Why Ask Wi?

• Author: Guendner, Monika
• Position: Tech Talk

WiFi technology; or wireless fidelity, is making it possible for business travelers to make the most of their time during layovers at airports, between meetings at hotel conferences or while sipping coffee at home. Instead of searching for a phone jack to access the Internet, merely turning on the computer will do.

Using radio waves, WiFi technology allows users to transmit data signals wirelessly between a broadband cable access point and a laptop antenna at burst speeds of 11 Megabits per second (Mpbs) or at real-world speeds of 6 to 7 Mpbs -- transmission rates roughly 150 times faster than dial-up.

WiFi was designed to work through walls, filing cabinets and furniture, but physical barriers will decrease signal strength and the range at which devices can remain connected. Indoor range varies between 150 and 300 feet, according to Brian Grimm, North Carolina-based WECA (Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance) communications director, and outdoor range could reach 1,000 feet.

Electronic equipment working in the same wave band, such as microwave...