A standard connection is charged by amount of data transmitted. The bandwidth you are allocated depends on terminal type and network availability, but is always `best effort¿, that is, you are allocated bandwidth depending on your requirements and the requirements of other users of the BGAN network, or BGAN terminal. This connection class is suitable for most data types, other than multimedia.

A Traffic flow template, also called an application template, is a series of data filters such as CoS (Class of Service), PDP context and security settings, that allow the GPRS core network to classify packets received from an external network into the correct PDP context. When incoming data arrives at an access point in the core network, a packet classifier will make a PDP context selection based on the traffic flow template, and map the incoming data packets into the PDP context with the correct CoS attributes. The use of a traffic flow template allows multiple PDP contexts to be associated with the same PDP address.

Wireless Networking

The Dawn of the Wireless Renaissance It’s Time to Go Wireless! 
Although we’re constantly hearing about the miracle of wireless technology, we’re merely at the dawn of the Wireless Renaissance. From Auckland New Zealand to Mt. Everest, Internet cafes and other wireless hot spots dot our increasingly interconnected globe (yes, there really is an Internet Café at a Mt. Everest base camp), but the best and most ingenious use of this breakthrough innovation is yet to come. For now, the wireless gold standard is 802.11g – – the newest, fastest and most powerful 802.11 radio technology that broadens bandwidths to 54 Mbps within the 2.4 GHz band. Because of backward compatibility, older and slower 802.11b radio cards can interface directly with an 802.11g access point and vice versa at 11Mbps or lower, depending upon range. We’ve come a long way, baby – just in the past couple of months. That’s how rapidly the wireless net that will someday encompass the entire globe is morphing. Much quicker than we write these words, technicians are gleaning new ideas that will revolutionize the way we communicate. From Marconi (the inventor of wireless communication back in the late 19th Century) to 802.11g – the sky is not the limit for how far we will take the wireless renaissance – it was merely a suggestion that we rejected long ago.

Rating the 802.11 Wireless Standards In 1997, when the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first WLAN standard they called it 802.11. Because it could only support a maximum bandwidth of 2Mbps – far too slow for most of today’s applications – ordinary 802.11 wireless products are no longer being manufactured. The next wireless incarnation was 802.11b, which supports bandwidths of up to 11Mbps, followed by the creation of 802.11g, which supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated 5 GHz range. While 802.11g is the fastest wireless technology, is it the best for your home or business? Here is a brief synopsis of the three primary 802.11 standards:

• 802.11b – This technology supports bandwidth up to 11MBps, which is comparable to the speeds of traditional Ethernets. 802.11b uses the same 2.4GHz radio signaling as the original 802.11 standard. Because it is an unregulated frequency, 802.11b devices run the risk of incurring interference from appliances that use the same 2.4 GHz range, such as microwaves and cordless phones. However, if you install 802.11b devices out of range of other appliances, you can avoid the interference. Some manufacturers prefer using unregulated frequencies, such as 802.11b to lower their production costs. On the negative side, 802.11b is relatively slow and supports fewer simultaneous users.
• 802.11a – IEEE created 802.11a at the same time it made 802.11b. 802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated 5 GHz range. This higher frequency limits the range of 802.11a in comparison to 802.11b, and due to its higher cost it’s used primarily in the business sector rather than in homes. 802.11a’s higher frequency also causes its signals to have difficulty penetrating walls and other obstructions. Because they utilize different frequencies, 802.11a and 802.11b devices are incompatible with each other.
• 802.11g – This technology supports of up to 54 Mbps, uses the 2.4 GHz frequency and is backwards compatible with 802.11b devices. 802.11g supports more simultaneous users, offers the best signal range and is not easily obstructed. The disadvantages of 802.11g is higher cost and possible interference with appliances on the unregulated signal frequency.

