Wireless networks (WLANs) - what do you think of them?

[Paul Adams]

Interested in public opinion on wireless technology as it stands right now, based on personal experience, articles or horror stories you might have read.

I'm going to refrain from putting any comments here right now as I want honest thoughts and input.

Feel free to add replies if you want to justify your answer.

[Jonny M]

Insecure but convenient. Would only consider it for remote web access or something like that, anything which needs to be kept secure would go via a cable, but what confidential information is going to be sent from a laptop anyway?

What I don't like is the growing attitude to use a wireless Lan for desktop PCs. Obviously if it's going to be a pain to cable them then I'll let you off, but the time spent cabling will reward you with greater security and faster data throughput.

[Moby-Dick]

I've yet to install a WLAN on a client site that I'm happy about.

I tell them so before I put it in - they are unreliable and unpredictable. but do the clients listen ?

eg. on of my clients has two very different directors. one loves technology and one is a luddite.

the techie loving one has managed to persuade the luddite to finally have a PC , but they want fewer cables to plug into her laptop ( apparently power AND ethernet was just too much )

so we put in a WLAN using two buffalo access points - given that there are only 2 centrino laptop s on this WLAN you'd think it would be reasonably solid. Its reasonably secure ( locked by MAC & 128 bit WEP - can't use WPA as one of the lappys dont seem to like it ) but it just drops the connection for no reason whatso ever. I've moved it away from standard channels , just in case its too much traffic , tried a roaming setup and I've tried different SSID's - they wont sign it off untill it don't drop out ,, but I've been tearing mine ( and Jiff's ) hair out over it !

I'd regail you with other wi-fi nightmares , but I wont.

[Howard]

I'd only consider wirelessing my house if I had a laptop. I see no point otherwise. Running Cat5 around isn't really a problem here, and it's faster and more secure (Well, it will be when I get rid of this 10mbit hub )

[Jonny M]

I'm still trying to decide on an access point for my house . Need 2 detatchable antennas (so one port can drive an external antenna, and another can do indoors), and a good price .

Was looking at the Netgear ME103. Any other suggestions?

[Jonny M]

Trying to change the poll to allow multiple options, would make sense as I like wireless networks, think they are good for public access points, and don't trust the security of them . Might be a job for an admin.

[Steve]

I like wires. However I think wireless is a great idea. The only problem is how quickly its developing, and the security problems especially when using different brands/models of hardware.

[Dfhaii]

I currently have wires, but am after an access point as i have just got me a laptop and wanna browse the net in my garden

Col

[Paul Adams]

Trying to change the poll to allow multiple options, would make sense as I like wireless networks, think they are good for public access points, and don't trust the security of them . Might be a job for an admin.

ops:
Actually that's a good point, I noticed that shortly after getting the poll up, it was either that or add more options with variations...

[Stoo]

I've got a wireless adsl router here at the moment, the pc's are linked in via cat5, I'm yet to test out the wi-fi, hopefully that'll change once the wi-fi adaptor for my pda arrives.. Mmm bedtime/gardening surfing ahoy

I've also downloaded wififofum in preparation for a bit of wlan hunting

[nichomach]

I've got a couple of wireless LANs installed for my company. One in an office which doesn't belong to us, so we can't bugger about with the cabling, and one where all the users are pretty much in the same room. Both have all the security activated on them that I can think of, and both appear reliable. We're deploying another one in another site office. 54Mbps shared isn't as good as 100Mbps switched, but it's fast enough for their purposes. Maybe it's not perfectly secure, but running your data over wires doesn't make it perfectly secure either. I wouldn't use them in every circumstance, but in some of our offices it really makes sense.

[Jiff Lemon]

See mobys comments.

My own Wireless lan is great but still has niggles.

There's other bits that need refining. Hiding the SSID is a great idea, but then XP will try and connect to other broadcasting wireless Lans before your hidden one. You try mixing wireless from different manufacturers and you'll be reaching for the ibuprofen.

[headbrace]

I love wifi. I've got a wireless network at home, and I can just shut my powerbook, wander off somewhere else and be online in seconds. Even my Newt has wifi now.

[Rabs]

Wifi rocks, I bought a 11Mb router ages ago to go with my (now) 3Mb Blueyonder connection, more than quick enough and less cables.

I dont however use wifi for lan gaming, all the machines during lan gaming use cat 5 connections as I dont trust the latency of wifi and the cpu hit on encoding 128bit wep.

[Angus]

I have no probs at all with WiFi - I have no data that I need to keep secure so I don't bother with WEP or MAC locks.

Only really use it for the net though. I'm on 11Mbit at the moment but my access point will allow me to use 54 - I don't transfer big files between the desktop (which is wired) and the laptop anyway - so am not bothered by the slower rates.

[Jiff Lemon]

aaaahhhhh.... see, days like today I love my wireless network.
Currently sat in the back garden browsing the forums on my lappy

So long as you accept its limitations (don't do big file transfers or have lots of users on a single AP) wireless rox - but its still got a LONG way to go.