Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Wi-Fi to climb aboard modems
Posted by Jason Dunn in "OFF-TOPIC" @ 11:30 AM
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-956409.html
Here's some welcome news! Imagine how easy it will for people to simply plug in their cable/DSL modem and have an active WiFi network! If high-speed providers adopt modems with this technology, it will help the deployment of Wifi networks a great deal. I hope that, by default, the Wifi chips will simply supply a pipe out to the 'Net and it will be isolated (and Firewalled) from any internal networking. Users would have the ability to connect it to their network, to get Wifi devices accessing network shares, but by default it would be secure. If it's not, this will just mean that clueless users will have a massive security hole in their network.
"Wi-Fi chips for wireless home networks will be moving in with a roommate: broadband modems. Communications chipmaker Conexant Systems announced Tuesday that it is adding Intersil Wi-Fi chips to the semiconductors it builds for high-speed cable or digital subscriber line (DSL) modems.
Such an integrated product will help manufacturers to build a set-top box that creates its own wireless network instead of just connecting to an outside wireless network. Normally Wi-Fi networking chips are located in hardware that hangs on a ceiling or wall and provides access within a 300-foot area. "(It is) the next step in the evolution of Wi-Fi," said Intersil spokesman Ron Paciello.""
Here's some welcome news! Imagine how easy it will for people to simply plug in their cable/DSL modem and have an active WiFi network! If high-speed providers adopt modems with this technology, it will help the deployment of Wifi networks a great deal. I hope that, by default, the Wifi chips will simply supply a pipe out to the 'Net and it will be isolated (and Firewalled) from any internal networking. Users would have the ability to connect it to their network, to get Wifi devices accessing network shares, but by default it would be secure. If it's not, this will just mean that clueless users will have a massive security hole in their network.
"Wi-Fi chips for wireless home networks will be moving in with a roommate: broadband modems. Communications chipmaker Conexant Systems announced Tuesday that it is adding Intersil Wi-Fi chips to the semiconductors it builds for high-speed cable or digital subscriber line (DSL) modems.
Such an integrated product will help manufacturers to build a set-top box that creates its own wireless network instead of just connecting to an outside wireless network. Normally Wi-Fi networking chips are located in hardware that hangs on a ceiling or wall and provides access within a 300-foot area. "(It is) the next step in the evolution of Wi-Fi," said Intersil spokesman Ron Paciello.""
