Wireless Networking

1.0 About Wireless
2.0 Wireless Terms
3.0 Wireless Security
4.0 Wireless Products
5.0 Wireless Troubleshooting
6.0 Other Wireless Resources

1.0 About Wireless

1.1 What is Wireless Networking?
1.2 Why go Wireless?
1.3 Are there any disadvantages to Wireless?
1.4 How to extend wireless range
1.5 Which is better. Cables or Wireless?
1.6 Will Wireless be fast enough for my Broadband connection?
1.7 What do I need to buy to set up a Wireless network?
1.8 Do I have to buy the same brand of Wireless Network cards and WAP?
1.9 Do I really need a Wireless Router or WAP to set up a Wireless Network?
1.10 What are the minimum system requirements for Wireless?
1.11 Are there any other Wireless Adapters besides Airport for Macintosh?
1.12 What is Wireless Broadband?
1.13 What's the difference between 802.11A, B, G, N, N150, N300?
1.14 What frequencies does Wireless use?
1.15 Will Wireless Networking conflict with my Cordless Phone?
1.16 Are Wireless devices a health risk?
1.17 Can I use a Wireless Router just as a WAP?

1.1 What is Wireless Networking?

Traditionally Computers have been put together in Networks with cables using hubs or switches to join them all together. Wireless Networking is exactly the same in concept, except instead of the Ethernet cards & cables we have Wireless Network cards, and instead of hubs and switches we have a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router.
The only difference is in the configuration to set up the extra security precautions necessary to prevent your neighbours and people passing by from accessing your Network and/or Internet connection.

1.2 Why go Wireless?

Convenience & Portability.
Wireless PCs are only dependant on having access to power, so furniture rearranging or changing rooms no longer has to consider the position of a data socket. Perfect for those in a temporary or leased premises where drilling holes in walls and running cables all over the place would both really annoy the landlord and also waste money if it all has to be ripped out and/or reinstalled at a new premises when you move.
There's also something magical about surfing the Internet at the poolside or back deck, or having full access to Network resources in the Boardroom without having to drag cables all over the place.
Some buildings may be next to impossible to cable (or extremely expensive) or have a Heritage listing that puts cabling out of the question, or maybe just having Cables and/or ducting all over the place would not be aesthetically pleasing.
Most Wireless networks I have set up have a combination of Wired & Wireless segments anyway to take advantage of the benefits of both where possible. Wireless Routers and Access points make integrating the Wired & Wireless segments a no-brainer.

Whilst cables are generally faster for transferring data between computers at this stage, wireless equipment has come down so much in price that it is now a serious contender and often cheaper overall than running cables. Apart from DIYs, average cost per PC to Cable, including sockets, cable and Network card would generally run somewhere between $140-250.00 per PC. In comparison, Wireless Network Cards start at around $50.00 and nothing else is required apart from a Wireless Router or Access Point.

1.3 Are there any disadvantages to Wireless?

Where wireless has its limitations is in its range, penetration, comparative speed and its security considerations.
Wireless works best with "line of sight" but it can penetrate some obstacles with reasonable success. Steel framed homes and concrete structures are generally not particularly wireless friendly but even with these I've occasionally found some amazing performance (to my surprise). This effect occurs because Wireless signals can bounce around and reflect off obstacles to get into various nooks and crannies. I was in one home where the wireless Router was two concrete floors down and we were still getting a reliable connection, but then in other homes I've been losing signal even through one concrete wall or floor.
Speed wise, wireless is a bit slower than cables so may not be suitable for a large shared database or other bandwidth hungry applications.
With Security, nothing will remain 100% secure forever, so if you're in an office with sensitive data on your PCs and a public carpark within metres, it may be worthwhile reconsidering a decision to go wireless. At the very least consider that this isn't a DIY job and a proper Network consultant should be brought in to recommend the right product/s with the right security features and to set up proper local security policies.
For most other home and small office users, security in this regard isn't a major problem and I wouldn't lose any sleep worrying about it. The standard WEP and WPA options are a lot better than many would have you believe and it takes a very skilled cracker to get past them. Anything untoward (like a clown parked outside your house pointing a Pringles can at you) will become obvious pretty quickly and you'll be able to change WEP keys and/or take action as necessary (eg garden hose, large dog, half brick etc).

1.4 How to extend wireless range

Range wise, most WAPs and Wireless Routers with standard 2-2.5 dbi antennas will usually go up to around 100 metres with clear line of sight. Add a wall or three in the way though and this drops considerably. A general rule of thumb would be 2 to 3 timber framed plaster walls within around 30 metres for most standard products indoors.

Range can be extended in five different ways which I'll go into some detail below. Which one is best will depend on the circumstances but the first step is to make sure you're getting the best out of what you have already.

Method 1. Getting the most out of what you have. The first method is to check you've got everything working as well as it should be. Quite often you may be getting interference from other wireless devices from neighbours or devices like baby monitors (a rare one but it happens). Changing the radio channel (there are 13 to choose from in Australia which you'll find under the advanced wireless settings in your device) and trying different positions for the router or WAP can make a great deal of difference. There's quite a good thread in the Billion forums with lots of helpful tips and links for getting the most out of your Wireless performance.

If your area is swamped with neighbours' WAPs hogging all of the radio channels already you might consider going for a 5GHz WAP or Router instead of the more common 2.4GHz products. Products advertised as "dual band" have 5GHz capability (some will broadcast on both 2.4 & 5GHz bands simultaneously while others are switchable only). Bear in mind you will also need 5GHz or dual band adapters in your PCs and other WiFi devices to work with the WAP though.

Shane also emailed me with a quick and simple change he made to his MR814 Router utilising a saucepan lid to boost the signal (in effect creating a DIY Parabolic grid antenna). In his words -
"My wife uses a Centrino note book (older model with b/g WiFi card) which is located on the upper level of the house at the other end of the house. The signal strength was average when she was the only person using the wireless network, however this would almost drop out completely once the three children were online via each of their ‘b’ wireless card equipped computers. I looked into an external antenna purchase however the router did not seem to allow for that option. So based on a UHF antenna that I made from a stainless steal salad bowl for my parents when I was a teenager (which served as the household antenna for about 17yrs in country NSW), I propped a stainless steel saucepan lid behind the router antenna. The diameter of the lid is such that the tip of the antenna is level with the centre of the lid. My theory was that the signal emanating from the antenna was pulsing out in a 360 degree sphere, so maybe the lid would focus the signal in the direction of my wife’s computer, like a radar or satellite dish in reverse. Bottom line is that since the lid has been in place my wife has full 11mb/s signal constantly." Pic -

Method 2. Fit bigger antennas. This is where purchasing a router or WAP with removable antennas comes in handy. Most routers and WAPs are fitted with 2 or 2.5 dbi antennas by the manufacturer. As a general rule of thumb upgrading to 5dbi antennas will improve things by roughly 10-20%. Stepping up to 7dbi antennas will generally yield a similar 10-20% improvement over a 5dbi antenna. (I use the terms "generally" and "roughly" here quite deliberately because there are no guarantees when it comes to wireless and the mileage will vary from location to location). If you need any more than a 7dbi antenna I'd consider adding more WAPs or repeaters instead.

Here you can see the difference in size between 2.5, 5 and 7 dbi antennas:

See also FAQs 2.6 below explaining antenna gain and FAQs 4.13 - 4.15 for more information about antennas and antenna selection.

Click here for the range of antennas available from my online shop.

Note: If your router or WAP has more than one antenna you will need to upgrade all of them for it to work properly. Bear in mind too that antennas don't all have the same type of connector so make sure you do your homework first and buy antennas that will fit. 75% of routers and WAPs like most (but not all) Billion, Draytek, Netgear & D-Link products use an SMA connector. The second most common type is the larger TNC connector which will be found on many (but not all) Cisco products. The third most common type is the N connector which sometimes comes up on some routers or WAPs but is more commonly found on pigtails (extension cables for antennas).

Method 3. Amplifiers and high TX WAPs

Some WAPs and routers also allow you to alter the transmission power output. While these are usually set on their maximum by default anyway that's not always the case and it's worth checking out to see if you can squeeze a little more out. However, keep EIRP in mind, especially if you start hacking stuff and fiddling with high gain antennas. There are laws that are enforced and fines that will be payable...

There's also Routers and WAPs available with higher than usual transmission power like the EnGenius ECB-3500 which boasts a whopping 600mw of power (most standard WAPs have less than 200mw). Most products advertised as suitable for outdoor use also have higher than usual transmission power.

Amplifiers for smaller home-type applications are fairly thin on the ground (at least from the distributors and manufacturers I generally deal with) but there is the odd one like the Netcomm NP562 wireless booster (sadly now obsolete) which boasts 500mw of transmission power.

Method 4. Add more WAPs. Adding more WAPs (joined together with cables back to a switch) is a simple way to extend wireless range. If you configure them to broadcast on different radio channels but use the same SSID and encryption, any roaming PCs will automatically connect to the strongest signal they can find should they drop out from another WAP.

