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Wireless
Cable Modems
by Trish Williams |
Wireless cable modems make life and business online easier and
more convenient. Still, the technology is limited by lack of compatibility
between computer equipment.
Broadband Wireless Magazine reports, “Wireless is an obvious
choice for bridging the gaps of cable modem and DSL deployments,
but wireless presents a new set of issues – lack of standardization,
higher costs, and incompatibilities with existing equipment. For
example, a cable modem service provider that wants to provide
service via wireless must qualify a completely different set of
equipment, deploy it, maintain it, monitor it, spare for failures,
etc. Wouldn’t life be simple if cable modems and DSL modems
could simply be used with a wireless adapter?”
Even with drawbacks and limitations, wireless cable modems allow
for people to connect quicker than ever before. TechNews reports,
“The number of locations with WiFi service -- or "hot
spots" -- quadrupled last year, to just under 4,000 nationwide,
according to the research firm Instat/MDR. At home, a WiFi setup
can be quite simple. A typical rig consists of a $100-or-less
access point, plus under-$50 receivers in each computer. The access
point takes a broadband or dial-up Internet connection and shares
it with any authorized computer within range.”
Just like any cable modem, wireless cable modems only provide
connectivity, not security. The fact that a user is on-line 24/7
makes his computer system more exposed to attacks of various sorts.
It’s important for cable users to get firewall installed.
Understanding cable modem signals are important, mostly so that
when slow-downs in the wireless cable occur, the user doesn’t
give up, but rather, understands what might be happening. Speedguide.net
has a good description of the cable modem signals:
“Downstream SNR shows the strength of the signal to your
cable modem as compared to the noise on the line (signal/noise).
If the noise level increases the SNR value decreases. So, then
high levels are good for the SNR. This number should be at 30
or more. If the SNR goes below 30 than you will probably start
to experience some problems, such as intermittent connection,
packet loss, etc.
Downstream Power shows the power of the signal your cable
modem is getting. The level of the downstream power should
be -15 to 15 dB according to most manufacturers' specs... However,
it is best for that level to be in the -8 to 8
range.
Upstream SNR shows how much signal the head end is getting
from your cable modem, compared to the noise level. ‘Head
End’ refers to the point of reference that is the central
point of the local network of your service provider. Anything
above 29 is good. Just like the download SNR if the noise level
increases the upstream SNR decreases.
Upstream Power shows the level of the signal from the cable
modem to the provider. This number should be lower than 55dB. The
lower the number, the better your connection.”
Wireless cable modems and technology have enabled users to higher
speed and symmetric data service tiers, multi-line cable telephony,
videoconferencing, streaming IP video and residential gateway,
multi-PC broadband networking and all the convenience that go
with these services. Truly, one must ask, can it get better than
wireless?
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