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| 5/24 |
| 2002/6/27 [Computer/Networking] UID:25209 Activity:high |
6/26 Will any old wireless lan pc card compatible with 802.11 do?
Is that the protocol most of campus (airbears etc) uses? I'm
also thinking of setting up wireless net in my apt. General
comments are appreciated. I'm looking at a model from D-Link,
but brand name/model suggestions would be helpful. -darin
\_ You want 802.11b (or g, not yet available), but plain "802.11"
which was out before the 802.11b standard is not want you want.
Why? There were two ways to make "802.11" cards, and the two ways
were incompatible. That's why they made 802.11b. 802.11a is the
new stuff coming out, so you don't want that, and g is compatible
with a and b. I think this is mostly correct, but the short answer
is: You want 802.11b. You should be fine assuming you don't need
encryption.
\_ actually.. 802.11b is backwards compat w/ the old 1mb/s 802.11.
802.11g will be backwards compat w/ 802.11b.. 802.11a is neithr
backwards compat w/ 802.11 nor .11b or .11g... most campus
nets are using 802.11b and cisco aironet 350 ap's and recommend
either an airport in a mac or in a pc either an orinocco, linksys,
or dlink card because those are what they tend to test... cuz
they are cheap.. -shac
\_ D-Link is on the list of tested cards:
http://airbears.berkeley.edu/faq.shtml#whichCard
more generally: http://www.wirelessethernet.org/sponsors.asp
\_ Which of these alphabet soup standards has the 'best' security?
I'd like wireless home net but don't want god knows what floating
I'd like wireless home net but don't want g-d knows what floating
out over my neighbor's houses for miles around. Thanks.
\_ Just use application-level encryption (SSL, SSH). Don't trust
the wireless encryption. Incidentally, AirBears is preparing
to upgrade to 802.11a/802.11b dual-mode hardware. -tom |
| 5/24 |
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| airbears.berkeley.edu/faq.shtml#whichCard Please be aware that the traffic on the AirBears wireless network is NOT encrypted. Due to this, we strongly recommend that you only use applications that encrypt data for security, that is: + only read from and submit confidential data to webpages that are secure - the lock in your browser window should be closed (https and not simply http). Any member of the campus community who has a valid CalNetID and passphrase may login and use AirBears. During the pilot phases, visitors to campus cannot use AirBears unless they are eligible for a CalNetID. AirBears is currently a pilot project and service will be provided free of charge to members of the campus community until at least the end of fiscal year 2001. If you have a recommendation on locations that would serve a large number of users, please send them to the 22 airbears-wireless mailing list. Where can I get help and support with installing a wireless card in my laptop? Students can receive help after November 1st, 2001 at the 23 Student Computer Consulting Service. Faculty and staff should contact their departmental IT staff or 24 Dr. Do I need to register my wireless card's MAC address to use AirBears? No, you do not need to register your wireless card in order to use AirBears. AirBears uses a "captive portal" to authenticate your session with CalNetID and the associated passphrase. Here is a list of cards we know work with AirBears: + * tried and works + + tried and works with OS specfic changes + - tried and did not work + ? This allows authenticated users to run all common and popular internet applications. In the ideal case, a single user can expect upto 4Mbps with no other users at the access point. Various objects between an AirBears user's computer and the access point may interfere with the wireless network connection including large metal objects (ie. You can expect a signal to be strong enough to connect to AirBears upto 100-300ft from the wireless access point at a location. The current setup of AirBears allows you to move around at the same location (ie. Depending on the wireless network signal, your connection bandwidth will vary as you move. There is also limited, experimental support for roaming between covered locations. Needless to say, you will not have a connection while you are in transit through areas without coverage. If you get to the new site and do not receive the AirBears login screen on your web-browser, then your session is still active and will continue to work. Can I leave my laptop permananently connected to AirBears? The AirBears wireless network service is not a replacement for the higher-bandwidth, wired campus network. Where can I make suggestions, get help or discuss AirBears? To whom do I report a location where AirBears was working but doesn't now? If you are able to use AirBears in one location but not in another one that is advertised as currently served, please send email to the 26 airbears-wireless mailing list with your report. See the 27 Health and Safety Issues section of the AirBears website for details. What are some other educational institutions that currently offer wireless networks to their communities? Where can I find more information about other wireless users in the Bay Area? |
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