The Evolution of 802.11 Wireless Technology

• 1997 – 802.11 – 2 MBps
• 1999 – 802.11a – 54 Mbps in regulated 5 GHz range. Pro: Fast access. Con: Limited range
• 1999- 802.11b – 11Mbps in 2.4 GHz range
• 2002 – 802.11g – 54 Mbps in 2.4Ghz range and is backwards compatible with 802.11b, meaning that 802.11g access points will work with 802.11b wireless network adapters and vice versa. Pro: Faster access and backwards compatibility. Con: Higher cost than 802.11b.

Why Connect? According to International Data Corp. (IDC), about half of all U.S. households have a computer, and a much higher percentage of businesses use PCs. Tens of millions of these homes and businesses have more than one computer one. In fact, market research shows that current PC owners buy most of the new computers. This means that multi-computer households are becoming increasingly more common. If you are one these multiple-PC owners, you have probably thought about how great it would be if your computers could talk to each other. With your computers connected, you could:

• Share a single printer between computers
• Share a single Internet connection
• Share files such as images, spreadsheets and documents
• Play games that allow multiple users at different computers

Advantages of wireless networking:
It’s fast (11 – 108Mbps). It’s reliable. It has a long range (5,000 feet in open areas, 250 to 400 ft / 76 to 122 m in closed areas) It’s easily integrated into existing wired-Ethernet networks. Virtually all 802.11g wireless networking products work with each other no matter what brand or model. Wireless offers Ethernet speeds without the wires. Access points vary greatly in cost, from about $59.99 to $1,400. Access points have an integrated Ethernet connection to connect to an existing wired-Ethernet network or routers provide connectivity to a high-speed data connection (DSL or cable modem). It also has an omni-directional antenna to receive the data transmitted by the wireless transceivers. Integrating PCs and Apple systems on the same network is also possible with the 802.11g standard. The majority of wireless network adapters used are in PCMCIA card form. But some manufacturers do offer USB adapters or PCI format cards. The cost per card ranges from $39 to more than $300. They are not typically sold in “do-it-yourself” kits. Instead, everything is a la carte, allowing customers to build a system that exactly meets their needs.

For businesses, the benefits of wireless technology are dramatic; we are not using hyperbole when we assure you that it will revolutionize your company. A wireless infrastructure makes it easier for you to adapt your office space as your company evolves. And the productivity gains you will reap dwarf the relatively inexpensive cost of setting up a wireless local area network (LAN). Here are the primary benefits your business will receive by going wireless:

• Reduced Installation Costs – It’s less expensive to install wireless access points than wiring your office with Ethernet capabilities. Plus, you will not have to knock holes in walls to set up your network.
• Flexibility – If your company is growing rapidly and you need to constantly reorganize your space to accommodate ever-changing networking configurations, wireless networking provides rapid transition times, reduced down time and will not cost you as much as you would have to pay to rewire your office space. By setting up a network, you will be able to easily share devices, programs and technology with multiple computers. You can share peripheral devices, programs and technology to streamline your business and make it much more efficient.
• Convenient Information Access and Increased Productivity – Wireless delivers information access to anyone on your staff, from anywhere in your office. Most offices that have made the transition from wired networks to wireless systems have experienced remarkable increases in productivity.

It’s Not as Complicated as You Think! Most people think that networking your home or small office can be painful, with lots of wires, connections and other challenges. Plus, you have to make everything talk to each another. Don’t fret, because it’s not as much of a challenge as you might think. With most people using Microsoft Windows operating systems, networking has been built-in since Windows 3.11. Introduced in Windows 98, “Internet Connection Sharing” is a standard part of the operating system, allowing one computer to share an Internet connection with all computers on the home network. So, if you are running Windows, you can share files, printers and resources across your network without too much of a hassle. Following are 3 easy steps that will allow even a novice to setup a wireless network.

