AFAIK, WAN works at 2.4GHz, while both the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz cordless phones also work in the same band. My cordless phone does a frequency hopping, so it should be Ok with any other 2.4GHz device which also does the frequency hopping. But I don't know if WAN does hopping or not. If it does, how often does it do it.

I'm not fabius but here is my 2 cents..

WEP = Wireless Encription Protocol

WEP can be up to 128-bit strength. A WEP key or code can be generated by using a passcode. This is so you can easily remember instead of having to type in hexadecimal all the time.

I use WEP on all my wireless connections.

Another thing that I use and would recommend is MAC address filtering. When you purchase a wireless router and configure it in infrastructure (vs. adhoc) mode; you can specify each specific MAC address that can connect to the network. If you have a home network, this makes a lot of sense. After all you don't want to let just anyone in, right?

I adore wireless; but don't be stupid if you set up a wireless network in, say, a condominium. My mother and I have been using wireless for at least six months. It's our neighbor's wireless; they didn't bother to set up a password, so anyone (and everyone, from what I've heard) can use their internet. It's not costing them anything, but I'm sure it slows things down. Moral: Passwords are good.

It's not that expensive. I use linksys for my laptop, but recently, the wireless connection to the internet stopped working! Now I have to go online in the kitchen...

Thanks Mortgage Man.
However, I still want to know where will WEP be checked? By the software over TCP or within the TCP levels.

Considering the MAC address, though someone ever told me that it can be faked, I think it's enough safe for the usage at home because the others don't know the MAC address you set.

i have a wireless b connection at my home... i am using a router which will restrict access from device with mac address not listed in my router... so no 1 can actually accesing my network without my permession... i can tell u... once u have a wireless network... u will never wanna turn back! its simply rocks... though i dunno how to setup/use WEP... but i dun have any valuable information to get steal by my neighbour... also, i dun think my neighbour is any smart den me when it comes to computer...

I really wonder whats the sense of having a wireless network???

Its MORE LIKELY TO be HACKED AND ABUSED, then a wired network such as Ethernet, or Token Ring...

The connection is very poor, range while with wired its alot better...

Last and most important, it more costly, nearly double the price of a wired network...

And I nearly forgot, its very hard to troubleshoot and repair...

when u got wireless... its very scalable... for my case... i live with my friend... and sometimes my schoolmates come to my house... a wireless network allow my schoolmates and my friend to get connected to each other in no time... and all of us are able to surf online... ya... the speed may not be as fast as wired... but its still very fast... 11 mbps for wireless b of mine... and if u get g... its 54mbps... thats hell lot... and thats enough for alot of stuff... i never felt lag using wireless even though i am having b... if u are doing home networking... i can say it may cost abit more... but not as much... and nowadays it come with bundle... which make it even cheaper... best of all... its wire free... i hate all those tangled up wires... if u wan maximize security... get a router as it can restrict access from people who did not have permission from u by setting up a list of mac addresses that are able to access the network... router are password protected... and u can encrypt your data too... its make hackers almost impossible to hack your computer thru this kinda security implementation... the world is changing... u can trust wireless right now...

I would prefer to have wired network but as I cant I must resort to wireless.

The wireless hardware has come a long way since it first came out. There is much higher security preconfigured in the router and many security measures taken. If you live in an apartment and cant rip down your walls or pull cable through them and you dont want wires laying all over the place wireless is great.

With 802.11g you can get incredible speed and even with 802.11b it is pretty fast.

I would not recommend wireless networking because of a few reasons. One of the first reasons is, I believe, it is very unsecure. What i mean by this is someone can take a wireless adapter and hack into your network. Reason number 2 is that depending how far you are away from the router, the slower the speed is. You get better speed on a standard router.