GigaNews gives IT pros cutting edge insight into the rapidly changing products and practices needed to succeed in the dynamic wireless LAN marketplace.

December 2003

>> Training Corner

NEW: Enhanced Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Bridging Curriculum >>
Updated curriculum for the Cisco® Aironet Essentials of Wireless Bridging and the Cisco Aironet Advanced Wireless Bridging Lab is now available. The new curriculum incorporates the Cisco Aironet 1400 Series 54 Mbps, 5 GHz Bridge to provide students with the most up-to-date and inclusive Cisco bridging training available today.

For class details, click here
To view entire press release, click here

NEW: GigaWave Partners with Planet3 Wireless to offer CWNA™ and Cisco Aironet ® Wi-Fi Certification >> GigaWave and Planet3 have recently joined forces to offer IT professionals the unique opportunity to obtain both the CWNA certification and Cisco Aironet Wireless Certifications upon completion of GigaWave's Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Fundamentals and Site Survey training courses.

To read entire press release, click here

>> Products of the Month

AirMagnet Laptop Trio a/b/g >> The new Laptop Trio is a Wi-Fi administration and diagnostic tool that provides performance management, detailed expert advice, connection troubleshooting, network diagnostics, a suite of site survey tools and more. It's the only solution capable of supporting 802.11b, 11a and 11g networks from a single real-time interface. Concerned about security? AirMagnet Laptops validate WEP, WPA, 802.1x, VPNs, LEAP, TKIP, MIC, Fortress and constantly scans for 38 security weaknesses and attacks.

Click here to download an AirMagnet Laptop Trio datasheet.
Click here to browse AirMagnet's full line of products.

LightPointe >> High Bandwidth Bridging Solutions for the Enterprise and ISPs - Using free-space optical technology (FSO), LightPointe's technology delivers high-speed communications solutions faster and more cost-effectively than traditional Wi-Fi and fiber-optic cables. FSO is a line-of-site technology using lasers to provide optical bandwidth connection in which voice, video and data information can be sent and received simultaneously on invisible beams of light. Using LightPointe as a solution for full duplex, point-to-point bridging means freedom from radio spectrum and monthly lease payments for T1s.

Click here for free LightPointe Certification Training.
Click here for details on LightPointe's Bridging Solutions.

>> Industry Update

FCC Makes More Unlicensed Spectrum Available >> The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently opened up more spectrum for unlicensed use, adding an additional 225 megahertz in the 5 gigahertz range for wireless networking services. The agency also initiated a new proposal for measuring spectrum interference.

According to the FCC, the additional available spectrum will allow continued growth in wireless broadband services, including those offered by wireless Internet service providers (WISPs) who use unlicensed devices to provide a broadband alternative for rural and underserved areas.

To view entire article, click here.

WLAN Protocol Hits Standards Trail >> The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) is expected to clear the last hurdles before launching work on a new wireless LAN protocol. The group will review the latest draft for the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP), which is intended to create a standard way for WLAN switches to communicate with streamlined radio access points. Proponents are convinced they have addressed a range of technical and editorial concerns that the IETF's Internet Engineering Steering Group raised in July.

Click here to view the entire article.

>> Tech Tip

The Proper Use of Diversity Antennas to Mitigate Multi-Path Interference >> Diversity antennas were first seen on access points in the early nineties. Prior to this, most access points were manufactured with only one antenna or one antenna port. The development of diversity antennas began when 2.4GHz products started to hit the market. At this time, manufacturers built access points with two antennas or antenna ports per radio. The purpose of this was not so the access point would cover twice the area, but to mitigate an RF phenomenon know as multi-path interference.

To view technical essay, click here.