Putting your wireless house in order
 
|
|||
 | |||
|
It's an ideal scenario. In the office, you roam the floors with your notebook, always connected to the corporate LAN via an 802.11b wireless connection. At the end of the day, you head home, and connect the same notebook to your wireless home network to share your broadband connection.
If only it were that simple. Today, on the corporate side, your only choice is 802.11b. But when your workers head home, they're confronted with home network products - PC cards, Universal Serial Bus devices and residential gateways - that may use a competing standard, HomeRF.
Let's talk about NICs
Interactive Buyer's Guide database
Go ahead, cut the wires
Subscribe to the Wireless in the Enterprise newsletter
HomeRF was built from the ground up as a home network technology. It operates in the 2.4-GHz band and uses frequency hopping spread spectrum radio frequency technology. HomeRF member companies include Intel, Motorola, Siemens, Compaq and Proxim. In contrast, 802.11 was built from the ground up for corporations. It too operates at 2.4 GHz, but uses direct sequence technology. Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (802.11b) supporters include 3Com, Apple, Dell, Cisco and AMD.
Each method has strengths and weaknesses in terms of range and resistance to interference from other devices in the 2.4-GHz band, such as cordless phones and microwave ovens, as well as with Bluetooth. However, 802.11b is much faster and supports roaming, making it better equipped for the company.
While 802.11b made inroads into the home via Apple's iBook and Airport combination, according to recent numbers from PC Data (cited by HomeRF's Wayne Caswell), of all home network technologies that don't require additional wiring (which includes HomePNA, AC power and wireless), HomeRF products account for 45%.
Some things to keep in mind: While HomeRF was never meant to work in an enterprise environment, Version 2, promised for release this summer, will allow for 10M bit/sec and supports roaming - muddying the waters even further. However, historically, HomeRF has been slow to translate technology promises into shipping products.
Also, keep an eye on 802.11b home network products from Netgear and Panasonic, built using Sharewave's Whitecap technology. While optimized for multimedia, Whitecap's current version doesn't interoperate with existing 802.11b devices, although the next version, due out this summer, should.
While many residential gateway manufacturers are building support for 802.11b and HomeRF in their boxes, it's still a smart idea to talk to your workers about what they're buying for their home, how it will or won't work with the office wireless LAN and why. To read about the specific technical issues, head to www.homerf.com and www.wirelessethernet.org.
RELATED LINKS
Kistner is the managing editor of the Net.Worker section. She can be reached at tkistner@nww.com.
Review: Putting 802.11b to the test
We tested how ready nine 802.11b wireless LAN access points are for the enterprise.
Let's talk about NICs
Looking at wireless network interface cards (NIC) from nine vendors was an eye opener.
Interactive Buyer's Guide database
Detailed product information from nine vendors. Compare specific criteria or download the vendor information on an excel spreadsheet.
Companies are installing wireless LANs for portable access to the corporate network and providing a better means for collaborating with co-workers.
Case study: Saving lives with roving LANs
Swedish ambulance becomes a true mobile platform.
