Hardware Guide

Wireless

Introduction to Wireless

The term “wireless” is a buzzword that everyone has heard but may not be completely familiar with. Part of the confusion is that there are three ways the term “wireless” is used. In each case, wireless refers to connecting computers to each other, to other devices and to the Internet so that information can be exchanged, all without any physical wires.

The three wireless standards commonly in use today are differentiated mainly by the range of signal that each will work within.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a short-range networking standard (within 30 feet) and is often termed a PAN—Personal Area Network. It was not designed to network computers in the typical sense, as its bandwidth is relatively small. Rather it is better suited to replace cables between various devices. It helps to think of Bluetooth as “cordless” rather than “wireless”. For instance, a popular application of Bluetooth is for cordless headsets for cellphones.

Among other uses, Bluetooth is used to connect Tablet PCs to the Disto A6 laser rangefinder and to Bluetooth-enabled digital cellphones, which act as a modem and connect to the Internet using a wide-area wireless standard. Use of Bluetooth to connect to a cellphone is one of two ways to connect your pen-based computer to the Internet anywhere, anytime (the other is adding wide-area wireless capabilities directly to the computer via an add-on-card). It’s important to note that using Bluetooth is not a method to connect to the Internet directly—another wireless standard is needed to do that. Rather, it is a way to connect to another device (ex. a cellphone) that can connect to the Internet. If your pen-based computer does not have built-in Bluetooth, it’s easy and inexpensive (about US$100) to add—as long as the computer has an available Compact Flash or Secure Digital slot to insert a Bluetooth add-on card.

WiFi

WiFi is the wireless term you’ve probably heard most often, or perhaps you’ve seen the term 802.11b/g (or it’s faster draft version, 802.11n). WiFi is pervasive now and likely already in your home or office, since it’s easy to use and inexpensive. It’s referred to as a WLAN networking standard (Wireless Local Area Network) because its main use is to replace the wired Ethernet cables that are the typical way to network several computers together in a Local Area Network.

WiFi provides the fastest connection to the Internet (highest bandwidth)—roughly broadband speed (about equivalent to a cable modem or DSL modem)—only wireless. To connect your Tablet PC to the Internet, all you need to do is be within 300 feet of a WiFi transmitter, which can either be an “access point” (for instance a wireless router—a box that connects directly to the Internet via a wired connection) or another computer with WiFi. Generally the connection occurs automatically, unless the connection is encrypted, in which case you’ll need to know the key code to connect.

All Tablet PCs include built-in WiFi capability. Because the speed of a WiFi Internet connection is extremely fast connecting via WiFi is always the preferred method (second only to a wired connection). It’s also the least expensive.

How does a mobile claims professional connect to the Internet on the road? All you need to do is find a WiFi “hotspot” and get near it.

What is a Hotspot?

• A hotspot is simply a zone surrounding a WiFi transmitter that offers wireless access to the Internet.
• There are thousands of hotspots throughout North America—some free, some requiring memberships, some pay-as-you-go—including coffee shops, airports, hotels and even McDonalds.
• Businesses benefit by offering hotspots as a value added services to guests and/or customers (ex. coffee shops, hotels).
• Several companies offer subscriptions to their many hotspots located throughout the country. These companies are referred to as Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs). Much like regular telephone service, you can connect to the Internet as much as you want for a flat fee per month.

Hotspot FAQs

Can multiple users’ login to one hotspot account?

If you are already logged into one account, and someone else tries to access the same account (with the correct login/password), the system won't let second user login. The account trying to login will be flagged as a bad account and your service could be in jeopardy. So please don’t distribute your hotspot login and password.

Can I use my hotspot account with multiple devices?

Yes, you can make hotspot connections with multiple devices, but only one at any a given time.

Do I have to be inside the location of where the hotspot is to access it?

Generally, as long as you are within about 300 feet, you will get a wireless signal. The farther away you are, the weaker the signal will be, and consequently the slower the connection. Telus claims a 500 foot range for a good signal. Boingo and Tadaa state that you must be inside the hotspot location to get a guaranteed a Wi-Fi signal, indicating that the signal strength is poor.

Wide-Area Wireless

While high-speed WiFi is limited to cities and larger towns, for a truly liberating Internet experience, you need WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Networking). This allows you to connect to the Internet virtually anywhere—essentially anywhere you can receive a cellphone signal. That’s because it’s the wireless telecom companies that provide this wireless data service, and because it piggybacks on the same technology that delivers voice calls to cellular phones.
Although the range of wide-area wireless data connections is far greater than WiFi, this freedom comes at a cost. The speed of the connection is much slower. Also, the price of this technology is much higher.

There are two versions of WWAN, depending on the telecom company offering it. GPRS (and it's new generation, faster version EDGE) is the worldwide standard and used exclusively outside of North America. Analogous to GSM, the technology used for voice calls, it’s the least expensive and convenient because it uses “SIM cards”—which allows you to port the wireless data service to different cellphones and wireless modems. GPRS/EDGE is used in Canada by Fido and Rogers, and in the U.S. by T-Mobile and Cingular. The speed of GPRS/EDGE is slower than 1xRTT (and it's new and faster generation EV-DO).

1xRTT/EV-DO is used only in North America, and doesn’t offer the convenience of SIM cards. Analagous to CDMA, the technology used for voice calls, it’s also more expensive. However it offers faster speeds. 1xRTT/EV-DO is used in Canada by Bell Mobility and Telus, and in the U.S. by Sprint and Verizon.

To use a Tablet PC anywhere, anytime on an EDGE or EV-DO network you need either a wireless modem that plugs into the device, or a data-capable cellphone that also has Bluetooth wireless capability, and of course Bluetooth capability in the Tablet PC.