If running a cable is a problem, another way to provide a physical connection to a second WAP is to use a Homeplug adapter. There's also unique products like the Billion P106N that include a WAP and Homeplug adapter in a kit.

Method 5. Wireless Repeaters. Wireless repeaters can receive a wireless signal and rebroadcast it at the same time. This means they don't need to be cabled into the network. This can be a huge advantage but they do take a bit of skill to configure (read: right royal pain) and compatibility between different brands and models is a very common problem. The exception to this compatibility problem are products advertised as having a "universal repeater". I'll even go one step further and say if the manufacturer doesn't mention the word "universal" to describe the repeater or WDS function on their specification sheet and they don't provide a list of compatible models then assume it will only be compatible with another of the same model.

Note: I made it easy to find WAPs with repeater capability on my online shop by searching the word "repeater". Or to find products with a universal repeater capability just search for "universal".

DD-WRT and probably other similar open-source community projects have a universal repeater function so choosing a router or WAP that can accept these firmwares is also a way to go if you don't mind open-source stuff (which can sometimes be buggy or might have security holes that could be well known).

The Bigger Stuff. Outdoor Bridges and larger Multi-WAP Networks:

Outdoor bridges.

Outdoors, range can be quite remarkable with the right equipment and no obstructions. For example Ips-Mesh have been experimenting to see how far they can get a wireless link without using amplifiers and so far they've managed an amazing 60km.

I had a bit of a hand in bridging two offices approximately 1.5 km apart wirelessly several years ago and it worked quite well. The equipment used there would be pretty much what would be required for any sort of outdoor wireless link once it goes beyond the range that standard antennas can handle but every situation is different so it's well worth talking to someone in the know or having a professional wireless consultation performed at your premises.

EnGenius are happy to have a chat and recommend the right products for everything from a small outdoor bridge right up to a full commercial installation and direct you back to my online shop to purchase the hardware.

If you're on a budget and handy with a soldering iron you can make your own directional antennas (Use Google to find heaps of examples). Wayne reports his cheap outdoor wireless bridging experiences using DIY antennas - "I've got a couple of Minitar APb's on a link 0.8km that are performing very well on quite small BiQuad aerials. I have a moderate cable length at one end 10m CNT400 cable with pigtails. The other end has 5m of 9006 Cellfoil cable with no pigtails or joins, terminated directly to a rev SMA connector."

Larger multi-WAP networks.

Too many WAPs on one network eventually becomes a bad thing. In this situation some WAPs may become overloaded and behave erratically while others will get very little use at all. Data bottlenecks, dropouts and interference caused by WAPs overlapping will drive users and admins crazy. There are a couple of solutions for this kind of thing.

The first are wireless controllers like D-Link's DWS series of switches and controllers and Netgear's WFS709TP & WC7520 which can work with "thin WAPs". A thin WAP is basically a dumb device that receives all of its settings and instructions from a controller. The controller decides how to distribute the load and where the overlaps happen and so on.

The second technique is a "wireless mesh" such as the EnGenius M Series of products. (This series of Youtube Videos provides some great introductory information). The WAPs in this case are linked together in a kind of hive after being configured and monitored from a software application installed on a PC. One big advantage with the EnGenius mesh system is no cables are necessary (the WAPs will of course still need power though).

Please Note: I can't give comprehensive product advice or act as a consultant for either outdoor wireless bridging or multi-WAP networks (what I've written here is pretty much the extent of my knowledge). However, EnGenius will do a free online consultation and I can arrange an onsite wireless survey with D-Link or EnGenius on request.

1.5 Which is better. Cables or Wireless?

Cables are faster (at the time of writing) and more secure, but may involve drilling and aesthetic changes to the premises to get the cables where they need to go.
Wireless is portable and more convenient but may not have the range and penetration necessary to extend through your whole premises.
Many homes and businesses will often find a combination of both to be the go. My office has the desktop PCs cabled through a mini-rack and then a couple of laptops connect to the Network wirelessly through a wireless Router.

1.6 Will Wireless be fast enough for my Broadband connection?

Plans and speeds from ISPs vary substantially so these are just rough ballparks.

Now, if we compare these speeds with the advertised WiFi speeds we can see we've got it pretty much covered:

Wireless
WiFi Standard	Link Rate*	Real World*
802.11b (obsolete)	11mbps	up to 6mbps
802.11g	54mbps	up to ~22mbps
802.11g+	108mbps	up to ~42mbps
N150	150mpbs	up to ~50mbps
N300	300mpbs	up to ~80mbps

* Wifi speeds advertised by the manufacturer and the Link Rates reported on your PC are full duplex (ie data flowing in both directions simultaneously) and don't factor in the unavoidable overheard in wireless. Actual throughput speeds, ie data travelling in one direction (for example transferrring a file from one PC to another), are much less. Speed will also vary based on the equipment, encryption method, signal strength, interference from other wireless signals and so on. My own throughput tests** rarely came up with more than 40 - 55mbps on my home 11n router (which is half than the 80mbps mentioned in the chart above).

** My tests were done using QCheck, a Draytek 2710Vn with standard 2.5dbi antennas and WPA2/PSK AES encryption, a desktop PC with a Billion 3011n USB adapter in the floor above, and a laptop one room away with a Draytek N61 fitted.
The Desktop PC with the 3011N showed a link speed of 150 mbps with better than 80% signal strength and showed throughput results of 30-42 mbps.
The Laptop showed a link speed of 270-300mbps and gave throughput results of 30-50mbps. With Draytek's "TX Burst" feature enabled on both the laptop and router I saw a few results up around 55mbps. I also saw some speed increase on the Billion 3011N as well with TX Burst enabled even though I couldn't see this parameter shown in any of the Billion's options.

Or, the figures above in graph format (Blue is the more likely experience. Getting up into the pink section is exceptional and rare):

Note: My data may vary to other people's results due to differences in equipment, some assumptions I've made and other factors. I would be more than pleased to hear from anyone who has data that contradicts or clarifies mine.

There are other considerations too besides the Internet download speed. Where the faster 11n (N300) wireless gear also comes into its own is in sending and receiving files across the local network and/or accessing a shared database on a central server, particularly if there are several Wireless PCs in operation at any given time. In other words, fastest is best. :)

Tip: For help converting bits to Bytes or megabytes per second to kilobits per second and so on, check out the Numion Unit Convertor here.

1.7 What do I need to buy to set up a Wireless network?

You will need a Wireless Router or Access Point* and a Wireless PCI Card or USB Adapter for each Desktop PC you want to be wireless, and a Wireless PCMCIA card or USB Adapter for each Laptop PC you want to be wireless. Bearing in mind that just because you're installing a Wireless Router, all of the PCs don't necessarily have to be Wireless. Wireless Routers also usually include a built-in 4 port switch so you can run a combination of wired and wireless PCs on the network. It makes no difference to Network browsing whether a PC is wireless or wired and you'll probably find that you've got at least one PC that lives right beside where the Router is, so there's not a lot of point making that one Wireless if it never moves and a 2m patch lead and $20.00 non-wireless Network card will do the trick.
* Wireless Routers share the Internet and have a built-in Access Point, while a Wireless Access Point just provides the means to connect the PCs wirelessly and does not share the Internet by itself. For more on this see the Wireless Products section below.

1.8 Do I have to buy the same brand of Wireless Network cards and WAP?

It's generally recommended that you stick with the same brands if possible as there may be some features that a manufacturer has introduced for their range that may not be usable if you mix the brands up (eg D-Link 256 bit WEP encryption).
However, wireless standards and protocols are universal so conflicts are fairly rare. I use the same Netgear, D-Link, Linksys and Minitar cards to test out dozens of Wireless products and have never had an issue, and I sell lots of various brands of Wireless Routers to Macintosh owners using Airport cards, & people who've bought Laptops with Wireless cards built into them, and they're all happy.
What you do have to watch though is mixing up brands and/or models with specialised adaptations of wireless standards.
Some examples of this are -

• Netgear & D-Link 108mbs equipment will need 108mbs Wireless Adapters to get the 108mbs speeds.
• D-Link 802.11B+ (Enhanced) 22mbs equipment will need 22mbs capable adapters to get the 22mbs speeds
• D-Link 22mbs adapters will only connect at 11mbs or less to 108mbs Routers and WAPs.
• Linksys Speedbooster equipment will need SpeedBooster cards to get the extra speeds or it will default to 54mbs (if using 54mbs adapters)
• Netgear & D-Link 108mbs will probably only work at 54mbs with Linksys SpeedBooster equipment and vice versa.
• USB 2.0 Adapters will need USB 2.0 support on the PC's motherboard to get the faster speeds. If your Motherboard only has USB 1.0 support the fastest you'll see will be somewhere between 1-10mbs even though it may indicate a 54mbs connection.
• If you have a 54mbs Wireless Router or WAP already, there's not a lot of point in spending the extra dollars on 108mbs capable adapters unless you intend to upgrade the Router or WAP eventually too (and vice versa).
• Also, watch out for Access Points and Wireless Routers that have features like "Bridge to Bridge", "Bridge to multi-point", "Repeater mode" and WDS (Wireless Distribution System). These features are usually only compatible with matching models and not other brands or models.

