Wireless Networking

History and Implications

In the Beginning• Marconi found in the

1890s that he could transmit electrical signals over two lines that were disconnected

• Wireless Telegraph and Signal Company

• Tesla held the first patent but Marconi is credited as being the “Father of Radio”

Overseas Communication• In 1901 the first

intercontinental wireless message was received

• The letter “S”• 1927 Came the first

commercial radiotelephone service between the U.S. and Britain

The 60s and 70s• The Telstar satellite

was launched into space in 1962

• ARPANET was commissioned in 1968

• The fist packet-switched networks came into play

• The first wireless network was created in Hawaii (ALOHANET)

Since the ALOHANET• The internet boom• The 802.11

standardizing wireless networking in 1997

• WiFi Hot-Spots in coffee shops, hotels and airports

Security Implications• Over-Air

communications can be sniffed fairly easily using free applications

• Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)

• TJ Max Having their credit card machines send credit card information using WEP

• WiFi Protected Access (WPA)

Wrap-Up and the Future• Wireless has been

around for over a century

• Since the University of Hawaii’s ALOHANET we have seen wireless networks all over.

• Wi-MAX

The End