graphic

Considerable skills, experience and costs may be required to set up wireless networks. 
In metropolitan areas where there is moderate/heavy radio interference and spectrum
saturation in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, this method may not work.
The 2.4 GHz signal is subjected to attenuation by fog, cloud and rain.

g There is a security weakness in the way 802.11b uses RC4 cipher, the encryption key can be revealed by passive monitoring.
See this paper gby Shamir and the published attack codes, recommended counter action gand patch announced by RSA gand eweek gand other solutions by vendors such as Bluesocket

g Since they are on the same "subnet", if they have folders "shared", they are sharing these folders with others as well. This is a security risk.
Instruct your users to un-share their "shares" or add a password to their "shares".
This will become less of an issue as users getting more security-conscious.

Before you spend money and time to try to set up a wireless network, 
consult a competent microwave / wireless consultant. 

Disclaimer

There are many wireless LAN manufacturers on the super hot wireless market today:
The list is not exhaustive, just a sample, link changes frequently too, expect broken links:
Proxim, Breezecom now Alvarion, HP wireless, Intel, 3com, LinksysD-link, Cisco (Aironet),
SMC
, Sohoware, Lucent or Orinoco or wavelan, now agree, GVC, Pure Data, Atheros, Xircom now Intel, Zoom, Raylink
To find them, use a search engine and enter keywords "Wireless LAN" or "Access Point"

Links to some 2.4 GHz Wireless LAN:
http://antenex.com/  (antennae)
http://www.hyperlinktech.com/ (antennae)
MikroTik
http://www.qsl.net/n9zia/wireless/index.html
Valemont Network
Wireless LAN resources

Photos:
Different types of outdoor antennae for 2.4 GHz wireless-LAN;
a roof-top setup of 2.4 GHz parabolic antennae by Waverider in Beijing, China
Photo of a 2.4 GHz Parabolic antenna that can give you distances of 15 km.
(line of sight required)

© 2000-2004 Nicholas Fong,
Burnaby, B.C., Canada  g

Last revised: October 03, 2004

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