Any network
adapter coming within range of another 802.11b network
adapter or access point can instantly connect and join the
network unless WEP – Wired Equivalent Privacy –
is enabled. WEP is secure enough for most homes and
businesses but don’t think it can’t be hacked. There are
several flaws in WEP making it unusable for high security
applications. At this point, it takes some serious hacking
abilities to bust into a WEP enabled network so home users
should not worry. WEP will slow down your wireless
network however expect a 20-50% reduction in speed depending
on the product you are using. The speed issue is often the
result of an access point without enough processing power.
Encryption
comes in 64bit and 128bit key varieties. All your nodes must
be at the same encryption level with the same key to
operate. 40bit and 64bit encryption is the same thing; it’s
just a matter of how the manufacturer decided to label the
product. Often 128bit cards can often be placed in 40/64bit
mode.
One thing to
be careful about in a wireless situation is placement of
your access point. It should be in a central location to all
computers that are to connect to it. As you put walls and
distance between your wireless adapter and your access
point, your speed will drop. Don’t expect to put more than a
few walls between you and your access point.
Rounding up, here are the advantages of
Wireless:
It's fast.
It's reliable.
It has a long range
It's easily integrated into existing
wired-Ethernet networks.
