For better or worse, I've worked in and around the Wi-Fi business since before it was a business. First at 3Com and then at Trapeze Networks, I saw the business get invented and then evolve. (And if you're nice to me, I'll tell you why Wi-Fi is called Wi-Fi.) Furthermore, I've been a rather aggressive consumer of Wi-Fi who has gone to the trouble of building a custom access point and had three internet / Wi-Fi radios scattered around the house for the family's listening pleasure.
Today, the New York Times decided to rip Wi-Fi a new one. Here's the first paragraph of the story:
When one of the first instructions a popular wireless Internet router from Netgear gives its owner is a choice between the security protocols known as WPA-PSK (TKIP) and WPA-PSK (TKIP) + WPA2-PSK (AES), you know the home networking industry has problems. [more]
And it goes downhill from there until we reach a plug for Ethernet over powerline, something I've considered were it not for the sunk cost of Wi-Fi gear and the presence of some devices (iPhones, etc.) that aren't ever going to connect over the wire.
First of all, the author is correct in calling out security issues which have beleaguered consumers for Far Too Long. This is why Tivo, endearing itself to its installed base, dropped its requirement for an encrypted connection. So many of us were running an open network, managing security through Layer 1 methods, that encrypting our entire network just for the sake of one, albeit important, device, ... well, this made us quite cross. The author is correct about complexity and the industry, try as it might, hasn't been a huge help.
Second, radio is weird. I've been cheek and jowl with enough wireless engineers to know, with absolute certainty that networking over radio waves is, at best, a difficult challenge. Think about it: Thorough network planning has to take into account whether the carpet on the floor is indoor-outdoor or shag. That's insane, but it's the price we have to pay for for taking our laptops with us to the conference room or letting our daughter watch Hulu in bed when they should be sleeping.
Third, Wi-Fi isn't going anywhere. Sure, frustration has made us consider any number of alternatives ranging from cellular to the aforementioned powerline. But the cellular companies (e.g. AT&T) found out that an unlimited data plan isn't its best idea and I've got to tell you the truth, even though some people I Really Admire invented powerline networking, I'm thinking once, twice, three times before I jack 110 into my Cat5 socket. It's irrational, but that's my burden.
So, let's take a seat and fold our hands and try to make the best of it while we wake for the Brilliant Engineers at Cisco to figure this out. I just hope it doesn't take another decade.