  1.9 Do I really need a Wireless Router or WAP to set up a Wireless Network?

No, but you're better off if you do. A Wireless Router or Access Point will provide better range and reliability than an Ad-Hoc Network, plus it's a lot less complicated to install.
If you're really keen on setting up Internet Sharing without a WAP or Router, see timhiggins.com.

1.10 What are the minimum system requirements for Wireless?

If your PC is more than 2 years old, carefully check the Wireless adapter manufacturer's specifications for minimum system requirements before you buy. Software wise, in most cases a minimum of Windows 98 Second Edition (not 1st edition) is required to be able to install a wireless adapter but there's also hardware issues with many products. Eg Many PCI cards particularly with Prism 2 & Broadcom chipsets found in many Netgears, D-Links, Minitars, SMCs and more, require V2.2 PCI compliant Motherboard usually found in boards P3 and above, running in 3.3V mode. (5.0V PCI mode won't work.)
Most PCMCIA cards (for Laptops) require a 32 bit cardbus. All Laptops made in the last couple of years have this standard but really old ones have a 16bit card bus so you'll have to hunt around a 16bit card. (16bit cards are a dying breed and most that I know of are discontinued models that just haven't sold out yet).
SiSoft Sandra is a useful tool to find out the nitty gritty parts of your PC if you have no idea what you've got.

1.11 Are there any other Wireless Adapters besides Airport for Macintosh?

You should generally stick with whatever your Macintosh supplier recommends, but if you're a DIY type and feeling adventurous, check out the OrangeWare drivers. These offer driver support for other manufacturer's wireless adapters so you will probably save a few dollars there, but there's also support for 108mbs equipment which you can't get from Apple just yet.
Bear in mind that these drivers are independent to Macintosh and the Wireless adapter manufacturers, so there's no guarantees they they will work and any possible damage isn't likely to be covered under either manufacturer's warranty.

1.12 What is Wireless Broadband?

Wireless Broadband is a term used to describe 3 quite different services.
The first is where a plain old Cable or ADSL service is broadcast throughout a home or office using a Wireless Router or Access Point. Any existing Cable or ADSL plan can be made Wireless in this manner by adding a Wireless Router or Access Point to an existing modem, or by replacing the existing modem with a Wireless Router that includes a built-in modem.
Second is a service similar to Microwave Pay TV where Broadband is received at your premises via an antenna. Price wise, ongoing costs are a little more expensive than ADSL or Cable but installation costs can be quite high due to the cost of the Antenna, the receiver and the installation.
Third is a mobile Broadband service provided (so far) by unwired.com.au and iBurst.com.au and resold by several other ISPs. Coverage at the moment is limited to areas around Sydney but will extend to other States in due course. Pricing is similar to other broadband services but top download speed at this stage is restricted to 1028kbs (Around 130 Kbytes/sec). The truly neat part of this service is that the modem is portable, so you can take it with you to a new address or even out in the field and still have service (if in range). The unwired modem even has a rechargeable battery available.
See the Whirlpool forums for discussion about Aussie wireless ISPs.

1.13 What's the difference between 802.11A, B, G, N, N150, N300?

802.11a: runs in the 5gHz frequency range and will allow data speeds of up to 108 mbs. The shorter wavelength of the 5gHz frequency greatly reduces its range and penetration but it comes into it's own in areas where it might be overcrowded or have other equipment (eg medical) operating in the 2.4 gHz range. Its lower performance and comparitively hefty price tag have made it fairly unpopular in Australia and it's now quite rare to see products on the market ultilising the 802.11a standard.

802.11b: operates in the 2.4gHz frequency range and was an advance that led to wireless networking becoming popular and viable in Australia. It promised throughput speeds of 11 mbs but as with all wireless technologies you can at least halve the manufacturer's figures for true throughput results using a network tool such as Qcheck. Range can be anything up to 100 metres with clear line of sight with most products out of the box but can be extended substantially with aftermarket antennas and boosters.

802.11b+: operates in the 2.4gHz frequency range and was a variation of 802.11b chipset used by D-Link in particular. It doubled the throughput figures but would fall back to plain 802.11b speeds when used with other wireless standards including the modern ones like 802.11g & n. See also FAQ 2.15 below.

802.11g: operates in the 2.4gHz frequency range and took wireless speeds up to 54 mbs and with a bit more throughput to play with it effectively extended the range a little bit too. It remains a popular and cost effective choice.

802.11g+: operates in the 2.4gHz frequency range and was a variation on the 802.11g chipsets that effectively doubled the data speeds. However, when used in conjunction with 802.11g or n products it will fall back to standard 802.11g speeds. See FAQs 2.16 & 2.17 below.

802.11n: comes in many different variations as detailed below, but when someone refers to a product as being "802.11n" or "11n" they would usually mean it's the N300 single band version.

N150: operates in the 2.4gHz frequency range and is a cheaper, scaled down version of 802.11n, allowing speeds of up to 150mbps when used in conjunction with 802.11n wireless adapters.

N300 (single band): The most common version of 802.11n wifi operating in the 2.4gHz frequency range with data speeds of up to 300mbs.

N300 Selectable Dual Band: Products with this variation of 802.11n can broadcast in either in the 2.4gHz frequency range or the 5gHz frequency range (but not both at the same time) with data speeds of up to 300mbs.
There is the odd product like the Netgear DGND3300 which has a variation of this feature so that it will broadcast in both 2.4gHz & 5gHz bands simultaneously but it doesn't do any channel bonding so there's no speed advantage. You basically get two SSIDs, one in 2.4gHz and one in 5gHz. (It may also be worth bearing in mind that while the 2.4gHz channel is N300, the 5gHz channel on the DGND3300 is 54mbps).

N450: Is a variation of simultaneous dual band (2.4Ghz and 5Ghz) 802.11n wireless similar to N600. It uses a variation of MIMO referred to as "three-stream" technology. While I'd expect normal 11n adapters to work ok with an N450 router or WAP, to get N450 speeds you'll need to find N450 adapters, and at the time of writing (Dec 11) there are none on the market I'm aware of.

N600 Simultaneous Dual Band: Products with this variation of 802.11n will broadcast in both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz frequency ranges simultaneously. It is a niche category though and to get the promised results I'd advise only going with the manufacturer's recommended combination. Eg Use Netgear N600 adapters with Netgear N600 routers, D-Link with D-Link, Fritz with Fritz and so on.

N750: Is a variation of 802.11n with 300mbps on the 2.4gHz channel and 450mpbs on the 5gHz channel.

N900: Is a variation of 802.11n with 450mbps on the 2.4gHz channel and 450mpbs on the 5gHz channel.

The table below shows connection speeds you can expect when mixing and matching products with different wireless standards. (Bear in mind these are only the link rates a PC will report. Actual throughput will be more like something between 20-40% of these. See FAQ 1.6 for more info).

	802.11a	802.11b	802.11b+	802.11g	802.11g+	N150	802.11n 2.4Ghz	802.11n 5Ghz	N600
802.11a	Up to 108mbs	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Up to 108mbs	Up to 108mbs
802.11b	Not compatible	11mbs	11mbs	11mbs	11mbs	11mbs	11mbs	Not compatible	11mbs
802.11b+	Not compatible	11mbs	22mbs	11mbs	11mbs	11mbs	11mbs	Not compatible	11mbs
802.11g	Not compatible	11mbs	11mbs	54mbs	54mbs	54mbs	54mbs	Not compatible	54mbs
802.11g+	Not compatible	11mbs	11mbs	54mbs	108mbs	54mbs	54mbs	Not compatible	54mbs
N150	Not compatible	11mbs	11mbs	54mbs	54mbs	Up to 150mbs	Up to 150mbs	Not compatible	Up to 150mbs
802.11n 2.4Ghz	Not compatible	11mbs	11mbs	54mbs	54mbs	Up to 150mbs	Up to 300mbs	Not compatible	Up to 300mbs
802.11n 5Ghz	Up to 108mbs	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Not compatible	Up to 300mbs	Up to 300mbs
N600	Up to 108mbs	11mbs	11mbs	54mbs	54mbs	Up to 150mbs	Up to 300mbs	Up to 300mbs	Up to 600mbs

For more information see IEEE 802.11 in wikipedia.

1.14 What frequencies does Wireless use?

The table below shows some common uses of frequencies across the Radio Frequency spectrum.

