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802.11g Hardware Arrives
Posted by
timothy
on Tue Dec 31, 2002 02:50 PM
from the fewer-wires-better-mood dept.
from the fewer-wires-better-mood dept.
DBordello writes "There's been quite a scramble as networking companies the world over rush to be the first to bring their 802.11g wireless gear to market. Linksys missed their early December launch date, and a company named Buffalo Technology has risen to steal their thunder. The company today issued a press release announcing their AirStation G54 broadband router access point and wireless CardBus adapter, the first 802.11g draft standard hardware to hit the market. More information can be found at the company's website." Update: 12/31 21:35 GMT by M : The story submitter apparently found this blurb on broadbandreports.com. Hey people, give credit where it's due. Update: 12/31 22:50 GMT by T : Karen Sohl of Linksys writes to say that despite the slip in dates, "Linksys
is shipping our line of Wireless-G products. We have been shipping since
last week. Honestly not large volume by any means-- but by the end of this
week we'll have shipped over 10,000 units to distribution -- Ingram Micro
and Tech Data." That's where even large retailers (think Amazon) buy their stock.
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Great! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Great! (Score:5, Informative)
We have had great success in buildings with thick walls.
We use directional antennas such as these [hdcom.com] and these [antennasystems.com] to get very high signal strengths and low noise.
We use this antenna [hdcom.com] to go between buildings. These [216.91.65.4] also work great for long distances.
With two of those antennas, we have spanned 2400 feet (and we are planning a similar setup to span a distance of 5 miles).
Don't give up -- there are easy solutions to thick walls.
Parent
I'm waiting (Score:3, Funny)
802.11g (Score:5, Funny)
Re:802.11g (Score:5, Funny)
That would be 802.12. Odd number releases are never stable. Sheesh, how long have you been reading slashdot?
Parent
On top of things... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:On top of things... (Score:5, Informative)
Your post was funny. I know that. I'm bored and I want to write a speech on why Token Ring is a bitch to upgrade.
Most token ring hubs are 4/16 selectable, but every card needs to be 16 or 4. If even one card is a different speed, your ring comes to a crash. 16Mb token ring hardware is expensive, as is 100Mbit token ring (yes, they make 100Mbit token ring, I have a small test ring set up with it).
Why not ethernet? Well, in a lot of cases, Token Ring installations were wired with a 4 conductor 14 gauge cable with really odd looking hermaphroditic connectors on them. To move to ethernet requires either an investment in recabling or the purchase of an impedence matching convertor, which I really don't recommend. They will bring your ethernet segment to a crash if you're not careful.
If you're running 4 MB token ring, you're probably fux0red unless you have a lot of money to burn.
Parent
Re:On top of things... (Score:2)
Anything that was built in the day of token ring's dominance was probably wired with this cursed Type 1 cable, if there was a short-sighted manager behind it. Because of the reasons I've mentioned, most are still token ring because upgrading is a painful, expensive process.
security? (Score:4, Interesting)
I'm a little worried about this mad dash to 802.11 technology before any viable security is in place. Of course this is great for those who want to create open networks--but many will use it to create corporate networks, or home networks with unsecured machines attached.
I'm running an 802.11 network and it drives me crazy that there is no way to wholly secure it: I have to secure each and every host on my network as it's impossible to create any kind of firewall (someone will just hack the air interface and get around my firewall).
Hopefully in addition to cool new bandwidth there are some hardcore security features in this one. 802.11 is "ad hoc" in more ways than one
Re:security? (Score:2, Insightful)
It takes about 15 minutes to crack 64bit wep. A day to crack 128bit wep. I think that 256bit WEP IIRC would in theory take about a month of non-stop monitoring.
Re:security? (Score:2)
Re:security? (Score:5, Interesting)
No, do not depend on hardware security and don't ever think it's more secure than software security. Secure your LAN as needed, stay in control and know that pretty much anything that goes through the air can be picked up by virtually anyone. VPN, crypt and tunnell (or do whatever it is those security freaks do), don't trust anyone else to secure your network and data.
Parent
Re:security? (Score:5, Informative)
The problem is that most people just take the stuff out of the box and plug it in, leaving themselves open. This [bbc.co.uk] article describes the problem.
We can set this up easily enough, but for most people, if it isn't configured by the manufacturer, it will never happen. Even some of my more technically capable friends never upgrade firmware (or manage to destroy their equipment when they try).
Parent
Re:security? (Score:2)
Re:security? (Score:2)
The general rule is to treat the 802.11 interface just like a connection to that other big insecure network, the Internet.
Re:security? (Score:2)
Only users with secure, authenticated, access will be able to pass data through the network.
Rogue users will still be able to connect to the wireless segment, but they won't be able to get anywhere. The only data they will see will be encrypted in the IPSEC or SSH tunnels. Nothing to see, nowhere to go.
