Wireless Networks...Don't Do It!!!

If you don't care to read our entire article, the summary tells it all. Forget doing a wireless network. We have actually heard from 6 customers who tried it. It is just not "ready for prime time." The explanation below is as non-technical as possible. For more technical information, I suggest that you go to www.pcmag.com and search for wireless networking or go to www.pcmag.com on the PC Magazine site and read all the articles on the list.

A network is two or more computers that are linked together in order to share a common database. Almost all of our network (or multiuser) customers use wires to connect computers to each other. Most of you are using a Category 5 Cable (which looks like a phone wire) to connect your computers. That means, in order to share the same information, you have to have someone come into your business and run a cable either on the floor, through the walls, or through the ceiling to connect your computers together. Once you are connected, two or more computers can share all of the same information.

Lately, everyone has been hearing about wireless networking. The concept is very simple. Instead of having to place a cable on the floor, in the ceiling, or through the walls, you just use a wireless device (somewhat like a radio), that transmits the signals through the air. Sounds great. Why put in wires if you can go to a local store and buy a wireless system?

After all, if you look at the wireless gadget prices at your local store, it only costs about $75 per station to add wireless capability to your computers. Sounds like a great deal! Well here are the reasons NOT TO...

#1...It doesn't work (don't yell at me yet).

#2...When I say it doesn't work, I am talking about the inexpensive wireless networking systems found in most retail stores. Many people will find wireless networking works fine in their homes to share the internet or share files. However, almost almost all users find at least minor problems with their home networking system. The distance may be too far. The antenna may not be strong enough. The antenna may not be positioned correctly. The refrigerator or telephone may interfere with the signal. That's a minor inconvenience if you are accessing the internet. You just press the refresh button to try an internet site again. Or, if you are playing a game, you press the continue button again. Or, if you are transmitting files and get an IO error, you just do it again. However, if you are running a business, you have a big problem.

#3...Inexpensive home networking systems are normally not installed properly. If you purchase a professional wireless system (which could cost you $1000 per computer), someone will come to your location and test the signals, test the access points, test the signal strengths under various conditions, and make sure that your network is connected 100 percent of the time. If the signal strength is weak, they add access points, antennas, signal boosters, and other devices to give you a flawless network. These are all things that don't come with an inexpensive wireless system.

#4...In a business environment, you normally have different types of lighting fixtures and machinery that would interfere with a standard inexpensive home network.

#5...Our software and other database software requires a lot of back-and-forth communications. A wired network is flawless for back-and-forth communications (and also unbelievably fast). You are normally running at 100 MB per second. That's fast. If you are looking up an inventory item on a network, our software sends a signal to the server (the main computer) asking for the information. The server sends a signal back with the information and the work station confirms that the information has been correctly received. One request may take a dozen signals back and forth from the work station to the server. It all happens instantly on a 100 MB network (or even on one running at 10 MB per second). A standard home wireless networking system is rated 10 MB per second. However, in reality, they are running at about 3 MB per second speed (see the PC Magazine article if you wish). Not only that, the 3 MB per second speed is not exactly real. The farther away you are from the server, the longer it takes. If there is any interference, the signal can go back and forth 120 times before the information is actually transmitted. It is just not fast enough nor reliable enough for use in a business.

#6...Distance makes a big difference. The farther away, the longer it takes and the less reliable it is.

#7...If you do decide to purchase a wireless system, there are several systems available right now. 801A, 801B and 801G. Once again, try the sites above for their recommendation or find someone who knows what he is doing.

In short, you can pay about $100 per station to install a wireless network in your home. It's great for sharing the internet and for moving files back and forth between computers (or playing games). It is a very poor choice for a business that needs to share data.

If you have a business, use wires (Category 5 or better is standard). If you just can't use wires, expect to pay about $1,000 per station to get it done right. You will probably need to hire a wireless expert, who can test the reliability of the networks and ensure that the antennas are powerful enough and situated properly. I expect that one or two of you will disagree with something above. However, you have now been warned!!! The reason I decided to write this article is that we have now had at least 5 customers who have tried wireless networks and have failed. Perhaps in a year or two, the wireless people will get it right and this article will become obsolete.