802.20 Wireless WAN							<3.5gHz
802.16 WiMAX (Metro Area LAN)						2gHz-	11gHz, 10gHz	-66gHz
802.15 Bluetooth						2.4-2.48gHz
802.11B/B+						2.4gHz
802.11G/G+						2.4gHz
802.11A							5gHz
Microwave Oven
Mobile Phones
Cordless Phones
Remote Control Toys
Baby Monitors
Short-wave Radio
Marine Radio
CB Radio
TV Stations
Radio Stations
Radio Navigation Beacon
Omega Navigation
240v Power (EMF)
Human Brain Waves (EEG)
Band	VLF	LF	MF	HF	VHF	UHF	SHF	EHF
	Very Low Frequency	Low Frequency	Medium Frequency	High Frequency	Very High Frequency	Ultra High Frequency	Super High Frequency	Extremely High Frequency
Frequency Range	3kHz - 30kHz	30kHz - 300kHz	300kHz - 3mHz	3mHz - 30mHz	30mHz - 300mHz	300mHz - 3gHz	3gHz - 30gHz	30gHz - 300gHz

1.15 Will Wireless Networking conflict with my Cordless Phone?

Not likely, although it has been known to happen occasionally*. I know of one report where a Wireless network was known to drop out whenever a certain cordless phone rang, but I've installed and sold hundreds (maybe thousands) of wireless products and it has never come up for me personally. I have a cordless phone less than a meter from where I test wireless Routers and WAPs, and although frequencies vary between brands and models of cordless phones, if it was going to be a common issue it would have come up frequently by now. In any case, wireless products come with the ability to change the Wireless channel so you can move it to a different frequency if you do strike a problem.
However, I do have a baby monitor in my home that seems to upset a few Wireless Routers on channel six for some reason. Other products are fine with it so it's a bit of a mystery. Symptoms in this case are poor signal strength, frequent dropouts, packet loss (from ping test) and sometimes not even showing up in a scan for Wireless devices using the Wireless Configuration Utility.

* Wayne reports "I have a Panasonic KX-TG2570ALS that caused my wireless to drop out on a connection to a laptop. If the phone is closer than 3m while in use it adversely effects the laptop's wireless connection. This is a bit of a downer because I was using the laptop to provide information while on the phone outside on the patio. It meant moving in to a fixed line phone to regain the network connection."

1.16 Are Wireless devices a health risk?

In a nutshell - no.
Wireless devices and their emissions are strictly policed and tested by the FCC in America and ACMA here for possible health risks, and there's also many logical conclusions that can be drawn from the chart above -
1. 802.11B/G devices use similar radio frequencies to common household appliances like Baby Monitors and Microwave ovens, so if there was a problem these would be banned by now or there'd at least be a media storm about it.
2. We're constantly bombarded with TV & Radio station signals at similar frequencies as well. If anything, these would be more dangerous as they're considerably more powerful than these little home Networking devices.
However, you may notice that mobile phones also fall into a similar radio frequency and these have come under suspicion for possible health risks, but there are some major differences between mobile phones and Wireless computer gear. For one, tumours that have been attributed to mobile phone use are usually found around the ears and other areas where a mobile phone is commonly held especially while ringing (eg on the hip). This indicates that the danger is in having these devices close to the skin while they are broadcasting, and you wouldn't normally walk around with a Wireless Router stuck on the side of your head. Research tends to blame the slight heating effects from Radio Frequency Radiation (see also Wikipedia) when the device is held on the body, forcing the radiation to travel through the body rather than reflecting off it as it would normally, plus mobile phones have a considerably stronger output signal as well.
However, I would not be so quick to give a thumbs up for "zero risk" once people start to modify products to increase their output signals with super high gain antennas or adding amplifiers to the wireless output. Andrew Clapp has a bit to say on this topic with his home built antenna design.

1.17 Can I use a Wireless Router just as a WAP?

Yes, all that's needed is to disable the router features. This involves 3 things:
1. Don't plug anything into the Internet (WAN) port
2. Disable its DHCP server
3. Set its IP address in the same range as your existing network. As an example, your other router which is connected to the Internet (hereafter called the Gateway) has an IP address of 192.168.1.1 and your PCs have IP addresses of 192.168.1.2 onwards. (In this example the Gateway's DHCP server has been set to issue IP address of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.100.) After you've disabled the Wireless Router's DHCP server, give it an IP address using the same first three octets (192.168.1.) but a different last number below 255 but outside the Gateway's DHCP range. ie Anything from 192.168.1.101 to 192.168.1.254. (To access the Router's menu now you'll need to go to its new IP address. eg http://192.168.1.101).
With these 3 things in place, any wireless PC will connect and bridge through the wireless router to the Gateway for its Internet access.
This is what a Netgear WPN824 looks like configured as a WAP under the LAN IP Setup section -
Note new LAN IP address and "Use Router as DHCP Server" is unchecked.

Note: For the difference between a Wireless Router and a WAP see the Wireless Products section below.

2.0 Wireless Terms

2.1 What is Ad-Hoc mode?
2.2 What is Infrastructure mode?
2.3 What is DBi?
2.4 What is DBm?
2.5 What is EIRP?
2.6 What is antenna gain?
2.7 What is the Fresnel Zone?
2.8 What is Mw?
2.9 What is SSID?
2.10 What is a wireless configuration utility?
2.11 What is XP's WZC?
2.12 What is WDS?
2.13 What is WLAN?
2.14 What is a Wireless Hotspot?
2.15 What is D-Link's 802.11B Enhanced Equipment?
2.16 What is D-Link's XtremeG?
2.17 What is Netgear's "Super G"?
2.18 What is SpeedBooster?
2.19 What is Netgear's XR Technology?
2.20 What is MIMO/Pre-N?

2.1 What is Ad-Hoc mode?

Ad-Hoc is peer to peer networking. ie The Wireless PCs connect to each other rather than to a central access point. eg PC1 connects to PC2, PC2 connects to PC3 etc. Great for setting up a quick wireless LAN to share some files with others, but on the downside it gets very difficult to manage and throughput becomes worse and worse as the number of wireless devices increases. It's also very difficult to bridge to the wired LAN this way and/or setup Internet Sharing with more than one other wireless PC.
Where Ad Hoc Wireless is most interesting is in the large scale peer to peer "Mesh" Wireless Community projects where a bunch of homes function as "nodes" to extend the range of the mesh far and wide. See links to Wireless Community Groups below.

2.2 What is Infrastructure mode?

Infrastructure is the most common form of Wireless Networking where all of the PCs connect to a central Access Point.

2.3 What is dBi?

dB is decibel. dBi is a comparative ratio and refers to "Decibels compared to an isotropic* antenna".
Basically it's an industry term used to describe the "gain" of an antenna.

* An Isotropic Antenna is a theoretical "standard" antenna which has an equal broadcast of 360° in all directions.

2.4 What is dBm?

dBm is another ratio and is decibels compared to 1 milliwatt which is an industry term used to describe the transmit or receive power of a wireless device.

2.5 What is EIRP?

Effective Isotropic Radiated Power.
EIRP = dBm + Antenna Gain - line Loss
Yet another ratio. This one expresses the overall result of the transmission power of a Wireless product combined with its antenna's gain. It comes in handy for working out if your combination of products and/or modifications are going to be legal or not (Ignorance is no excuse and you'll get fined anyway if you blow the EIRP, and they do drive around scanning for infringements too).
For a practical example of how to use EIRP check out Benelec's EIRP calculator.
If we go to the Bi-directional Amplifier section we can start by adding in the Transmission power of our Wireless Access point, add in the length of all our leads, add in the transmission power of the Amplifier and lastly the proposed antenna gain and it comes up with our EIRP in dBm. Up the top of the page it shows the Australian legal maximums on the various radio channels, and the idea is to get as close to these as possible without going over.
Notice that on channels 1-9 we can go up to 4 watts. I think in the USA they're allowed 2 watts and around half that again in the UK. (Wireless congestion isn't as much of an issue here which is why we're allowed so much more power.)
TV and radio stations broadcast at anything from a couple of hundred to several thousand Watts. To broadcast at these levels you need a license and an allocated frequency.

2.6 What is antenna gain?

Many people conclude that antenna gain is the power of the antenna, but they'd be wrong. The only way to make an antenna "more powerful" as such, is to increase the amount of power feeding into it. Gain is more correctly thought of as the characteristics of the antenna as a relationship (expressed in dBi) to a theoretical "standard" antenna which has an equal broadcast of 360° in all directions.
To explain further, in the figures below the circles represent the broadcast pattern of the two antennas in a vertical cross section. For the sake of argument we'll say that the Low Gain antenna is our "isotropic" 0 dBi gain antenna (with the theoretical perfect 360° broadcast in all directions) and the Higher Gain antenna has a 5 dBi gain. What we've done by increasing the gain is to focus the broadcast pattern in a more concentrated area so that there's less vertical coverage but it extends further out horizontally. Useful for example in a large low set house where you don't really need to service a 2nd or 3rd floor above but might be having trouble getting good signal at the other end of the house. (Note: My testing of 2.5 dBi vs 5 dBi antennas shows a general increase in range of between 10-20% with the 5 dBi so we're not talking about a huge change here, but it may be enough to get around a problem area if the signal is there but a little choppy to be usable.)