FYI (Score:5, Informative)
-Berj
Well, yes and no... (Score:5, Informative)
Parent
Correct (Score:5, Informative)
Read up on all the specs [zdnet.com] for the different 802.11 standards at ZDnet.
-Berj
Parent
Re:FYI (Score:2, Informative)
It's a hybrid of 802.11b and 802.11a. It uses a lot of the same algorithms as 802.11a, but in the same 2.4 GHz spectrum that 802.11b uses.
Hmmmm .... (Score:2)
This looks more like free advertising than a top story
Instead, lets do Buffalo Tech a faovr
RUN!!!!
Hareware isn't a profitable business unless you are Cisco, 3Com, HP, Sun, or Compaq. And besides, I'm sure that Micro$haft will beat them out of the market by taking a loss on their hardware until they control the market
Get out, while you still can!!
Re:Hmmmm .... (Score:3, Informative)
Hareware isn't a profitable business unless you are Cisco, 3Com, HP, Sun, or Compaq.
You may be wrong. I spoke with Linksys engineer resently, and he told me that they are doing rather well, revenues are up and they don't lay people off. (Linksys is a private company, so their complete financials are not available). They target consumer market and thus have not been hit by downturn.
Hrrmmmn, (Score:4, Insightful)
Given Apple's early adoption of 802.11b, are all us Mac users in for a nice surprise at the the SteveNote regarding wireless?
Re:Hrrmmmn, (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, but what Dynamic Ornamental Appearance will the new 802.11g cards have? Maybe they will change color when your credit card number is being wirelessly intercepted.
~jeff
Parent
its cheap too! (Score:3, Informative)
only $130 for the access point
The client card is $50
http://www2.warehouse.com/product.asp?pf%5Fid=D
Not bad.
from website: 1 Mbps: 1870ft(570m) outdoor. (Score:3, Interesting)
54 Mbps. 165ft(50m) 65ft(20m)
18 Mbps: 490ft(150m) 245ft(75m)
11 Mbps. 590ft(180m) 410ft(125m)
1 Mbps: 1870ft(570m) 410ft(125m)
Too bad there aren't any 10Mbs+ *low cost* hardware for let's say 5,000M radius, that would surely be cool for remote regions. Everything is so expensive when you want just a bit more range. It's okay if a community wants to build something behind a bigger pipe, but you need a lot of people to be able to pay off for both the pipe and the hardware at that point. I guess the PDA/cellular combo is still a better option for specific remote cases for now.
802.11g (Score:5, Informative)
it's interesting, though, that the standard is still in the draft stage, scheduled for ratification in mid-2003, and hardware manufacturers are already rolling out implementations. not surprising, given market conditions, but let's hope that any changes will be minor, and fixable in firmware.
see the P802.11 status report [ieee.org] at IEEE for more details...
Re:802.11g (Score:3, Informative)
NOTE TO OUR CUSTOMERS: As you may know, IEEE802.11g is slated to be certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance in mid 2003. We understand this could affect current 802.11g technology. We are dedicated to ensuring that our customers have the most current and reliable products available on the market today. If the certification materially changes the principal operating features of our pre-standard 802.11g products, we will replace or upgrade any of those products at no charge and provide toll-free technical support. We thank you for your loyalty and confidence in our products.
So in case anything changes they're guaranteeing you'll have what works. That's pretty cool if you ask me. I've worked with these guys before and have purchased a number of AP's and cards and they work well. People are nice to work with too.
Bollock! There is no 802.11g (Score:3, Informative)
Claiming compliance to 802.11g at this date is to lie.
PBCC or OFDM phy based equipment at 2.4Ghz is not at this time 802.11 anything. It is proprietary. Buy it and you are buying proprietary, non interoperal stuff. Kids, just say 'no'.
Re:Bollock! There is no 802.11g (Score:5, Informative)
Claiming compliance to 802.11g at this date is to lie.
All true, but note that Buffalo do not claim this. From the website linked in the submission:
"54g delivers the fastest possible data rate defined by the proposed IEEE802.11g draft specification"
and
" As you may know, IEEE802.11g is slated to be certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance in mid 2003. We understand this could affect current 802.11g technology. We are dedicated to ensuring that our customers have the most current and reliable products available on the market today. If the certification materially changes the principal operating features of our pre-standard 802.11g products, we will replace or upgrade any of those products at no charge and provide toll-free technical support."
So not only do Buffalo plainly state that this technology based on the draft standard, but they also offer free replacement or upgrade once the standard is ratified. Sounds like a pretty good way to deal with this. Doesn't at all sound like:
It is proprietary. Buy it and you are buying proprietary, non interoperal stuff. Kids, just say 'no'.
