Joseph Moran

Price: $29.99 per year (or $3.99 per month)Pros: Makes it easy to view and manage all devices on the network; simplifies resource sharing and the configuration of some router features.Cons: No WEP or WPA setup, subscription fees instead of outright purchase, no Mac or Linux support. It was physicist and author Arthur C. Clarke who […]

Model: TBW-103UBPrice: $63.99 (MSRP)Pros: Good Bluetooth software, no conflict between 11g & BluetoothCons: Disappointing Wi-Fi software, device sticks out too far Some people (this writer included) have come to regret not checking the Bluetooth box on the options list the last time they bought a notebook computer — it usually happens the day you buy […]

Price: $99Pros: Inexpensive; simple software; displays information about non-Wi-Fi devicesCons: Doesn’t read 5 GHz band, no external antenna support If it seems like your Wi-Fi network isn’t working quite as well as you expected, there’s a good chance the problem is due to some form of interference. You probably know about the myriad devices around […]

Model: WHR-HP-G54Price: $80 (ESP)Pros: Inexpensive; compatible with specialized antennas; easy security configuration.Cons: Erratic performance; bulky client card. These days, most of the WLAN devices claiming the highest performance and range use some kind of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) implementation, which utilizes multiple transmitters and antennas to maximize throughput and minimize the effects of interference. […]

Price: $49.99Pros: Automatically configures encryption method and key on router and clients; rotates keys regularly for optimum security. Cons: Requires specific compatible hardware; key rotation makes using non-PC devices inconvenient. When you think about it, security and convenience almost always reside at opposite ends of a continuum. More security often means less convenience and vice-versa. […]

Price: $299 ($249 for wired version)Pros: Easy to set upCons: Can’t play songs purchased from iTunes Music Store; may have difficulty streaming .AAC files using default settings on some enhanced 802.11g routers. Now that you’ve amassed a huge collection of digital audio, you’re probably looking for a way to listen to it at home without […]

If you’re a smart businessperson (and if you read Small Business Computing, you undoubtedly are), you’re always looking for new ways to maximize efficiency and minimize costs. One of the ways you may be thinking about is trying out Internet telephony and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), which lets you use the Internet to make […]

Model: WRT54GS (v3)Price: $89.99 (MSRP)Pros: Speeds up and simplifies setup of secure WLAN.Cons: Security setup requires compatible client hardware; only supports the use of WPA Personal encryption when using SES. Walk around your neighborhood with a wireless-enabled notebook, and you’ll probably detect the presence of many wireless networks. You’re also likely to find that many of […]

Price: $99.95, plus $9.95 monthly subscription fee Pros: Excellent technical support. Cons: Extremely limited configuration options, particularly for hardware firewall and parental control features; lacks advanced wireless security (WPA). While setting up a home network has gotten easier and less expensive over the years, that doesn’t mean that doing so properly is always simple and […]

Model: P-2000WPrice: $199.99 (street price)Pros: Easy configuration; good voice quality.Cons: Limited service provider compatibility; won’t connect to hotspots requiring authentication; no 802.11g or WPA support (yet). VoIP Internet telephony has been around for quite a while, but it has only recently become ubiquitous and reliable enough to be a serious alternative to placing calls via […]

Price: $74.99 (MSRP)Pros: Locates multiple WLANs; provides detailed information like SSID and encryption methodCons: No battery life indicator; display sometimes hard to read If you’re out and about a lot and make use of Wi-Fi hotspots, you may have considered purchasing (or indeed might already own) a handheld Wi-Fi finder. Up until now, most of […]

Price: $39.95Pros: Simple interface; prompt technical supportCons: Encryption Wizard doesn’t support all access points Wireless Network Ignition 2.0 from SingleClick Systems aims to simplify access to, and configuration of, wireless networks. The $39.95 application is intended as either a replacement to the vendor-supplied utility that came with your WLAN card or a substitute to the […]