Lucent Orinoco 802.11b Wireless LAN
PRODUCT REVIEW


"This new 802.11b wireless LAN technology allows roaming up to 1,650 feet away and still have high speed access to the network"




"The Orinoco and other wireless Access Points connect your wired network to your wireless clients"




"Encryption helps protect your wireless data on the way to the wired network"





"Linksys and several other companies are integrating the wireless access point with a full featured NAT router, making the next version of the Residential Gateway (RG)

Within the Linksys client software, there are 3 options, Encryption off, 64 Bit and 128 Bit. We were baffled, and figured that we would try the 64 Bit, since this was closest and you MUST have encryption correct and the passkeys must match for you to pass data to other wireless clients, including the Access Point. We tried 64 Bit, and go nowhere. So, after a long and tedious battle, we read somewhere in the newsgroups that some vendors 64 Bit is actually 40 Bit. The newsgroup posting also mentioned that some vendors passkeys need interpretation. We discovered this the hard way, and the Lucent 40 bit passkey of 55555 was actually a 64 Bit key of 35 35 35 35 35 in the Linksys software? Don't ask us - we are just as confused as you!

Overall, these 802.11b products should work together well, Wi-Fi tested or not. These passkey and encryption issues are probably the only main issues you will run into these, since installation is easy, it's the software/utility configuration that's the toughie. Keep in mind these three things and this should be able to get on your network or network(s) wirelessly:

A) AP Name or Network Name: This is the Network Name or the ID of the Access Point as in the Lucent Software. My network name was something like 027a2f. Everyone's network name will be different, or you could go with the default "wireless" network name as in the Linksys client software. It's best to keep your network name something original. Check with your System admin for your network name. Most client software will allow "ANY", specifying any network that is in range.

B) Ad-Hoc or Infrastructure: This setting is for type of network. Ad-Hoc is typically Peer-to-Peer communication, where Infrastructure is needed when communicating to a wired network via an Access Point.

C) Encryption: The Bit level of encryption (40 Bit, 64 Bit, or 128 Bit) and the PASSKEY or PASSPHRASE is needed. Unless the client has the same passkey or passphrase and the proper level of encryption, then the client will not be able to communicate with the network. If you get confused with encryption, keep trying. Some manufacturers say 64 Bit, but in most cases, other 40 Bit cards will work - they may just need some tweaking with the passkeys.