Welcome to
This page is a portal to various Debian "wireless" technologies. Here are definitions for the various "wireless" technologies followed by a link to the specific Debian Wiki page for that technology.
Wi-Fi - Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology standardized as IEEE 802.11 b/g/a/n. Its primary usage is to connect computers within the same house/enterprise. Note that it is often used to connect to the Internet through a DSL or cable router.
Bluetooth - Personal Area Network (PAN) technology standardized as IEEE 801.15.1. It was designed to handle short-range "low bandwith" personal communications. Typically between your mobile phone, head-set, computer, printer... (read more about Bluetooth at Wikipedia) ||
Mobile Phone Networks
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Mobile phone networks can be used to connect to the Internet. There are plenty of standards.. GSM/GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/W-CDMA/HSPA "2G", "3G","3.5G" etc. (read more about Mobile Phones at Wikipedia) |
![[ATTACH]](/Wireless?action=AttachFile&do=upload_form&ticket=00651226e8.7d21bd359eda3a0a5fbfc4bfbb642a775deabd3b&target=gnome_stock_cell-phone.png "[ATTACH]"){kind=small}
Modem/3G - Using a dedicated 3G modem card OR using a mobile phone as a modem (connected through Bluetooth, USB..)
Infrared
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IrDA is a very short range (<1m) optical data exchange protocol. Typical uses include exchanging files between two laptops, sending files between mobile phones and/or computers, etc. Maximum speed is 115kbps or 4mbps (read more about IrDA at Wikipedia) |
![[ATTACH]](/Wireless?action=AttachFile&do=upload_form&ticket=00651226e8.7d21bd359eda3a0a5fbfc4bfbb642a775deabd3b&target=gnome-system-tools_irda-48.png "[ATTACH]"){kind=small}
Linux Infrared HOWTO documentation can be found here
Note: IrDA is a communication protocol. It is very different from remote control (see lirc)
WiMax / WirelessMAN
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WiMax is a Wireless MAN standardized as IEEE 802.16. It is meant to provide wireless broadband access in metropolitan areas. (read more about WiMAX at Wikipedia) |
![[ATTACH]](/Wireless?action=AttachFile&do=upload_form&ticket=00651226e8.7d21bd359eda3a0a5fbfc4bfbb642a775deabd3b&target=wimax.png "[ATTACH]"){kind=small}
ToDo: write a wiki page (should this be merged with Mobile Networks as 4G standards are rolled out?)
Satellite
Free Space Optics
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Free Space Optics (FSO) is a telecommunication technology that uses light propagating in free space to transmit data between two points. The optical links usually use infrared laser light, although low-data-rate communication over short distances is possible using LEDs. (read more about FSO at Wikipedia) |
![[ATTACH]](/Wireless?action=AttachFile&do=upload_form&ticket=00651226e8.7d21bd359eda3a0a5fbfc4bfbb642a775deabd3b&target=fso.jpg "[ATTACH]"){kind=small}
Ronja Project - 1.4km range at 10Mbps full (Free Project).
Proprietary
Keyboard/Mouse
- Whereas some of the newer wireless keyboards and mice (sometimes inappropriately named "cordless") tend to use Bluetooth to connect to the computer, older ones may use proprietary RF (radio-frequency) protocols. These proprietary devices always had a base or dongle which behaved like a regular PS2/USB keyboard/mouse (from the operating system point of view).
References
Wireless in Wikipedia.