About WiFi

What is WiFi?

WiFi (or Wi-Fi) is short for Wireless Fidelity. WiFi is a wireless networking technology that allows computers, some mobile phones, ipads, game consoles, and other devices to communicate over a wireless signal. The same way a radio can tune into a radio station signal over the airwaves, your device can pick up a signal that connects it to the internet, thru the air. As a matter of fact, a WiFi signal is a high-frequency radio signal. And just the same way that the frequency of a radio station is regulated, the standards for WiFi are regulated. All the electronic components that make up a wireless network (your device, the router, etc) are based on one of the 802.11 standards, that were set by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and the WiFi Alliance. The WiFi alliance were the people who trademarked the name Wi-Fi and promoted the technology. The technology is also referred to as WLAN short for wireless local area network, however, WiFi has definitely become the more popular expression.

How Does WiFi Work?

The router is the key piece of equipment in a wireless network. Only the router is physically connected to the internet by an ethernet cable. The router then broadcasts the high-frequency radio signal which carries data to and from the internet. The adapter in whatever device you are using both picks up and reads the signal from the router, and also sends data back to your router and on to the internet, an upstream and downstream activity.

So Who Invented WiFi?

After explaining how there are several components that make WiFi, you can see how naming a single inventor would be difficult. First, let's take a look at the history of the 802.11 standard (the radio frequency) used for broadcasting a WiFi signal. Secondly, we have to look at the electronic equipment involved in sending and receiving a WiFi signal, and not surprisingly there are many patents connected with WiFi technology, however, one important patent stands out.

Vic Hayes & The 802.11 Standard

Vic Hayes has been called the "father of Wi-Fi" because he chaired the IEEE committee that created the 802.11 standard in 1997. Before the public even heard of WiFi, Vic Hayes established the standards that would make WiFi feasible. The 802.11 standard was established in 1997. Subsequently, improvements to the network bandwidth were added to the 802.11 standard. That's what the appended letters represent: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, and more. As a consumer, you should know that the latest version is the best version in terms of performance and is the version you would want all your new equipment to be compatible with.

Computer Science Top 90 Abbreviations.

CSMA/CD	Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection
CSMA/CA	Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Avoidance
BIOS	Basic Input Output System
SMS	System Management Server
DLL	Data Link Layer
RAID	Redundancy Array Of Inexpensive Disks
MCA	Micro Channel Architecture
DMA	Direct Memory Access
LLC	Logical Link Control
MAC	Media Access Control
SNMP	Simple Network Management Protocol
UNC	Universal Naming Scheme
SLIP	Serial Line Interface Protocol
PPP	Point To Point Protocol
AUI	Attachment Unit Interface
DIX	Digital Intel Xerox
ISDN	Integrated Services Digital Network
PVC	Private Virtual Circuit
ODI	OPEN DATA LINK INTERFACE Or {OPEN DRIVER INTERFACE}
FTAM	File Transfer Access And Management
UTP	Unshielded Twisted Pair
STP	Shielded Twisted Pair
CRC	Cyclic Redundancy Check
BNC	British National Connector
SAP	Service Access Points
NIC	Network Interface Card
MAU	Multi Station Access Unit
ATM	Asynchronous Transfer Mode
RIP	Routing Information Protocol
SCSI	Small Computer System Interface
ESDI	Enhanced Small Device Interface
IDE	Integrated Drive Electronics
SQL	Structured Query Language
TDR	Time Domain Reflectometer
ARP	Address Resolution Protocol {Rarp-Reverse Arp}
IEEE	Institute Of Electrical And Electronics Engineers
ACM	Association For Computing Machinery
WINS	Window Internet Name Service
DNS	Domain Name System
DHCP	Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
MIB	Management Information Base
VOM	Volt-Ohm Meter
DLC	Data Link Control {Protocol}
EISA	Extended Industry Standard Architecture
ISA	Industry Standard Architecture
SMB	Server Message Blocks {Protocol}
FTP	File Transfer Protocol
NFS	Network File System {Protocol}
NDIS	Network Device(Driver) Interface Standard
FDDI	Fiber Distributed Data Interface
ARCNET	Attached Resource Computer Network
APPC	Advanced Program To Program Communication
SPX	Sequenced Packet Exchange
IPX	Internet packet Exchange
TCP	Transmission Control Protocol
IP	Internet Protocol
PST	Packet Switching Technology
ICMP	Internet Control Message Protocol
OSPF	Open Shortest Path First(Protocol)
UDP	User Datagram Protocol
MLID	Multiple Link Interface Driver(Protocol)
LSL	Link Support Layer(Protocol)
NLSP	Netware Links Service Protocol
NCP	Netware Core Protocol
NET BIOS	Network Basic Input Output System
DIP	Dual Inline Package(Switches)
VESA	Video Electronic Standard Association
PCMCIA	Personal Computer Memory Card International Association
PCI	Peripheral Component Interface(Interconnect)
CPU	Central Processing Unit
VLB	Vesa Local Bus
EMI	Electro Magnetic Interference
RFI	Radio Frequency Interference
AWG	American Wire Gauge
FDM	Frequency Division Multiplexing
TDM	Time Division Multiplexing
ISO	International Standard Organization
OSI	Open System Interconnect
SNA	System Network Architecture
XNS	Xerox Network System(Protocol)
STA	Spanning Tree Algorithm
DDS	Digital Data Service
CSU/DSU	Channel Service Unit/Data Service Unit
SONET	Synchronous Optical Network
SMDS	Switched Multimegabit Data Service
ANSI	American National Standard Institute
MODEM	Modulation Demodulation
BIT	Binary Digit
FDD	Floppy Disk Drive
HDD	Hard Disk Drive

