Free Yourself!

There is no longer a need for your computer to be tied down to one location. Wireless technology has
made dramatic leaps, while at the same time, the price has plummeted. Our technicians can have you
up in running in as little as an hour, inside, outside, upstairs, downstairs, anywhere! Multiple computers
can share the wireless receiver, connecting to the internet at the same time.

Wireless Networking

1.1) Basics

There are 3 types of wireless standards 802.11(A/B/G) with the most popular standard slowly
shifting from B to G due to higher speeds (11Mb vs. 54Mb) and better security (WEP vs. WPA).
Please see the chart below for a brief comparison chart :

	802.11b	802.11g	802.11a
Popularity	Original standard very popular	Newer Standard gaining wide spread acceptance	New Technology Not many retail devices available
Speed	11 Mbps	54 Mbps	54 Mbps
Relative Cost	Inexpensive	Reasonable	Moderate
Range	100-150 feet indoors	100-150 feet indoors	25 to 75 feet indoors
Security	Most devices support WEP	Most devices support WEP and WPA	Depends on manufacturer
Considerations	Slower, most devices only support WEP. Uses crowded 2.4 Ghz band	Uses crowded 2.4 Ghz band *	Limited range and acceptance. Uses new 5 Ghz band **

* 2.4 Ghz devices can conflict with 2.4 Ghz cordless phones, microwaves and other wireless devices.

** 5 Ghz devices may conflict with the new 5 Ghz cordless phones.

1.2) Which one is right for you ?

802.11b devices are generally the least expensive while offering moderate security options. WEP has shown to be less secure than originally thought, more about this below.

802.11g devices tend to be moderately priced, offer faster PC to PC transfer rates and generally include or can be upgraded to include the more advanced WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access security) protocol.

Both 802.11b and 802.11g offer the same web surfing/Internet speeds as even Broadband Internet connections max out at about 4Mbps.

** Please note that NO wireless device (B or G) that I have ever set up for my clients enabled ANY wireless security by default. You should not be running a wireless network without at least WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) enabled and SSID (service set identifier) broadcasting disabled.

1.3) Securing a wireless network

Although NO wired or wireless network is 100% secure the question you need to ask yourself is how hard do you want to make it for someone to access your network connection and possibly your personal data ?

The good news is that it is very reasonable to secure a wireless network unless you are using VERY old wireless networking equipment.

Recommended best practices:

1. Always disable SSID broadcasts. This stops "drive by" eavesdroppers from even knowing that your wireless network exists.
2. Always enable WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access security) security. WPA is preferable as the device will then swap the wireless
encryption keys on a regular basis. One downside of WEP is that the encryption key never changes and thus can be cracked. WPA is usually only available on the newer G devices but check with your device manufacturer.
3. Hire a knowledgeable consultant, IOW me :-), to evaluate your existing wireless network or to setup your new wireless network. Sorry for the cliché but in the case of wireless networking being "penny wise can be pound foolish!"

Disclaimer: All information herein is offered as-is and without warranty of any kind. Neither Kelso Consulting nor its employees are responsible for any loss, injury, or damage, direct or consequential, resulting from your choosing to use any information presented here.