Dealing with WiFi
![handle is hein.journals/experien26 and id is 45 raw text is:
ireless networking has become
more and more common in
homes and offices as it allows
connections for multiple devices with-
out the need to run cabling throughout
the building for connectivity. Setting up
and operating a WiFi network entails
less effort than ever before, but it does
require that you give some thought
to ethical considerations in your pro-
fessional life and practical and safety
considerations in your professional and
personal lives. The process of setting lip
a netvyork for business or personal use is
pretty much the same, but yoh may want
to impose some stronger controls when
setting up a wireless network for your
business. in this article I will review the
process with you, so that you can feel
comfortable setting up the network.
I have had some people ask whether
they really have to have a wireless net-
work in their home or office or whether
they can get by with a wired connec-
tion. The answer is relatively simple: of
course, you do not have to have a wire-
less network at home or at work. If all
you need is basic network fiuctional-
ity, you likely can still get by with a
hardwired network. In fact, a hardwired
network has some advantages over a
wireless network. Similarly. you really
do not bave to have a television set; a
radio will still work and provide you
with basic entertainment, music, news,
and sports. On the other hand, televi-
sion has some advantages too, such as
broader programming, visual images,
and more. A WiFi network will let you
connect smartphonies, tablets, Kindles,
Nooks, and other devices to the network
and the Internet, while a hardwired net-
work will not. Additionally, if you use a
laptop computer, a WiFi network gives
you the ability to use it anywhere in the
office or the house, instead of just in the
immediate vicinity of a connection port
for the hardwired system.
It All Starts with the Provider
Internet access speed has dramatically
increased over the last decade. Ten
years ago, residential broadband con-
nections generally capped between 1.5
Mbps to 3 Mbps. Today they commonly
reaca or even exceed 50 Mbps. Business
services generally have higher speeds
available. What you do on the network
and how many users will share it bear
on the speed you should try to get from
your provider. More users require more
bandwidth. Email and veb surfing do
not require exceptionally high speed.
Gaming and streaming video require
considerably more. Streaming high deft-
nition video requires even more speed.
By way of example (or as a guideline),
here are the Netflix download speed rec-
ommendations for playing movies and
TV shows through Netflix.
* 0.5 Megabits per second-Required
broadband connection speed
* 1.5 Megabits per second-Recom-
mended broadband connection
speed
* 3.0 Megabits per second-Recom-
mended for SD quality
* 5.0 Megabits per second-Recom-
mended for HD quality
* 25.0 Megabits per second-Recom-
mended for Ultra HD quality
.M.A.KINGH... T.EC.H.O.L.OGY ...WORK.
................... D e a lin g w ith W i..........................................................i...
.................B y J e ffre y M.................... . A llen.........................................
Published in Experience, VoiLme 26, Number 1, 2016. © 2016 by tne American Bat Association. Reproduced with permission, Al
rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in
an electronic database or retrieval system witnout the express written consent of the Amercan Bar Association.
Jeffrey M. Allen
(Hallenlawtek@aol.
canm) is the prnci ai
of Graves & Allen in
Oakland, Califrnia, A
f equent speaker and
iter on fecinologx
topics, he is editor-
in-chief of GPS olo
magazine and GPSo]o
eReport, an editorial
board member of
the ABA lournal
and Experience
magazine', author of
lallenlawtekblarg corn.
co-author of Technology
Solutions for Todayv's
Lawyer (ABA 2013)
and iPad® far Lawyers
(11est 20131), and a
haison to the ABA
Standing Committee
on Technology and
Information Services.
In addition to being
licensed as on attorney
in Caiifornia. he
has been admitted
as a Solic itor of the
Supreme Court of
England and Wales.
He is an associate
pro'fessor at California
State University of
the East Bay. ie also
works extensively as
an arbit;ator and a
mediator.](ViewImageLocal?handle=hein.journals/experien26&div=16&collection=&method=preview&ext=.png&size=3)
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