TOP 24 REASONS TO RUN

1. Running is the quickest way to cardiovascular fitness. You get   fitter faster by running regularly.

2. Running is one of the cheapest forms of exercising. You only need a pair of running shoes and shorts and T-shirt to get started.

3. Running is easy to learn. Most people have run at some point in their life, either competitively or at school/college, so there is no steep learning curve involved.

4. Running makes you feel good, not only physically, but mentally as well.

5. Running is excellent for reducing stress levels. There is nothing better than a run to clear your head and concentrate the mind. Many great ideas have been formulated on training runs.

6. Running is one of the most flexible methods of training around. Wherever you are in the world, it is nearly always possible to get out for a run. You can jog, steady run or sprint depending on how you feel that particular day.

7. Running is good for your heart. It not only strengthens the heart but also reduces the actual resting heart rate.

8. Running is accessible to all. As long as you are physically able, you can go for a run virtually anytime and anywhere. There are no race barriers to running.

9. Running helps you to lose weight and tone muscles. The more your train and run, the more weight you will lose. Also by toning up, you are getting rid of the excess fat and converting it to muscle.

10. Running is for people of all ages. Old or young, everyone can benefit from running.

11. When run training, you can get away with eating chocolate and legitimately say it is part of your training program.

12. Running is a great way to recover from a hangover. A run will help clear your head faster than sitting around feeling terrible.

13. Running is a great safety aid. Being able to run away from people puts you in a much better position if you are chased.

14. You can use running to change other people's lives. Run for a charity and raise money to help the needy or less able.

15. Running with friends gives you time to catch up on gossip and get fit at the same time.

16. Running is a time-efficient way to get fit and lose weight so you have more free time after exercising to enjoy yourself.

17. Running is a challenge that can be motivational and bring great personal satisfaction.

18. Running is a great way to see a new place if you have limited time available for sightseeing. Just think how much more of a place you can see when running around it compared to walking.

19. Running improves your concentration as you are forced to concentrate more when running. This in turn improves your concentration when you have to focus in other areas of life.

20. You nearly always work better after a run because you are still on a runner's high and feel ready for anything.

21. Running is a great way to meet people, especially if you join a club or enter a race.

22. There are no monthly subscriptions with running. You just put your running shoes on and go.

23. Endurance built-up through running can be transferred to other sports.

24. If you drink alcohol you can just run a little bit further the next day to work off the extra calories.

25. Running is one of the best forms of exercise, not only for getting fit but for weight control too.