11 Mbps Wireless Networking
March 1, 2001
The SOHOware CableFREE wireless networking family
introduces a new generation of technology designed around the
802.11b protocol for 11 Mbps data rates.
NetBlaster II Wireless Networking Products
If you are networking computers in different rooms or on
different floors of your home or office because you want to
share a broadband Internet connection and peripherals,
consider the convenience of a wireless solution. Though
wireless networking is initially a more expensive alternative,
it does offer distinct advantages. It gives you greater
flexibility to move your computers anywhere you want within
the hub's transmission range, typically a minimum of 150 feet
indoor, and still have them networked. Wireless also preserves
the aesthetics of your home in that you don't have to drill
holes through walls or ceilings or have unsightly wires
running across floors.
Until now, 11 Mbps wireless networking products have met
with mixed reviews due to difficult installation and
inconsistent reception quality as a result of inherent product
design limitations. Not everyone was convinced that wireless
Ethernet was a viable alternative to achieve the speed and
connection quality of a regular wired Ethernet network.
But now, SOHOware's new 11 Mbps CableFREE NetBlaster II
wireless networking solution changes all that.
Wireless Ethernet
If you decide wireless is the way to go, what is available
to do the job? State-of-the-art wireless Ethernet networking
is now offered under the industry protocol of 802.11b.
Performance for 802.11b is a data rate of up to 11 Mbps. There
are many brands to choose from that offer 802.11b compliant
products, and most are interoperable with each other - or at
least, they should be. As many as six major brands, including
SOHOware, may be found in major computer retail locations. All
are 802.11b compliant, have maximum data rate of 11 Mbps,
offer encrypted transmission, and operate at a frequency of
2.4 GHz. Even the pricing is comparable.
What criteria can the home computer user or the branch
office manager use to decide what is ultimately important for
their wireless networking needs? How do you evaluate
difference in brands, enough to make a buying decision?
SOHOware's NetBlaster II wireless products offer real
differences in function and performance that can prove to be
definite advantages when you're installing a wireless network.
Choose Wisely
If you are going to install a wireless computer network,
the most important issues to consider include:
- Will it be easy to install and use?
- Will it perform as reliably as a regular wired network?
- Is the company that makes the equipment reputable in the
business?
NetBlaster II offers a complete 11 Mbps wireless solution,
with Hub and Adapter Cards for desktop and laptop computers,
all compliant with 802.11b protocol. And the CableFREE Utility
suite ties it all together with the simplest installation
available.
| How
easy is easy?
Only NetBlaster II provides wireless network
configuration. Simply install one of the wireless
adapter cards in each computer to share the network,
plug in the transmitting/receiving hub unit, and run
the installation CD. Each computer configures to the
hub wirelessly. Only NetBlaster II offers a single
installation CD set up, with drivers and utility
bundled into one setup Wizard. Thatıs the CableFREE
Utility difference.
|
 |
| How
reliable can it be?
A stable signal is critical to enjoying your
wireless connection, particularly when you're sharing
a broadband Internet account. What's the point of a
wireless network if the connection has intermittent
dropouts due to poor signal strength? While many
brands meet 802.11b protocol specifications, only
NetBlaster II offers dedicated adapter card designs
for each computer that utilize the best antenna
technology available. In particular, for desktop
computers, this means a fully dedicated desktop PCI
card solution, with a unique remote antenna. Remote?
Yes, the antenna is actually connected to the computer
via a detachable cable, allowing the user to position
the antenna module in the most ideal location to
maximize reception quality. Regardless of how often
you move the computer (say from office to office, for
example) you will always be able to locate the antenna
where it receives the best reception.
|
 |
SOHOware
invented wireless Broadband sharing?
That's right. The original
CableFREE wireless solution, offered in 1998, was developed
specifically for consumers and small office locations sharing
Internet connectivity through partnership with AT&T
Broadband (formerly MediaOne). NetBlaster II is the next
generation to build on the legacy of the highly acclaimed
CableFREE NetBlaster.
Of particular value to the
home user and business manager alike, is the CableFREE utility
suite, which offers a host of customized diagnostic and
monitoring tools designed to give you key information about
your wireless network, when you need it. Plus, CableFREE comes
with another unique utility to NetBlaster II: Network Hopper,
the time saving tool for the telecommuting laptop user.
Network Hopper allows you to save specific network
configurations as profiles, so all you have to do is click on
the profile you wish to use and youıre ready to connect.
Network Hopper saves the mobile user who frequently travels
between home and office networks from having to re-enter
configuration settings each time.
As with the original
CableFREE family, NetBlaster II offers many advantages that
cannot be found in other 802.11b brands. The innovative
solutions SOHOware designs into its wireless products result
in the kind of reliability and performance that achieves
award-winning recognition. NetBlaster II builds on that
award-winning heritage, exemplified by original CableFREE's
recent award of a Five Start Rating from PC Magazine (November
2000).