Wireless Networking Made Simple 3 Easy Set Up Steps Even the Novice Can Master
1. Plan Your System – Before you dive into the wireless world, make sure you know what lies ahead of you. Make a thorough analysis of your networking needs, what you need to accomplish, and what you expect to receive as a reasonable return on your investment. Assess your networking needs; determine how many workstations you’ll need to connect and where you can best utilize them. Also, take an inventory of what upgrades you will have to make to your existing computer equipment and decide what equipment you will need to purchase. These are the types of devices required for your wireless network:

• Wireless Access Point – This is the “controller” of your wireless network. There are two types of access points – hardware access points and “integrated” access points. Hardware access points are used as an extension of an existing wired network. “Integrated” access points also provide the features of a router, and are connected to a high-speed connection (i.e.: DSL or cable modem. Access points generally can serve at least 50 users, so exceeding the connection limits is rarely an issue. Remember that when you are networking, your connection is shared with all active users. Having an 11, 22, 72, 108 Mbps network connection does not make your Internet connection “faster,” however, it will allow faster data transmission between the users on the same wireless network. So, if you are planning on copying a bunch of files from your bedroom computer to the living room computer, or watching a video you recorded in your living room on your bedroom computer, the data transfer speed is great. While surfing the Internet, you may see a decrease in access speed to the Internet if your son is downloading MP3s in his bedroom and you are trying to watch an online video. Your wireless connection speed will vary based upon your location (i.e. out by the pool vs. across the room from the access point), however proper placement of your access point can assist in providing the best service to all areas you intend on using a wireless connection. We carry a wide-range of wireless access points, including some which combine a multi-port wired hub so you can utilize one device for both your wired and wireless connections.
• PCMCIA Wireless Adapter – This is generally used for laptops. A PCMCIA card simply plugs into your notebook PC Card slot, and after configuration with the software provided with the card, will connect to any detected network. Some access points allow for configuration of security so only “allowed” cards are provided access. This will alleviate any problems if your neighbor decides to ride on your Internet service for free once they see you using the Internet out by your pool. Desktop PCs can also be connected to a wireless network by using an inexpensive PCMCIA-to-PCI adapter, which allow for fast, easy connection of a desktop PC through the use of an internal adapter card that the PCMCIA card slides into.
• Compact Flash Wireless Network Adapters – If you have a handheld device, which includes a CF Type II slot, you can connect it to your wireless network using a Compact Flash Wireless Network adapter.
• USB Wireless Adapter –Great for use with desktop PCs, a USB wireless adapter allows you to connect your system to the wireless network without installing any adapter cards or opening your PC whatsoever. These are a convenient and easy way to add wireless networking to an existing PC in your home. Additionally, based on user feedback, an external USB device has better reception than an internal PCMCIA card in the back of your computer, as you can move it around for the best reception.
• “Wired” And “Wireless” Together – “You can actually build a network comprised of Integrated access points, for both wired and wireless communications. Why would you want this? Well, let’s say that you have the ability to run wire for the systems in your home. The cost is less per computer (an Ethernet NIC runs about $10.00 and the cable anywhere from $5-10) and you may have them easily accessible via cable. There are many mixed-mode devices, or “Gateways” available. For our full selection of Integrated Access Points. This device allows you to connect to a high-speed Internet connection (via the WAN port) and up to three wired devices (on the Ethernet ports) and up to 253 devices via the wireless access point built into the unit. This allows you to have standard desktops connecting with roaming notebooks and other devices where wiring is just not possible.
  In summary, if you want to run a network in your home or office, it really isn’t that tough! Pick the right parts to your network “puzzle” and get the best deal available. They’ll work together and you’ll make better use of ALL your resources

2. Setting Up Your System – Now that you have a plan in place that defines exactly what your equipment needs will be, how you will configure your network and what goals you expect to accomplish with wireless technology, it’s time to set up your network. Before you take this step (don’t worry, it’s much easier than it seems), you must develop a good working understanding of the equipment involved in a wireless network. Wireless LAN equipment consists of wireless clients – the notebook computers, printers or handheld devices that can communicate over a wireless LAN – and access points, which are the points that accept the wireless radio signals and then connect the LANs. Your access point is the central communications point for your computers. These Now it’s time to build the wireless LAN! Again, don’t panic – you will be amazed how simple it is. Here is what you have to do:

