Adding New Technology

Photograph of a box of a Cisco home wireless router. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

For several months I entertained the idea of installing a wireless network at my home to connect my cellphone, a laptop and an Amazon Kindle. The last two are still in the project phase.  If all goes well, I should have the Kindle by the end of the year, just in time for my birthday.  The laptop will be put on the back burner for the time being until other more essential projects are accomplished.  For example, due to consistent hot temperatures which are here to stay, I’m considering purchasing a split air conditioning system for my office. I’m desperate for it!

Due to my limited knowledge on wireless networks, I was hesitant in making the purchasing decision.  However, my love for technology was greater than my apprehensions, so I finally went over to Yoytec and bought the beast.  That was two days ago but waited until yesterday to install it. Fear is a bad thing, I tell you.

The Cisco people made it very easy for me.  The box included a small manual and an installation CD which baby-walked me through the whole installation process without a hitch.  That’s what I call user-friendliness.  In a little more than thirty minutes the router was installed and humming.  So was my cellphone, which was connected to the network through its Wi-Fi feature.

After searching for the Web for quite a while and weighing in the different options, I opted for the Linksys Wireless-N Home Route – Model WRT120N. It’s main features are:

• Shares the Internet printing and storage with multiple computers.
• Doubles the G speed when used with other Wireless-N devices, and works well with other G products as well.
• Includes four Fast Ethernet ports for wired computers and devices.
• Powerful encryption features protects the router’s wireless signal and a built-in firewall protects your computer from Internet malicious attacks.

I understand a typical wireless router using 802.11b or 802.11g with a stock antenna might have a range of 120 feet indoors and 300 feet outdoors.  The 802.11n however, can exceed that range by more than two times that distance.  Nowhere in the manual could I find this information.  It really doesn’t matter, since I only need it inside the house; and so far, I’ve had no problems with signal coverage.

As many of you probably know, the most common wireless encryption standard, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), has been shown to be easily breakable even when correctly configured.  Knowing this, I wanted a system that went well above this basic security protection.

I wanted the so-called, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) encryption, which became available in devices in 2003.  My Cisco router had this option and made it very easy to configure the device with a no-nonsense software graphical user interface (GUI).  The device setup required a router password, a network name and a Security key.  It was music to my ears, since I’ve read so many horror stories about people losing valuable information through their wireless unprotected networks.

Sometimes technology can become hateful and tortuous, but in other instances, it can be soft and sweet as honey.  After installing my router, I have a pleasant and sweet taste of honey in my mouth.  Technology rocks!  Good Day.

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