Try reading the links before getting on your high horse.
Parent
802.11a? (Score:2)
Crash Course, Comin' Up! (Score:4, Informative)
Hope this helps.
Parent
Re:802.11a? (Score:2, Informative)
802.11a uses 5.8ghz spectrum (less range but not as much interference) and runs at 22mb/s or 54mb/s depending on manufacturer.
802.11g is an "upgrade" to 802.11b that is backwards compatible in the 2.4ghz spectrum but also runs speed up to 22mb/s or 54mb/s
802.11g is still a working draft (not a standard) however enough of the standard has been fleshed out that flash upgrades for devices should bring them easily into compliance when/if any changes are announced to the end standard. This is also getting so much press because since it is 100% backwards compatible with 802.11b you only change your access point and you can start attaching higher speed devices. 802.11a you have to change all your clients or have 2 access points going (or linksys's dual 802.11a/802.11b access point)
802.11a is largely being ignored because so far few manufacturers have outdoor/longhaul equipment for it. Most emphasis on this standard has been on access points for internal networks. Until companies put out equipment that can take better antennas the range is stodgy (and in 5.8ghz the range is still less even with those antennas)
Re:802.11a? (Score:2)
Except for 802.11g BSSes with short slot time screwing up 802.11b overlapping BSSes.
Re:802.11a? (Score:3, Informative)
802.11a operates on the 5.3 Ghz range. It offers eight non-overlapping channels.
You don't hear much about 802.11a because it is newer and has less market penetration than 802.11b. It hasn't had time to come into its own yet.
You should probably expect to hear more about it as the 2.4 range gets really saturated.
Security mathers? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Security mathers? (Score:3, Informative)
In the interim there is WPA. WPA is not an 802.11 thing, it is a WECA spec. It is poor mans security, better than WEP but worse than 802.11i.
Re:Security mathers? (Score:2)
Re:Security mathers? (Score:3, Informative)
The last big honking rolled up spec was 1999. That incorporated 802.11b for 11mbps at 2.4Ghz
The approved individual drafts will get approved by the working group, then approved at sponsor ballot and then they will sit around waiting to be incorporated into a unified spec. The approved drafts that have been through sponsor ballot are OK to implement to, in that they will not change.
Nice whitepaper (Score:2, Informative)
Buffalo Gear is Ok... (Score:3, Informative)
Anyway, 2 years ago their gear was the cheapest 802.11b I found, and worked fine (Windows users deserve their pain, no?)
Is it reasonably secure now? (Score:2)
Re:Is it reasonably secure now? (Score:4, Informative)
Many 802.11b APs also allow separate xmit and recv keys, making WEP attacks much more difficult.
Then disable SSID broadcasts (making your 802.11b wireless network invisible to tools like netstumbler).
WEP certainly has its weaknesses (especially when 802.11b was first released), but is arguably 'reasonably secure' today. It's far from perfect, but is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be.
Parent
Re:Is it reasonably secure now? (Score:4, Informative)
Oh yes it is.
WEP+ is not a standard. Different vendors have different means of avoiding (or not) weak keys.
Problem 1: Weak key avoidance just makes the IV space get exhausted quicker.
Problem 2: There are likely to be new classes of weak keys discovered that invalidate the weak key skipping mechanisms and further shink the IV space.
Problem 3: If you have no weak keys, then IV space exhaustion gets you in the end.
Problem 4: To solve IV space exhaustion within the current WEP structure, you need rapid rekeying. There is no rapid rekeying spec. 802.1X is used be vendors in the wild, but only in proprietary ways, since as a standard it doesn't work over a non secured channel like 802.11.
Problem 5: 802.1X has some fundamental layer violation problems with networks that don't have an ethertype (like 802.11). Ethernet is fine. It has an ethertype.
Parent
And in other news.. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:And in other news.. (Score:2, Funny)
Yet another example of how porn has pushed a technology further
-Jason
Range with 802.11b (Score:3, Insightful)
If it does, I may just get one of these things. The range in my WAP/router (linksys) sucks. then again -- i would buy a booster if i could find one that works well.
Re:http://www.linksys.com/splash/wap54g_splash.asp (Score:3, Informative)
Available End of December:
You can also see that amazon.com has the Linksys 802.11G products listed with a status of "Not yet released"
Linksys at Amazon [amazon.com]
Maybe you should check your facts Troll.
Re:http://www.linksys.com/splash/wap54g_splash.asp (Score:2)
Re:ingram micro (Score:3, Interesting)
Was it for bad credit reviews? Was it for late payments? No, it was because you were small, insignificant in their minds. Let me see, buy overpriced, backordered kit form Ingram and pay cash now, or get it on credit from another supplier? Hrm, thanks for your support Ingram. It was the small shops that MADE Ingram Micro, so f*ck them.