Note: My diagrams are nothing like reality due to my limited drawing skills. The broadcast patterns are more of a donut shape if shown in a 3d view. Benelec have quite a good little article with better diagrams here if you'd like to do some more reading on this subject.

Note 2: What most people want to know is "How does this equate to distance?". Hopefully this description of gain will go some way to explaining why I tend to run away screaming from that one. The answer is the proverbial "How long is a piece of string?". There's the transmission power of the WAP, environmental variables and the receive power/EIRP at the other end, the Fresnel Zone etc etc, so it's just impossible or at least extremely difficult (at least for me) to answer accurately. The best answer you'll probably get from anywhere is "the closer you can get to the maximum legal EIRP you can get, the more likely it is to work" but as to how far the signal can go in terms of metres or kilometres is anyone's guess. However, most technicians who specialise in Wireless will have a selection of products they commonly deal with and they'll have a good idea of what to expect from these in a given situation, but quite often it's a trial and error process (erring heavily on the side of overkill if the gear has to be purchased up front).

2.7 What is the Fresnel Zone?

Named after the scientist who first documented it, Dr Clarence Zone. (Sorry, couldn't resist that one.) It's actually named after 19th century French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel and defines the line of sight area, taking into account any obstacles. Basically it's a scientific way of working out what antenna gain and mast height will be required to get optimum signal from one wireless point to another.

Zytrax have a useful Fresnel Zone calculator. Basically you tell it the distance you need to cover all up and then the distance to the first obstacle, and it works out what mast height you need for optimum wireless signal. It also takes into account curvature of the earth and so on, so it's not the kind of thing that will be useful for a simple home Network, but I think it's worth mentioning here for the sake of explaining Wireless signal characteristics a bit better. eg In my dodgy diagram above we can see that simple line of sight could have been achieved with a much shorter mast but then the house in the middle would have been extending into the Fresnel Zone and adversely effecting wireless performance. The same principle can be applied if, for example, there was a bank of metal filing cabinets in between the Wireless Router and the PC the signal had to travel to, or if there are too many walls in between. Higher is better in this case, so maybe moving the Router to the second floor or up in the roof will service the area you need to cover much better. I have a high set home with the living areas upstairs so I find I get better overall coverage by having the wireless router on the bottom floor.

2.8 What is Mw?

Milliwatts. The unit of measure used to express the transmission power of amplifiers.

2.9 What is SSID?

Service Set Identifier. Also sometimes called BSSID and ESSID depending on what particular Network subset it is identifying, but for us laymen we'll just ignore all that and assume they all mean the same thing.
Basically Wireless Access Points and Routers have a name that they broadcast out by default so that wireless devices can identify them in order to know what or who they're connecting to. eg Let's say a product's SSID is "Netgear WAP". The Access point will Broadcast it's name every few seconds saying something in computer-speak like "Hi, my name is Netgear WAP. To connect to me, please ask for Netgear WAP.".
All Wireless Routers and WAPs have a default SSID (and it isn't hard to find out what they are, even with a quick Google) so it's generally recommended that you at least change the SSID to something else. Even better is to disable the SSID broadcast if you can. Of course, this means creating a profile in your PC's Wireless configuration utility specifying the SSID, but the advantage in doing this is that it makes it that much harder for an unauthorised person to connect to your Wireless network. The theory being, if they don't know what the name is, they can't configure their Wireless configuration utilities to connect to it. However, it's not regarded as a proper security precaution as a hardened cracker may be able to capture this information (eventually) from the signals your Wireless PC sends out while looking for the WAP or Router, or use the rogue Access Point method to get one of your PCs to connect to it and give away the information.

2.10 What is a wireless configuration utility?

A wireless configuration utility is an application that runs on your Wireless PC that is used to scan for WAPs to connect to and to configure the wireless security settings. Most utilities have the ability to create "Wireless Profiles" so you don't have to go through configuring all of the Security and Network information each time you reboot the PC.

2.11 What is XP's WZC?

With the popularity of Wireless, Microsoft decided to include a Wireless Configuration Utility into Windows XP which they named the Wireless Zero Configuration utility. Great stuff, however it can be a bit of a pain because the Wireless Adapter manufacturers usually include their own Wireless Utility with the drivers, and running both at the same time will usually cause some bad behaviour like being unable to locate or connect to a WAP or Router, or suffer from frequent dropouts.
Some people recommend disabling the WZC service completely (Right-click My Computer > Manage > Services and Applications > Services) but I've found that this can also play havoc with some manufacturer's utilities as well, so the best option is just to untick the option for Windows to control the Wireless device.
To do this, go to Control Panel > Network Connections. Right Click on the icon for the Wireless Card and select properties. Select the Wireless Networks Tab and untick the box entitled "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings".
Note: If the Wireless Network tab isn't visible, see the troubleshooting section below.

2.12 What is WDS?

Wireless Distribution System.
An option available in some wireless devices to allow a wireless device to act as both a Wireless Client and an Wireless Access Point at the same time. In other words, it can receive a signal from another WAP and re-transmit it. A useful feature for extending the range of a Wireless Network but it does have a drawback in that throughput (speed) is pretty much halved.
Be aware also that I get a lot of reports of WDS having compatibility problems between differing manufacturers, and even different models from the same manufacturer. WDS is a great feature to have and it's well worth spending a little more on a product that does have WDS just in case you do strike a problem with range, but read the specifications carefully before you buy so you get the right products and don't accidently strike a compatibility problem.

Another possible trap. One other issue to bear in mind is the wireless security options available in WDS mode. For example the Netgear WPN824, WG302 & WG602 products only have a maximum of WEP available as a security option in WDS mode. (See this Netgear Knowledge base article). For WPA or WPA2 wireless security, a higher end product such as the WNR3500 is needed.
For other brands check the fine print in the manufacturer's specifications or consult the manufacturer.

See also Wireless Repeaters below.

2.13 What is WLAN?

Wireless Local Area Network. (Your Wireless Network.)

2.14 What is a Wireless Hotspot?

A Wireless Hotspot is a place where you can BYO wireless PC or PDA and get Internet Access. Many Cafes now provide a Wireless Hotspot and the service can be either free or paid or reserved for customer use.
There's also subscription based services at multiple locations such as those provided by Telstra and Optus.
And then there's the unofficial Wireless Hotspots known to WarDrivers which are the poor saps that haven't secured their Wireless Networks properly...

2.15 What is D-Link's 802.11B Enhanced equipment?

802.11B Enhanced is a variation of plain old 802.11B 11mbs wireless which allows double (22mbs) Wireless data speeds. ( True throughput is closer to 8-10mbs which is still faster than most Broadband Internet connections.)
Several other manufacturers like Alloy and SMC also adopted this chipset in a few products. The main advantage is it's about the same price as an equivalent 802.11B product (usually cheap as chips) and is backwards compatible with standard 802.11B products, however, if used with standard 802.11B products the speed will fall back to 11mbs (around 5mbs in true throughput).

2.16 What is D-Link's XtremeG?

XtremeG is D-Link's version of 108mbs Wireless which is marketed under various other names with other manufacturers. It is fully backwards compatible with normal 802.11B and 802.11G products but will fall back to these slower speeds if used with these slower products. To get the 108Mpbs wireless you must use all XtremeG products on your Wireless Network. One 54mbs product on the Network will cause the whole Network to operate at 54mbs. It's also not very friendly with 802.11B Enhanced (22mbs) products. These will usually fall back to 11mbs but sometimes won't work very well at all with poor range, really slow speeds and poor reliability sometimes reported.
True throughput is around 40mbs which is fantastic compared to 802.11B and quite noticeable when browsing the Network or using shared resources. One disadvantage due to the "channel bonding" technology that allows 108mbs speeds is that it only works on Radio Channel 6 which can be a bit of a pain if you have other Wireless Networks nearby (neighbours etc) already using that channel. Most of the time it's not much of a problem but occasionally the interference can cause poor range and frequent dropouts.

2.17 What is Netgear's "Super G"?

Same as D-Link's XtremeG above.

2.18 What is SpeedBooster?

Speedbooster is Linksys's version of enhanced 802.11G. While it only promises an increase in speed of up to 35% which is a bit slower than the Netgear & D-Link versions, it doesn't use channel bonding so isn't restricted to any particular Wireless channel. It is also copes with mixed modes (combinations of standard 802.11G and even 802.11B products) better.
To get the extra 35% speeds you must use Speedbooster Wireless Network cards as well as the Router/WAP. Otherwise the data speed will fall back to the fastest speed the card is capable of. Also, being a proprietary Wireless adaptation means that if you use other brand 802.11G enhanced products with a Speedbooster Router or WAP, the speed will fall back to 54mbs max.

