Differences Between The Types of Wi-Fi Standards?

An informal name for "wireless networking," Wi-Fi encompasses a several variations in standards that differ in speed and range. You've probably seen these variations listed as their alpha-numeric standards names (such as 802.11a/b/g/n) or their shorthand names (such as Wireless-N).

There are 4 flavors of Wi-Fi networking, each possessing different specifications for speed and range that also translate to different recommended uses.

• 802.11n: Also known as Wireless-N, this Wi-Fi standard offers the fastest speeds (up to 248 Megabits per second, or Mbps) and the ability to retain its high speeds at a broader range (of up to 300 feet). It's a good choice for streaming multimedia in your home. It's also becoming more widely adopted by manufacturers, so you'll see more new routers with the 802.11n standard.
• 802.11g: Also referred to as 54g (as its data speed tops out at 54 Mbps), this standard boasts a range of up to 300 feet. However, its data speed tends to drop off the farther you get from your router. The 802.11g standard is good for fast Web browsing and can handle media downloads--but at a slower pace.
• 802.11b: The slowest of the Wi-Fi standards, 802.11b provides data speeds of just up to 11 Mbps. And like 54g, its data speed drops the further you find yourself within its 300-foot range. While not a solution for media streaming, it's fine for print servers and home automation applications.
• 802.11a: As fast as 54g, this standard provides a more targeted range of just 100 feet. Typically, 802.11a is used in closed office environments, where the router is situated near its users.

Tabel: Maximum data transfer speeds for different networking standards

Some Examples of Video Streaming Set-Top Boxes

Streaming set-top boxes are all the rage these days, especially with the rising popularity of subscription streaming services. There are a variety of set-top boxes that can help you access Internet video streaming sites.

You may be familiar with the TiVo, which enables you to pause live TV programming and record shows for later viewing. But the latest version of TiVo also includes access to streaming video from Blockbuster, Netflix, and Amazon Video On Demand.

Some set-top boxes are designed to only connect to video streaming sites, or to download content that is rented or purchased directly from one or a select number of providers. Here are three examples:

• The Apple TV streams movies and TV shows that are rented from the Apple iTunes Store plus movies and TV shows streamed from the Netflix site (subscription required).
  
• Roku primarily works with Netflix, but it's also compatible with rentals and purchases from Amazon Video On Demand as well as a wide variety of add-on channels, ranging from MLB TV to music sites like Pandora.
  
• The Boxee Box isn't tied directly to a provider. Instead, it's able to view streaming video from television network sites, video sharing sites like YouTube, and social networking sites.
  
• The VuNow also grabs video from popular Web sites but also adds Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand capabilities plus a selection of live TV channels from around the globe.

Some set-top boxes can stream Internet video content as well as video files either stored on an internal or external hard drives connected to the device or computers found on your network. For example, the Western Digital WD TV Live Plus connects to Netflix video streaming, but it also includes a USB port for viewing video from a connected external hard drive or camcorder. Plus, it has an Ethernet connection to your network, enabling it to play media stored on any PC or Mac on your home network.

Finally, some Blu-ray Disc players include Internet video streaming capabilities (made possible by their wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi network connectivity). For example, the LG BD570 features Netflix streaming, while several Panasonic BD players (such as the Panasonic DMP-BD85K) include access to both Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand.

About Streaming Movies to Your TV

Unlike a video file whose digital bits are stored on your computer's hard drive, streaming video is delivered in a compressed format over the Internet and can only be accessed when you are connected to the Internet.

Additionally, unlike a file that you save to your hard drive from the Web (whether it be a PDF or MP3 file), streaming video is not saved permanently to your hard drive. Rather, your Web browser or video software decodes the video file as it's being streamed to your computer or device, and then your computer discards the data once you've played it.

You don't need connected a computer to your TV in order to watch Internet video. You can certainly connect your PC or Mac to your TV, as this is a low-cost way of accessing Internet video streaming sites. But if you have a laptop, dealing with the cable connections between computer and the TV in your entertainment center won't be convenient.

A better solution than connecting a computer to your TV is to use one of the following methods for accessing a plethora of video streaming content--some free and some requiring rental, purchase, or subscription.

• - A set-top box that hooks into your broadband Internet connection, receives streaming video from sites compatible with the device (and sometimes files saved on networked computers), and translates the video into a format that can be viewed on your HDTV.
• - An Internet-ready game console, which acts like a set-top box but adds gaming and multimedia functionality.
• - An Internet-ready TV, which cuts out the middle set-top box and connects directly to your broadband Internet.