Stories by Joanie Wexler

New risks in 802.11n

Along with the potential performance and coverage benefits of 802.11n come a few new security risks, says industry security guru Joshua Wright. Wright presented a Webinar last week that outlined several new vulnerabilities that high-speed 802.11n networks introduce.

Are all-wireless networks vulnerable to jamming?

There is much buzz about enterprise access networks going "all wireless" as the increased throughput and range of next-generation 802.11n wireless LANs become available in IEEE-standard products.

Cellular in the last mile - hidden problems

Would you consider using a cellular data network service as a last-mile access alternative in small or temporary locations? If so, check with your carrier about the conditions under which this is allowed.

Is leaky coax good enough to distribute Wi-Fi?

Many companies have successfully used leaky coax as a distributed antenna system, or DAS, for boosting cellular voice signals throughout their organisations. You might be wondering if you can also use it to propagate Wi-Fi signals for improved coverage.

How will sensor networks integrate?

Stand-alone processes and networks that hail from the industrial, manufacturing, and facilities sides of the business are destined to merge onto the IT infrastructure.

Wi-Fi/Cellular at Crossroads

The convergence of mobile networks and devices could extend coverage and simplify access, but loose ends linger.

Finding people, places and things in wireless networks

There are many emerging applications that involve tracking the whereabouts of a person or object in a wireless network. Among them are security, emergency response, asset management, and real-time contact applications.

How 802.11n backward compatibility works

It has been widely reported that 802.11n, the wireless LAN IEEE draft standard that uses multiple input/multiple output technology to boost Wi-Fi speeds to over 100Mbps, is "backward compatible" with today's 802.11a, 11b, and 11g networks. This can seem confusing, given that 802.11a, which runs in the 5-GHz frequency band, is not compatible with 802.11g and 11b, which operate in the 2.4-GHz band.

Has WiMAX turned a corner?

Now that the broadband wireless industry can boast some bona fide WiMAX Forum-certified products - with several more on deck for certification testing - will WiMAX services suddenly proliferate as an enterprise-class, last-mile access alternative?

Succeeding at sourcing

How do you strike a successful balance of in-house and outsourced IT expertise?

Proxim launches products amid acquisition

Despite the recently announced US$21 million sale of its assets to Moseley Associates, Proxim intends to introduce an appliance this week that brings its product line in sync with centralized wireless LAN management architectures.

RFID, presence and privacy

I shuddered not once, but twice during a recent local newscast that demonstrated how a mere fingerprint scan will soon replace an ATM or credit card swipe for the purchase of goods and services.

Wi-Fi security: Leverage what you know

How do you know that you've covered all the bases when it comes to wireless LAN security?

Bluetooth and ZigBee: Their similarities and differences

Bluetooth and ZigBee have much in common. Both are types of IEEE 802.15 "wireless personal-area networks," or WPANs. Both run in the 2.4-GHz unlicensed frequency band, and both use small form factors and low power.

Wireless joins hospital's VoIP mix

When Erlanger Health System began deploying VoIP technology in 2002, it wanted to simplify and lower the cost of moving phones when employees changed locations.