[WEB4LIB] Re: More on Wireless Librarian

[Jim Barrentine]

At 08:41 AM 09/27/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>Besides the wireless nic card and the infrared signal port within the
>laptop, one will also have to install what is known as wireless "airports"
>within the building walls.  These airports are nothing more than infrared
>repeaters (they bounce the infrared signals within the various floors inside
>the building) that keep the wireless network signals steady.

I am sure that this post will confuse some so I will try to "unconfuse".

The wireless communication in previous post referred to 2.4GHz radio 
frequency, NOT infrared.  There is a wireless infrared standard (laptops 
use it to connect to printers) but the range is only a couple of feet, it 
will definitely not go through walls and the speed is much less than the 11 
Mbps available with the 2.4Ghz RF.  The term "airport" is incorrect.  All 
manufacturers refer to the fixed devices as access points.  Also they are 
not necessarily installed in "building walls", in fact I have never seen 
them so installed.  They are usually installed above dropped ceilings with 
the antennas protruding through the ceiling tiles.


James K. Barrentine
Information Partners, Inc.
Technology Solutions for Libraries
2697 Euclid Hts. Blvd.  Suite 3
Cleveland, OH  44106-2828
216-371-2415 (voice)
216-932-4980 (fax)
mailto:jkb at ix.netcom.com