Wireless network are very interesting, because you don't have a cable between your computer and an other computer/gateway/router.

Have a wireless network is good I think if you don't want to see or put a cable trought the wall. It is even more intersting for laptop's to have for exemple internet in the garden. Wat can be better than read your emails in your garden in a nice sun.

The wireless technology is OK, it works good. And it can go far enough.

The only problem is that you have to use a good key (wep) so other people can not use your internet or even worse acces your pc (documents,...) So if you install a wireless network be sure that you have put a good wep key.

But is it expensive to install a wireless network in your house? Approximately how expensive is it?

you can get a full set thats with the hub and 2 cards for $50 or less im from uk so it was only £30

Yes WLAN is really handy technology if you don't bother or simply can't do the wiring.

But security is something that epecially needs to be taken account when using wireless communication. The traffic encryption that comes with 802.11b is not reliable enough. So if you you your email from your garden, make sure you use secure connection.
Don't rely on link level encryption, do it on software level.

Yes, that's why I already use WLAN G technology, it's just like B technology but you can go up to 54MB/s and the security is better. And yes wirelles network are expensive if you compore to a classic network.

My college has wireless network connections all over the place, which makes having a laptop very convenient.

Some of the wireless connections are on secure networks, however, meaning that in order to access that wireless network, you would have to have to know some type of security code or password.

Approximately $80 for a 54M 11.g 4-port router and less than $40 / computer.

Existing computers can accept a standard card, a PC Card (notbooks in particular) or you can even hook up via USB. All can be had for under $40.

js

Hi fabius, I'm not family with technology in wireless networking. would you introduce the wep key more detail.

In my opinion, the difference between wire and wireless networking is the transfer channel. Though in wire networking, some tools can listen others communication, so the security also needs to be considered. What's your opinion?

Does anyone know how bad it interferes with 2.4GHz cordless phones?

No idea Jhonny, but WAN is useful if you want you have connections in multiple floors (i.e. cable modem in basement and you want to get Internet on the top floor) I still have LAN, but WAN is an option I might consider soon.