reason why people choose to use wireless networks, and the fact is, there are a couple. The first big one is its scalability. Wireless networks allow users to:
1. Move computers more easily
2. Add new computers very easily
3. Reach otherwise hard to reach areas with network access
These are all very attractive reasons to go with a wireless network, and that doesn’t even take in to account for the cost savings. Not having to run cable, install jacks, or punch downs saves a person a lot of cash.
The third point mentioned in the above list is a big reason there are a lot of “hybrid” networks out there. For example, companies have an existing network and they add on a building or even a new location for an office that makes running cable difficult, expensive, or in some cases impossible. Cue the wireless router to help extend your network.
Some Disadvantages to Wireless
Now that you have read a little about the power of wireless networks, let me share with you some of the major reasons people shy away from them, or in many cases wish they had never used them.
1. Security Concerns
2. Easily affected by Outside Forces
3. Can be Unreliable in data transfer
The list is small, but all three mentioned are major concerns of wireless networks. The first and foremost concern is of course security issues. Even the best security can be cracked as long as someone has enough access to it, and wireless networks can leave your home or business network open 24/7. There are a couple of ways to reduce risk:
· Turn off the Wireless Radio when your not working
· Apply all security settings the router offers
· Add additional security like firewalls behind the router
· If your wireless is for customer use, make sure its not on the same network
The second concern is how easily outside sources can affect your network. To explain, I have seen many times where an entire office’s wireless went down because someone moved in next-door who also had wireless. (And was also down) The reason this is a huge issue is because these types of problems are very difficult to troubleshoot and can be very costly in terms of downtime and overall cash it costs to troubleshoot. Some ways to avoid this are:
1. Don’t use the factory defaults on your router. (Change the channel)
2. Monitor frequently local wireless networks for changes
3. Don’t use consumer level products, stick to business class
Another issue with wireless is that it can be unreliable when transferring large files across a network and some businesses that use application sharing should likely stick to wired for now if that’s the case.
To Wrap it Up
Wireless networks opened up an entire world of possibility for home users as well as business but there is a lot to consider when switching to, or adding a wireless portion of your network. We would love to hear your stories or comments below and as always thanks for reading.