2.19 What is Netgear's XR Technology?

Netgear's XR (Extended Range) technology doesn't actually boost the signal as the name might indicate. What it does is allow reliable connections at weaker signals by trading distance for throughput. In other words, as the distance increases (or signal strength decreases) it steps the speed back rather than just dropping out. It works very well and is available on most Netgear 108mbs products including WGT624, WGT634U, WGU624, WG111T, WG311T, WG511T, WG511U, WAG311 & WAG511.
Click here for a press release from Atheros announcing the new XR and "Double 108mbs" technology.
Note: To allow XR to work, you must choose an auto Wireless mode and not "108mb only" or "11mb only".

2.20 What is MIMO/Pre-N?

MIMO stands for Multiple Input Multiple Output and is a new Wireless technology characterised by 3 or more antennas.
Pre-N is Belkin's name for their product (1st MIMO product to hit the market) and stands for "precedes 802.11n".
MIMO is a smarter and more powerful Wireless chipset which can provide greater range than ever before, negating the need for multiple WAPs needed in many current Wireless installations. Tom's Networking has a quick reference table of the 3 new chipsets from Airgo, Video54 and Atheros.
See the Router Review section for reviews of MIMO products.

3.0 Wireless Security

3.1 What is Wardriving?
3.2 What is Mac Address Authentication?
3.3 How do I use Mac Address Authentication?
3.4 Is Mac Address Authentication effective?
3.5 What is WEP?
3.6 How do I use WEP?
3.7 Is WEP effective?
3.8 What is WPA?
3.9 How do I use WPA?
3.10 Is WPA effective?
3.11 Is hiding SSID good for security?
3.12 Can VPN be used to secure a Wireless Network?

3.1 What is Wardriving?

Wardriving is an enthusiast hobby that involves driving around in a car (or Taxi, Bicycle, on foot etc) with a wireless Laptop or PDA and recording the Wireless Access points discovered. There is obviously a less than honourable element that will try to utilise any Wireless connection they find to gain "free" Internet access (at the owner's expense) or steal software/registration codes or just poke their noses where they don't belong.
Legally it's a grey area as technically they're in a public area scanning public radio frequencies and it's very difficult to prove they've accessed your PCs at all (and usually they wouldn't anyway. It's the Internet connection that's more interesting).
Many of these characters have the attitude that if people don't secure their Wireless Networks then they must be deliberately providing a free Internet (Wireless Hotspot) community service and in many ways they wouldn't be wrong...

3.2 What is Mac Address Authentication?

Every device that connects to a Network (or the Internet) has a unique identifying tag called a Mac (Machine) address. Mac address authentication can be set up on a Router or WAP to either allow only certain specified Mac addresses (and no others) to connect, or to deny access to certain Mac addresses.

3.3 How do I use Mac Address Authentication?

To find the Mac address of your PC's Network Card:-
Windows 95 - ME: Click Start > Run > winipcfg <enter> > More info
Windows 2000/XP: Click Start > Run > CMD <enter> > ipconfig/all
Tip: If you get all your Wireless PCs connected to the WAP or Router prior to setting up any security, you'll generally find a very handy section in the Router or WAP's configuration menus called something like "Attached Devices" which will display all of the PC's by name along with their respective Mac addresses.
Then it's simply a matter of turning Mac address authentication on in the Router's configuration menus (sometime called Access Control and other similar terms) and specifying which Mac addresses you want to allow or deny.

3.4 Is Mac Address Authentication effective?

It's actually not bad at all and will cover most situations quite well, plus it has a minimal overhead so is least likely to impact on the Wireless network performance. Where it has a weak point is that it is possible for a hacker to eventually capture enough data floating around the airwaves, or use the rogue Access Point method to be able to copy the Mac Address of an authorised PC to gain access to the Wireless Network. In most cases the give-away that this has happened will be a PC suddenly and mysteriously being knocked off the Network.

3.5 What is WEP?

Wireless Equivalent Privacy. The most common method of securing a wireless network where connection to a Wireless Access point is achieved by specifying a special key which is a string of random letters and numbers. Similar in concept to a username and password, WEP keys vary in complexity from 64 bit up to 128 bit and even 256 with some products.
Drawbacks? It does have a bit of an overhead and can take as much as 20% of the overall throughput (data speed per second). However, most people would be hard pressed to notice this relatively small drop in performance.

3.6 How do I use WEP?

The Access Point or Router will have a section where you can switch on WEP and specify a key by use of a passphrase.
However, many products don't have a feature to generate a key from a pass phrase which can be a bit disconcerting for people at first glance.
Not to worry. There are many WEP key generators online like this one at andrewscompanies.com.
But it isn't actually that hard to DIY anyway - For 64 bit WEP specify any 10 digits (choose hexadecimal and not ASCII if given an option) using any combination 0-9, A-F. 128 bit WEP is 26 digits using any combination of 0-9, A-F.
On the Wireless PC, open its Wireless Configuration Utility (they're all much the same in principle but with different layouts).
Specify the same (either 64 or 128 bit) WEP key (or passphrase if you have that option), save settings and you're away.

Note: If you only have a Wireless PC to work with while setting up security, remember you need to do the settings on the Router/Access point first and then your PC second, otherwise it's much the same effect as painting yourself into a corner...

Here is a quick step by step example using the basic Billion 5100W and the WEP key generator at http://www.andrewscompanies.com/tools/wep.asp.

1. Go into the Wireless section in the Billion and select 128-bit WEP from the from the WEP encryption pull down menu.
2. Then at the web link above, click the "generate 128bit key" button and copy the Hex key it generates at the bottom of the screen.
3. Paste the key into the Billion menu where it says Key1
4. Click Apply to save it. If you're using a wireless PC to do this you'll drop out at this point but not to worry.
5. Open the Wireless Configuration Utility on your PC. (In this case I'm using the utility provided by Minitar for their wireless cards but the principles are similar for all)
6. In the Site Survey, locate the 5100W (SSID is "wlan-ap" by default) and click on it to highlight it.
7. Click the "Add Profile" button and then select the Authentication and Security tab.
8. Tick the box beside "Encryption" and change WEP Key type to "Hexadecimal".
9. Select "128" Bits beside "WEP Key Length" and copy the key as above beside Key#1
10. Click "OK" and then click the "Activate" button. If all went well you should get a yellow tick in a green square beside the profile.
If something went wrong you may have to start over if you're connecting from a Wireless PC. If you've got a PC plugged into it with a cable you should be able to retrace your steps, but if you only have a Wireless PC you'll need to reset the Router using the reset hole at the back (hold the button down inside the hole with a paper-clip or something for a good ten seconds) and start from scratch. (Nearly everyone has to have a few goes the first time they try it before they get it right).

3.7 Is WEP effective?

WEP is ok for stopping neighbours and other general sticky beaks close enough to pick up your wireless signal from getting into your network and/or taking advantage of your Internet connection. However, it can be cracked in less than 3 minutes by those with the knowledge and tools so I wouldn't call WEP an effective security method by itself any more.

3.8 What is WPA?

WPA is the latest form of wireless encrytion and has two basic types of implementation. The first is fairly complex and is more of a corporate method utilising a "Radius Server" which is only available on Server operating systems, but WPA-PSK (Pre-shared key) is designed just for home & small office users who usually DIY, and it's a piece of cake. Much the same as WEP in that it uses a key to authenticate, WPA-PSK will automatically change its key every so often which makes it much harder for an eavesdropper to sniff enough info to attempt to put together the key.

3.9 How do I use WPA?

WPA is almost identical to set up as WEP and involves specifying either a keyword (to generate a key) or the key itself using the methods above for WEP.
The same principle applies for the Wireless PC. Using its Wireless Configuration Utility, specify the same key, and don't forget if you've only got a Wireless PC to work from that you'll need to do the Router/ Access Point first and then your PC.

Note: WPA-PSK is a fairly recent upgrade to many products and you may need to download the latest firmware and Wireless Configuration Utilities from the manufacturer if you can't see the option. Windows XP's WZC utility has a WPA upgrade available through Windows Update.

3.10 Is WPA effective?

WPA is one of the toughest forms of Wireless Security using encryption, but it does have a fairly high overhead. Not so much affecting the throughput (I usually get similar wireless speeds with WPA-PSK as I do with no security) but more with how much processing power it takes to deal with. Cheaper WAPs and Routers in theory may start to stall and stutter with as few as 5-10 active Wireless PCs running WPA, but I'm yet to test this or hear from anyone who has stressed a Router or WAP out with too many WPA protected client PCs.
At this stage I have only heard rumours of it being crackable and most of those centre around using "dictionary attacks" where people use easy to guess words for their pass-phrases.