• Determine how many people will use your network; this will tell you how many access points you will need.
• Choose a central location for your LAN connection. If possible, this should be in an open environment to maximize your wireless range. Walls, cables, pipe, etc. within your existing environment can compromise your range.
• Configure your wireless network to work with your network.
• Test your installation before going live. With link test software you can find out what percent of your data is being sent correctly, how much time it takes to receive a response from the destination device, how the strength of the transmitted signal.
• Establish a protocol for managing your wireless LAN.

3. Implement security measures to protect the integrity of your wireless network – Remember, wireless communications transmit through the air rather than over a closed capable. Therefore, maintaining security over your system requires measures that are specific to wireless. Wireless security solutions include Media Access Control (MAC), WEP encryption and Traditional VPN (Virtual Private Network) securities controls. Following are brief summaries of these solutions:

• MAC – Media Access Control restricts network access by unauthorized devices by assigning each network card a unique hardware identification number.
• WEP Encryption – A software algorithm that scrambles outgoing data and unscrambles it when it is received, maintaining its integrity while en route.
• Traditional VPN (Virtual Private Network) security controls – Allows users outside your system to gain access to your network. VPNs encrypt data prior to transmission over a wireless link, ensuring data security even if it is intercepted. VPNs are particularly critical when you are using a public hot spot.

Three simple steps – that’s all it takes to join the wireless revolution – along with a relatively small investment in new technology that you will recoup many times with your exponentially improved efficiency and streamlined operation. We have the expertise, incomparable product line and unparalleled pricing to help you become experience all the advantages of benefits of wireless technology.

A concentrated area offering coverage within the global footprint for particular regions in the world.

Stands for “Public Switched Telephone Network” which is the infrastructure that carries public telephone service across the globe.

A virtual private network (VPN) enables remote offices or users to gain secure access to their organization’s network over the public telecommunications network. This provides the benefits of remote access without the expense of dedicated leased or owned lines. VPNs work by using tunneling protocols, such as L2TP, to encrypt data at the sending end, and decrypt the data at the receiving end. This “tunnel” cannot be accessed by data that is not properly encrypted.

Your Distribution Partner supplies you with a subscriber identification module (SIM) Card or a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Subscriber SIM (USIM) card. A SIM or USIM Card is a card commonly used in a GSM phone. The card holds a microchip that stores information and encrypts voice and data transmissions, making it extremely difficult to listen in on calls. The USIM card also stores data that identifies the caller to the Distribution Partner.

The rate at which streaming data is transmitted, in kilobytes per second (kbps). This rate applies to transmitted (uplink) and received (downlink) data. Desired symmetrical rate – From the drop-down list, choose the desired data rate for your Streaming connection. This can be 32kbps, 64kbps, 128kbps or 256kbps. This figure is guaranteed, unless the connection cannot meet this requirement because of bandwidth restrictions. In this case the rate defaults to the minimum symmetrical rate. Minimum symmetrical rate – From the drop-down list, choose the minimum data rate that you are prepared to accept for your Streaming connection. This can be 32kbps, 64kbps, 128kbps or 256kbps. This rate must be lower than the desired symmetrical rate. If the connection cannot meet this requirement, an error message displays.

A streaming connection is charged by time. You are charged for the amount of time the connection is active. Streaming enables multimedia data, such as video, to be sent in a continuous data stream and converted into sound and pictures. The bandwidth required for a streaming connection is difficult to predict, and depends on factors such as length of connection and number of receivers.

Class of Service (CoS) assigns a level of priority to certain types of data traffic, in particular high bandwidth applications such as video and multimedia. CoS attempts to maintain a guaranteed throughput level, and minimize error rates and end-to-end latency, so providing a higher level of service than “best effort” protocols.

