Dragonfly Technologies - small
business computer consulting, New York City. Networking, hardware and
software consulting, computer sales, upgrades, and web design /
maintainence. Special expertise in dealing with legal, not-for-profit,
and musicians. Dragonfly Technologies - small
business computer consulting, New York City. Networking, hardware and
software consulting, computer sales, upgrades, and web design /
maintainence. Special expertise in dealing with legal, not-for-profit,
and musicians.

In this edition...
Wireless Networks update

There are several standards being publicized for wireless network (and wireless peripherals). One touts greater speed, a second claims greater security, and the third is the good old standby. While we still think wireless is a great idea we’ve seen too many problems with wireless devices and wireless networks to recommend them just yet.

One immediately visible benefit to "wired" networks over wireless is that wired networks are able to transmit information 2 to 10 times faster across your network. 2 of the wireless standards allow for transmission of data at 10 Mbps (megabits per second), one standard (not the most accepted of the 3 current ones) allows for 54 Mbps transfers, but it is fraught with security issues.

An attorney’s wireless access point (the piece that makes an individual computer or a small group of computers in one part of an office talk to network devices or the internet) stopped working.Yet the attorney’s individual computer, which had its own wireless network card reported that there WAS a network available to him. This was a confusing, mixed message. We found that the network his PC was picking up was the wireless network in the office next door to his.

What we learned from this: If you can even find OUT that there’s another network around, you’re only one step away from being able to break into that network.

If you can break into them, they can break into you.


Right now, wireless network require a great deal more security than wired networks do. It may seem like a savings to not run wire for your network and to make a smaller investment in wireless technology. Although we are certain that within a few years wireless networks will probably be quite viable for small business occupying more than a single room in your home, that day is not yet upon us. We’ll keep you posted.

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to write to us.