3.11 Is hiding SSID good for security?

Hiding SSID is fairly limited as far as security goes. It will make your WAP "invisible" to a degree to your neighbours and other people who might innocently discover your wireless network and connect out of curiosity but it is quite easy to work around for someone with a moderate amount of knowledge using readily available tools such as Netstumbler or by using the rogue Access Point method. There's also evidence to suggest that hiding SSID might degrade network performance so all in all there's probably very little to be gained in hiding it.

3.12 Can VPN be used to secure a Wireless Network?

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is usually used to network PCs together across the Internet where a variety of authentication measures are employed including encryption and username/passwords in order to secure the connection so that not just anyone can connect to a VPN server. These same authentication processes can be utilised to secure a Wireless Network, but you need a product to support this feature and they're usually fairly expensive (and complicated to set up).

4.0 Wireless Products

4.1 What is a WAP?
4.2 What is a Wireless Router?
4.3 What is a Wireless Bridge?
4.4 What is a Wireless Client?
4.5 What is a Wireless Media Player?
4.6 What is a Wireless PCI Card?
4.7 What is a Wireless PCMCIA Card?
4.8 What is a Wireless USB Adapter?
4.9 What is a Wireless Compact Flash Card?
4.10 What is a Wireless Repeater?
4.11 What is Power over Ethernet?
4.12 Why would I want a removable antenna?
4.13 Antenna types
4.14 What is a Yagi antenna?
4.15 How do I choose a different Antenna?

4.1 What is a WAP?

Wireless Access Point.

A WAP is to wireless PCs what a switch is to cabled PCs. All it does is provide a central point for the Wireless PCs to connect to, and allow for Wireless Security methods like WEP or WPA to be controlled from.
They do NOT connect to an ISP, share an Internet connection or provide any form of Internet security (Firewall). For that, you'll need a Router or a software method set up on a PC.

4.2 What is a Wireless Router?

A Wireless Router is a Router with a WAP built into it, and I'm yet to see one that doesn't also have a built-in 4 port switch so they more or less combine the three devices in the image above into one. Some also have built-in modems to provide even more cost and space savings.
Where someone might prefer to keep these devices separate is for larger Networks or where there are certain desired features only available in one product that doesn't come with the other options.

4.3 What is a Wireless Bridge?

A Wireless bridge connects two points together wirelessly instead of using a cable. The bridge can be plugged either directly into a Network Card in a PC or into a hub or switch and it will function just the same.

The Bridge is generally configured via your Web Browser (the same as a Router) or using a software tool that the manufacturer provides. Usually they require specifying the Mac Address of the bridge that they'll be connecting to and have security options like WEP available.
Many WAPs and devices sold as bridges can function in several modes -

Bridge to Bridge (As shown in the image above)

Bridge to multi-point (Same as above just with several bridges connecting together)

Repeater (the 2nd bridge can function as a bridge [receiver] and Access Point at the same time).
Note: Many bridges, particularly the cheaper ones, only have the one mode and cannot function as Wireless clients to connect to receive from another Wireless device other than another bridge of the same brand and model.

4.4 What is a Wireless Client?

A Wireless Client is a variation of a Wireless Bridge except its job is to receive a wireless signal rather than broadcasting one like a WAP or straight bridge does. Many Wireless Bridges can also function in Wireless Client mode, but not all do so read the spec sheets carefully before you buy.

A Wireless Client receives from another source, and unlike straight bridges, they're usually (but not always) compatible with other brands and models of Wireless Products that can send a Wireless Broadcast.
They're most commonly used to link a remote hub/switch to an existing network without having to run a cable, and to connect devices like Game Consoles to the Internet wirelessly.

4.5 What is a Wireless Media Player?

A Wireless Media Player is a device that can find digital media from networked PCs and then play them on a Home Entertainment System.

See my review of the D-Link DSM-320.

4.6 What is a Wireless PCI Card?

A Wireless PCI Card is fitted to the Motherboard of a Desktop PC (so that the antenna sticks out of the back) and allows the PC to connect to a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router.

Beware of minimum system requirements when buying PCI adapters.

4.7 What is a Wireless PCMCIA Card?

A Wireless PCMCIA Card goes into the PCMCIA (aka Card Bus) slot of a Laptop PC and allows it to connect to a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router.

Beware of minimum system requirements when buying PCMCIA adapters.

4.8 What is a Wireless USB Adapter?

A Wireless USB Adapter goes into the USB port of a Laptop or Desktop PC and allows it to connect to a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router.
The two shown here do exactly the same job except one can be plugged directly into a USB port without a cable and the other needs a cable. (Both come with cables). USB adapters have advantages in that they can be installed without opening the PC case or using any tools, and if need be they can be mounted higher off the ground and/or away from the PC to improve the wireless range by using an extension cable.
Speed wise, if plugged into a USB 2.0 capable Motherboard any throughput difference will be negligible. However, if you only have a USB1.1 capable motherboard then a PCI or PCMCIA card will be the better way to go. For many though, the ease of installation will outweigh any loss of performance in this situation.

4.9 What is a Wireless Compact Flash Card?

A Wireless Compact Flash Card Card goes into a Palm or PDA and allows it to connect to a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router.

4.10 What is a Wireless Repeater?

A Wireless Repeater function, also known as WDS (Wireless Distribution System), can receive a wireless signal (like a Wireless Client) and then rebroadcast it (like a WAP). This can be a huge advantage but they do take a bit of skill to configure (read: right royal pain) and compatibility between different brands and models is a very common problem. The exception to this compatibility problem are products advertised as having a "universal repeater". I'll even go one step further and say if the manufacturer doesn't mention the word "universal" to describe the repeater or WDS function on their specification sheet and they don't provide a list of compatible models then assume it will only be compatible with another of the same model.

Note: I made it easy to find WAPs with repeater capability on my online shop by searching the word "repeater". Or to find products with a universal repeater capability just search for "universal".

DD-WRT and probably other similar open-source community projects have a universal repeater function so choosing a router or WAP that can accept these firmwares is also a way to go if you don't mind open-source stuff (which can sometimes be buggy or might have security holes that could be well known).

4.11 What is Power over Ethernet?

Power over Ethernet is basically just sending extra low voltage power (such as from a power pack) through an ethernet data cable instead of a conventional power cable. Great for situations where a power point may not be readily available or perhaps just look messy. eg wall & ceiling mounted IP cameras or Wireless Access Points mounted in roof cavities.
Early versions of the technology used two modules, a power inserter and a receiver, such as the Netgear POE101 (no longer available) or Linksys WAPPOE12. These days the technology is becoming smarter and many supported devices such as PoE Switches and many IP Cameras & Wireless Access Points now have the applicable input and receive modules already built into them.
Something to keep an eye out for when purchasing equipment is IEEE 802.3af support. This indicates it adheres to a standard (ie correct voltage/amps etc) and isn't likely to suffer a compatibility problem. We'll see more and more products declaring 802.3af support as time goes by but in the meantime it'll be important to do your homework to ensure equipment will work together.

4.12 Why would I want a removable antenna?

Having a removable antenna allows for it to be easily upgraded to an antenna with different broadcast properties. eg To allow an outdoor antenna to be fitted or even just a higher gain antenna to extend the wireless range.

4.13 Antenna types

There are two basic types of antennas, Omnidirectional and Directional (aka unidirectional):

Omnidirectional antennas (above) broadcast and receive in all directions at once and are the standard antennas fitted to WAPs and Routers. They're available for indoor and outdoor applications and come in all sorts of designs and levels of "gain". (Note the panel design second from the left. Similar designs are available as directional antennas, so read the spec sheets carefully before you buy)

Directional antennas (above) broadcast and receive in a single direction and the broadcast/receive pattern tends to fan out in a cone shape. The dimensions of this "cone shape" vary according to the gain and the distance it has to go, and at a certain distance (depending on the amplification) the outer extremities of the cone shape will die off leaving the centre as the strongest point. (Picture an oval shape being stretched out.)
When purchasing an antenna pay particular attention to the fittings. Most will require an additional cable. eg Netgear ANT2405 shows a short cable already on it but it has a male end (the same as on Routers and WAPs) so will require a female to female cable in order to be fitted.

4.14 What is a Yagi antenna?

A "Yagi" antenna is a directional antenna in a metal grid pattern that looks like a UHF TV antenna. Sometimes they're housed inside bazooka style casings to improve the directional abilities.
The name comes from Japanese inventors Hidetsugu Yagi and his assistant Shintaro Uda who came up with the basic design in the 1930s.

4.15 How do I choose a different Antenna?

There's a bit of science to antenna selection and it's certainly a specialised field when it comes to outdoor wireless, but for those only looking for minor improvements for an indoor wireless application there's some relatively cheap off the shelf antennas that can make quite a reasonable improvement.

