The easiest way to monitor your home or office’s wireless network is to use the tools built into the operating system. The cool thing about the tools built into Windows XP is that you don’t have to do anything. Just turn on your PC and the operating system and wireless networking subsystem do the work for you, searching out new networks and determining some basic facts about them for you.

Windows XP uses a system called Wireless Zero Configuration to find, evaluate, and associate with wireless networks. Anytime wireless networks are within range and can be seen by the wireless card(s) in your PC, Windows knows it - and you can see these available networks with just a few simple steps.
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Anyone who relies on wireless networking will be aware that the strength of a wireless signal varies wildly depending on how far you are from the base station and what stands between it and your PCs. If, for example, the walls are particularly thick, or there’s a metal structure, or large piece of furniture between you and the base station, you will see your signal fall to weak or non-existent.

Fortunately, D-Link has recognised this problem and come up with a device that promises to solve the problem. The DWL-G710 Wireless Range Extender is designed to extend the range of a wireless network, providing improved coverage across your home or office.
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Pipe Windows Media Player tunes directly into your living room with the D-Link DSM-120. Compliant with Microsoft’s Windows Media Connect standard, this device uses 802.11b/g Wi-Fi to wirelessly play MP3 and WMA tracks that reside on your PC’s hard drive. The DSM-120 also accepts additional storage via a USB port or an optional internal 2.5-inch hard drive.

The newest Wi-Fi security standard, called Wireless Protected Access 2 (WPA2) , add professional grade encryption - but even though the standard has been around for more than a year, most people still aren’t using it.

WPA2 security is definitely worth the modest amount of effort required to set it up. The original WPA security standard can be cracked with relative ease unless you use a passphrase that is longer than 20 characters and is not merely composed of words that can be found in a dictionary.

And while WPA’s predecessor, Wired Equivalent Privacy, is still around, relying on it is only marginally safer than having no network protection at all. WEP can be cracked in seconds, no matter how complex a key you contrive for it. If your primary security concern is to prevent neighbors and passersby from siphoning your network’s bandwidth, WEP will suffice; if you’re serious about keeping your data private, however, you need WPA2.
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Belkin hopes to clear some of your USB peripherals off your desk with its Ultra-Wideband based four-port Cable-Free USB Hub. The hub transmits data at about 100 mbps over a distance of 10 meters or so.

If real-world speeds work out as Belkin promises, this product will be a winner. Easier cable management is always welcome.
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Let’s face it, wireless rules.

Keeping Out The War Drivers

The ability to sit outside on the patio with the notebook and surf the internet while watching the babes walk by on their way to the beach is a techie’s dream come true. However, wireless security today is a big concern for many people. In the past we used to leave our wireless network completely open so anyone can use it to access the internet. If all these people did was access the net, we wouldn’t have a problem. But many “war drivers” open network for more devious purposes. This is why you absolutely must take security measures to lock down your wireless network.

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If Microsoft Windows XP ever notifies you about a weak signal, it probably means your connection isn’t as fast or as reliable as it could be. Worse, you might lose your connection entirely in some parts of your home. If you’re looking to improve the signal for your wireless network, try some of these tips for extending your wireless range and improving your wireless network performance.
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