Your Service Provider supplies you with a Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) Card or a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Subscriber SIM (USIM) Card. A SIM or USIM Card is a card commonly used in a GSM phone. The card holds a microchip that stores information and encrypts voice and data transmissions, making it extremely difficult to listen in on calls. The USIM Card also stores data that identifies the caller to the Distribution Partner.

An Internet Protocol address, or IP address, is a number that identifies the computer that is sending or receiving information transmitted over the Internet. An IP address is made up of four groups of numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods. For example, 207.115.79.4 is an IP address. In the BGAN system, IP addresses can be dynamic or static. Dynamic IP Address – A dynamic IP address is a temporary address that is assigned by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) when you connect to the Internet. If you do not need a permanent IP address, Inmarsat recommends that you obtain a dynamic IP address. Normally, individual users of the Internet use a dynamic IP address. Static IP Address – A static IP address is assigned permanently, and is used every time you connect to the Internet. Normally, companies and other organizations that have their own networks use static IP addresses.

A Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) It is responsible for the delivery of data packets from and to the mobile stations within its geographical service area. Its tasks include packet routing and transfer, mobility management (attach/detach and location management), logical link management, and authentication and charging functions. The location register of the SGSN stores location information (e.g., current cell, current VLR) and user profiles (e.g., IMSI, address(es) used in the packet data network) of all GPRS users registered with this SGSN.

Gateway GPRS Support Node. (GPRS stands for General Packet Radio Services) . A GPRS Core Network provides mobility management, session management and transport for Internet Protocol packet
services in GSM and WCDMA networks. The core network also provides support for other additional functions such as billing and lawful interception. It was also proposed, at one stage, to support packet radio services in the US D-AMPS TDMA system, however, in practice, most of these networks are being converted to GSM so this option is becoming largely irrelevant. Like GSM in general, GPRS is an
open standards driven system and the standardization body is the 3GPP.

An Access Point Name (APN) identifies an external network that is accessible from a terminal. An APN has several attributes associated with it that define how you can access the external network at that point. By default, the SIM card in your terminal is configured with the APN of your Service Provider. You may want to configure further APNs if you have arranged with your Service Provider to use more than one SIM Card.

The domain name system (DNS) is an internet service that is required because the Internet does not recognize the text-based web address or e-mail address that you type into your Web browser or e-mail application. All or part of a web address or an e-mail address is a domain name, and DNS translates this domain name into an IP address that is recognized by the Internet. Dynamic DNS server – If you are using dynamic IP addressing, Inmarsat recommends that you use a dynamic DNS server. A dynamic DNS server updates the IP address information in the DNS database each time your IP address changes. A dynamic DNS server also enables a computer using a dynamic IP address to use network applications that normally require a static IP address, for example FTP servers. This service requires subscription with a Dynamic DNS provider. Static DNS Server – If you are using static IP addressing, Inmarsat recommends that you use a static DNS server. If you select this option, you must enter the IP address of the primary DNS server. This is supplied by your internet service provider. Optionally, you can enter the IP address of a secondary DNS server, also supplied by your ISP. This is used in the event of failure of the primary DNS server.

Error correction ensures that very little data is lost during transfer by asking for dropped packets to be re-sent. However, because it holds subsequent data whilst the packet is being re-sent, you may notice some jitter or delay in the received data. This is normal for most data types. For real-time applications, such as Voice over IP (VoIP) or video, you may find that the level of jitter or delay is too great. In this case, it is recommended that you remove error correction. Removing error correction minimizes delay and jitter, but note that a small amount of data may be lost during transfer, because dropped data packets are not resent.

A header is the component of a data packet that precedes the data that you are sending. The header contains information such as source and destination address, error checking and other administrative details. In most data types this does not noticeably affect the data transmission rates. However, in multimedia applications such as voice and video, the header can significantly affect performance. Inmarsat recommends that you switch on header compression for multimedia applications, such as video.