Basically, most wireless routers and access points come with 2-2.5dbi antennas standard which are generally good for up to 100 metres outdoors with clear line of sight or up to 30 metres or so indoors through one or two walls or other obstacles (except solid objects such as tin or metal or concrete) . Upgrading to 5 dBi antennas will generally yield a 10 - 20% increase in range. This isn't a huge step up but it's usually enough to stabilise a choppy connection with a tendency to drop out. However, it's probably not going to help a PC that previously had no signal at all. eg I found that the position of my DSM-320 required the signal to have to get around (or through) two concrete pillars to get to the Wireless Router and it would occasionally drop the wireless link. After upgrading it to a 5dbi antenna it stayed totally stable.

Upgrading to 7 dbi antennas will generally yield a similar 10-20% increase in performance again over the 5 dbi.

The general rule of thumb is that in most 3 or 4 bedroom, low or high set brick veneer homes, a standard wireless product with a 2 or 2.5 dbi antenna will perform fine. Choose a 5 or 7 dbi option if you've previously had a wireless device that struggled to perform at your location or you're confident that a standard product is going to struggle at your premises because of its size, design or location.

The chart below shows measurements in dBm using Netstumbler comparing a couple of different antennas fitted to a Billion 743GE.

Green is the standard 2.5dBi antenna
Pink is a plain 5dBi omnidirectional antenna.
Purple is a 5dBi Netgear ANT24O5 panel antenna.
Measurements were taken walking down the street with the laptop with the 743GE inside on the lower floor with signal travelling through one single brick wall. Line of sight is everything with wireless. The drop at around 20m in the chart above is caused by my driveway going downhill into a dip so that I started to drop below the radio wave at around that point and then it came up a bit as I moved further away.

Tools like Benelec's EIRP calculator are invaluable for calculating antenna choices but it's still an area for the experts once it goes beyond slapping a higher dbi version of the same antenna onto an item. The equipment at this level isn't exactly cheap and the price varies considerably from one antenna to another, so a few dollars in the pocket of an experienced technician to consult on the job will generally save a lot of dollars and wasted time down the track.

Also bear in mind there are a variety of connectors that have both male and female ends so even choosing off the shelf cables can be tricky. The most common type of connector is SMA which you'll find on most Billion, Draytek, Netgear and D-Link wireless products. Another less common one is the TNC connector which can be found on some of the older Linksys products like the WRT54GL. And then you've got N type connectors which are often found on stand alone antennas and pre-made cables.

5.0 Wireless Troubleshooting

5.1 Can't detect Router or Access Point
5.2 The drivers won't install.
5.3 PC connects to WAP but no data flow
5.4 PC connects but drops out
5.5 "Wireless LAN Card lost" message
5.6 Wireless not working after upgrading XP to SP2.
5.7 Wireless Network Tab not visible under Wireless Card properties.

5.1 Can't detect Router or Access Point

1. If using XP, check WZC utility is not interfering. See also 5.7 below.
2. Check under Device Manager for yellow dots indicating the card hasn't installed properly.
3. Check WLAN is switched on in the WAP and no security is enabled or SSID has been turned off. (Routers like the D-Link DSL-G604T have Wireless turned off by default and you need to log in with a patch cable to switch it on first.)
4. Move the PC and WAP as close as possible together to see if range is a problem (See this Billion forum post for a wonderful run through of things to do to improve range.)
5. The WAP or Wireless Card/PC may be faulty. (The best way to determine which part might be faulty is to see if another Wireless PC can connect to the WAP, or if the PC can connect to another WAP.)
6. If you have recently upgraded the Firmware on the Router or WAP, reset it to factory default settings and reconfigure from scratch.
7. Try different Radio channels on the WAP just in case there's another Wireless device nearby already using that channel and jamming your signal.

5.2 The drivers won't install.

1. Check the manufacturer's minimum system requirements to see if your PC and Operating System are compatible with the card.
2. Check the manufacturer's website for driver updates and google for other people who may have experienced the same problem with that card.

5.3 PC connects to WAP but no data flow

This behaviour is common if WEP or WPA-PSK is enabled on the WAP but an incorrect pass key is being used to try to connect to it.
If all else fails, uninstall the drivers, reboot and reinstall and/or reset the Router back to factory default settings.
This is also commonly experienced if XP's WZC utility is enabled while you have a 3rd party utility also installed. See above.

5.4 PC connects but drops out

1. The most common cause of this is if your wireless PC is right on the edge of the WAP's range. See this Billion forum post for simple ways to improve range.
2. It can also commonly occur if there are other Wireless devices in the vicinity broadcasting on the same Wireless Channel. Occasionally this can be a Baby monitor or Cordless phone, but usually a neighbour also running a Wireless LAN. Try a few different Wireless Channels to get around it.
3. The final reason is the Router or Wireless card might be faulty or have a bug in the firmware or drivers. Check the manufacturer's site for firmware and driver updates. Don't forget to reset the Router or WAP to factory defaults and reconfigure after an upgrade. (I've been bitten by this one myself).

5.5 "Wireless LAN Card lost" message

This is a fairly rare one but will usually be for one of the following reasons -
1. A software or driver conflict. I experienced this myself after I'd installed something like the ninth wireless card in a row in my laptop. It was XP and a System Restore sorted it out, but if you don't have System Restore try uninstalling the drivers, rebooting and reinstalling, but generally you'll end up going for a format and reinstall to get things working again.
2. An incompatible Operating System or Motherboard conflict. Try the card in a different slot and/or remove any unnecessary cards. (Bear in mind this one is difficult to diagnose accurately. Some people have got things working after a format and reinstall, but for others even these measures have failed.) Wireless USB Adapters are usually the go with PCs that won't play ball with PCI or PCMCIA cards.

5.6 Wireless not working after upgrading XP to SP2.

Still looking into this one but it's been coming up a lot. I did find some info on Google with some likely solutions -
http://www.mcse.ms/message997360-2.html
http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=582449

5.7 Wireless Network Tab not visible under Wireless Card properties.

The Wireless Network Tab is found under Control Panel > Network Properties > Right-Click on Wireless LAN card and select Properties.
Occasionally under XP you may find that the Wireless Networks Tab isn't visible. This may be because the WZC Service has been disabled (Right-click My Computer > Manage > Services and Applications > Services and start it)
See also a description of XP's WZC Utility above.
However, if you're trying to find this tab because you've just installed a Wireless Network Card and you're trying to get the manufacturer's utility to work, it could be another more unusual variation of known conflicts with XP's WZC utility and Wireless Card manufacturer's utility. (Minitar Ralink cards are known to behave like this). In these cases the WZC service will refuse to start and throw up an error message. To get around this one, exit the manufacturer's wireless utility by right-clicking on the antenna symbol displayed in the System Tray at the bottom right of your screen and select Exit. (A good sign at this point is if you get a balloon above the System Tray advising that one or more Wireless Devices are available, but just ignore it for the time being whether you see it or not). Go back into Control Panel > Network Properties > Right-Click on Wireless LAN card and select Properties. The Wireless Network Tab should now be visible.
To disable it properly so it doesn't conflict with the Wireless card manufacturer's utility, untick the option for Windows to control the Wireless device.
Once that's done, restart the manufacturer's utility and you should be laughing.

6.0 Other Wireless Resources

General Tech Articles
CNet Editors' Guide to Wireless
Microsoft Knowledge Base article about "rogue WAP" behaviour
The Myth of Hiding SSIDs
Zytrax Wireless Calculators
SmallNetBuilder - Improving Wireless performance article
International Wireless Hotspot list
Jeff Duntemann's Wardriving FAQ
DIY Parabolic grid template
The Mobile Phone System and Health Effects

Wireless Community Groups
Ips-Mesh (Ipswich/South Brisbane Wireless Network Community)
Bris-Mesh
BrisComp
Darling Downs Wireless
Sydney Wireless
Melbourne Wireless
Canberra Wireless
Adelaide Airstream
Darwin Wireless
Perth E3
Innaloo (Perth)
TasWireless
Seattle Wireless

Wireless Forums
Whirlpool Wireless and Networking Forum
Aus ADSL Forums (Billion Bipac 5100/5100W, Bipac 711CE, Bipac 7100Pro)
743GE Forums (Bipac 741GE, Bipac 743GE, Bipac 7402/7402W, Bipac 7500G)
Sveasoft Forums (Linksys)

Manufacturers
3Com
Alloy
Apple
Avaya
Belkin
Benelec Antennas
Billion
Booya
CNet
Cisco Aironet
D-Link
Draytek
Dynalink
Hills Antennas
Intel
LevelOne
Linksys
Minitar
Netcomm
Netgear
Orinoco/Proxim
Senao
SMC
Veritech
Zyxel

Freeware
Netstumbler
Orangeware (Macintosh)

Service Providers
Azure Wireless
Optus Wireless Connect
Telstra Wireless Hotspot
Swiftel Wireless
Skynet Global
Xone
See also FreeWiFi.com.au for list of free and paid WiFi HotSpots around Australia.

Retailers and Techs
The OzCableguy online shop
Freenet Antennas & kits
radiospecialists.com.au
Philcomm
Amcoll
Radio-Active Networks
wifi-tech.com
antennashop.com.au
citytechnology.com.au