Equipment Worth Avoiding

Not all wireless networking gear is equal. There are defunct standards and nonupgradeable devices that you’ll want to avoid altogether because they create problems.

Skipping defunct standards

Wi-Fi wasn’t always the only major player in the home wireless networking market. Around the same time that the IEEE introduced the 802.11b standard, another WLAN technology, HomeRF, also entered the marketplace. HomeRF operated in the same2.4 GHz radio frequency band that 802.11b does. HomeRF was slow, about 1 Mbps, and extremely insecure compared to Wi-Fi.

The HomeRF working group supported and developed the HomeRF standard. The HomeRF working group disbanded when it became clear that its standard was no competition for 802.11b. HomeRF is a dead technology with no support or further development. While it’s unlikely that you’ll find HomeRF gear for sale in a retail store, the equipment is often available on auction sites. Unscrupulous vendors try to dump useless HomeRF equipment, pitching it as the latest and greatest thing. When shopping for Wi-Fi equipment, be sure that you purchase 802.11x gear and avoid HomeRF if you see it for sale.

The easiest way for you to ensure that you are purchasing Wi-Fi-compliant equipment is to look for the “Wi-Fi certified” logo on the package. This certification is part of the Wi-Fi Alliance’s effort to ensure the interoperability of 802.11x equipment.

Passing on nonupgradeable gear

802.11b has been around since the late 1990s, and there is a lot of equipment available based on this standard. You can find bargains if you look for older 802.11x gear, but bargain hunting can backfire. Much of the older equipment isn’t upgradeable, so as the IEEE and manufacturers introduce improvements to the 802.11x protocols, you won’t be able to take advantage of them.

The firmware on many access points and adapters is upgradeable. The EPROM and EEPROM chips holding the programming code that operates these devices continue to hold their programming even when they have no power. Professionals call this firmware because it falls between the definitions for hardware and software. A user, using executable upgrade programs supplied by the device’s manufacturer, can replace the programming code on firmware chips.

Manufacturers use firmware upgrades to introduce improvements or new capabilities to a device. Most recently, manufacturers have released security upgrades based upon the 802.11i standard. (802.11i is the standard that describes improved security for Wi-Fi devices.) The Wi-Fi Alliance based the new Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption standard on portions of 802.11i.

Being able to take advantage of firmware upgrades is an important thing to consider when you are purchasing new equipment. You can find out if a device has upgradeable firmware by checking the manufacturer’s Web site or, when possible, the device’s documentation.