PC Magazine - 2009 04.pdf - Libertad Zero - Blog

The Future of Wireless
Home Networking
802.11n networks have
been the standard at
home for years (even
though 11n still isn’t fully
ratified). It’s time to
move on, already!
Wi-Fi’s future holds faster
speeds, better ad hoc
connections, and more.
By Eric Griffith
Illustration by Otto Steininger
When wireless Internet access really took
off en masse, say about 2003, we were
mesmerized by the technology. Imagine,
browsing the Web at home, untethered! It
didn’t take long, however, for the wonderment
to wear off and impatience to set in.
We wanted more—faster speeds, better
security, more stability. Fortunately for
us, the technology and standards governing
wireless home networking don’t stand
still. New innovations are in the works all
the time. Here’s a glance at what’s to come,
in the short and the long term, in wireless
networking at home.
Device-to-Device Connections
Wi-Fi networks have two basic modes of
operation. One is called infrastructure;
here client devices (like laptops or hand-
helds) connect to one access point (AP)
that facilitates communication among
them. This is by far the most popular way
to connect—you’re probably using it at
home right now if you have a Wi-Fi router.
The other mode, called ad hoc, allows
client devices to communicate directly.
That functionality can be handy, albeit a
pain to implement. Furthermore, ad hoc
networking can be a security nightmare:
Scammers can easily trick you into connecting
to them by pretending to be an
AP. That’s why, when you use a wireless
connection in a hotel or coffee shop, you
should always be sure about the SSID (network
name) to which you’re connecting.
Ad hoc networking may be getting a
much-needed shot in the arm. The Wi-Fi
Alliance—the industry group that tests all
APRIL 2009 PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION 37