Does Broadcom have a native Linux driver available for 54g products?
Broadcom does not currently offer a native Linux driver for 54g solutions. However, you can use a 54g-based card on a Linux platform using a solution described at the following website: http://www.linuxquestions.org/hcl/showproduct.php?product=810

Does Broadcom offer Linux developer support services?
Broadcom's primary business is manufacturing silicon chips, but also offers reference designs and drivers that enable manufacturers to easily develop new products. Once a manufacturer specifies a Broadcom chip for a product, they receive design support from Broadcom. Likewise, Broadcom will support any Linux effort for a customer that is developing a products based on Broadcom technology. There are currently no plans to support third-party development of Linux drivers for shipping Broadcom products.

Does Broadcom have a wireless driver for the 64-bit version of Windows XP?
Broadcom is currently working on a driver for the 64-bit version of Windows XP. Once completed, it will be released to our partners, who will modify for their equipment and test it for reliability. Equipment manufacturers will release it once they are ready to support it. The 64-bit version of Windows XP is currently planned for release in the spring of 2005, so you should contact the manufacture of your wireless card to get more information about their support plans.

How can I troubleshoot problems with wireless coverage?
Determining the exact coverage area of a wireless device can be challenging. The wireless signal is attenuated (weakened) by distance, as well as the density of the materials through which it passes. For example, concrete walls cause a signal to fade more than plaster or sheetrock. In addition, the more walls, floors or ceilings, the weaker the wireless signals. Interference also injects uncertainty into wireless signal strength. 802.11b/g devices can encounter interference from microwave ovens, 2.4 GHz cordless phones, or even other wireless networks in your neighborhood.

Here are a few things that you can try to improve wireless coverage:

• Change the orientation of your router's antenna
• Move your router to a different location in your home or office (not necessarily closer to the client device, but in a more central or open location)
• Add a high(er) gain antenna to your router or client
• Add a second router to cover the each floor
• Determine if there are other wireless networks in the vicinity and set your network to a channel that does not interfere. If your neighbor is using channel 6, set your router to channel 11.

What types of antennas are best for extending the coverage of an 802.11 network?
There are several types of antennas can extend the range of 802.11 devices. Depending on your physical environment network and where you want additional coverage, you can choose from the following types of antennas:

• Omni directional - extends coverage in a 360 degree radius
• Planar - typically extends coverage in a 180 degree radius
• Directional - available in varying areas of coverage, including 30, 60 or 90 degrees

Antennas are rated by the amount of gain they provide. In general, the higher the gain, the better the range. However, there are several other considerations when buying an external antenna. Selecting an antenna made by the same manufacturer as your router is usually the best option, but you must make sure that your specific model supports external antennas. You should also select an antenna that has the right type of cable connection for your equipment, such as USB or serial bus.

My wireless connection drops frequently. What can I do?
Wireless connections are often susceptible to connection instability. Here are some of the common reasons for dropped wireless connections and some possible solutions:

1. Weak signal - Your wireless device is too far from the router, or there is too much material (walls, elevators, etc.) in between.
   • Move closer to your router or away from dense objects
   • Adjust the antennas on your router
   
2. Interference - Using other devices on the 2.4GHz spectrum (cordless phones, microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices, or other Wi-Fi networks) can cause performance and connection problems.
   • Move your wireless devices away from the interference sources
   • Do not use your device when the interference sources are in use
   • Set your network to a channel that has less interference
   
3. OS problems - There have been some reported problems with Winsock on Windows XP machines that cause connections to drop frequently. Visit the Microsoft Knowledgebase for more information.

Will my wireless keyboard interfere with my Wi-Fi network?
Generally, no. Wireless keyboards and mice using infra-red technology certainly won't, and most others use frequencies in the 900MHz range. Bluetooth keyboards and mice may interfere, but probably not to a noticeable degree.

Will my 802.11b laptop work with 54g wireless equipment?
Yes, both 802.11b and 802.11g operate on the 2.4GHz spectrum and can therefore interoperate with one another. However, using even one 802.11b device with an 802.11g router will reduce your throughput by up to half. You may not notice the difference, since the reduced speed is still much faster than your broadband connection.

Can I use my Apple Macintosh systems work on the same wireless network?
Both types of wireless clients can connect to an 802.11g access point or router. Apple equips most newer systems with AirPort Wi-Fi modules, and after-market Apple-compliant adapters are also available. Once set up and configured, a network consisting of Apple and Windows computers and access points will work together. Of course, you won't be able to run Windows programs on your Apple computer and vice versa unless you are running an emulator program. However, your Wi-Fi network devices will talk to each other and enable you to share an Internet connection and transfer files among the various computers.

How can I make sure I'm getting the additional speed offered by 125 High Speed Mode?
Use the following steps to confirm that 125 High Speed Mode and SpeedBooster are enabled:

1. On the router:
   • Open a Web browser and type the router's IP address (192.168.1.1) into the address field to view the management interface
   • Make sure that the SpeedBooster option is selected
   • If SpeedBooster is not enabled
2. On the notebook computer:
   • Go to the Control Panel and select Network Connections
   • Right click on Wireless Adapter and select Properties
   • Click on the Configuration button in the General tab
   • Select the Advanced tab
   • Click on Afterburner in the Property list and select Enable from the drop down box
   • Click OK
   

Why do I need wireless security for my home network?
Wireless security features protect your network from being accessed by those who are not authorized to use it. Without enabling the security features, anyone (within range) could connect to your home network, use your Internet connection, and potentially hack into the data stored on your computer or other devices.

What types of security features should I use?
All Wi-Fi CERTIFIED products include a variety of wireless security features. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is the best security feature for the majority of home networks. It provides a sufficient security with "access control" (limiting network access to those with the correct password) and "encryption" (encoding or scrambling data to prevent eavesdroppers from intercepting it). In addition to enabling WPA, there are a few other things you can do to secure your wireless network, including:

• Change the factory defaults on your router (SSID and administrator's password)
• Set your router so that it does not broadcast its SSID
• Use MAC filtering, which lets you specify a list of client MAC addresses that are allowed to access the network
• If you only use one or two PCs on your wireless network, consider providing them with static IP addresses and disabling DHCP on your router
• Install a network firewall or VPN software
• Disable file and print sharing on your computer

What equipment is needed to send music wirelessly from my computer to my stereo?
You can easily transmit music (MP3, MVA, ACC, etc.) from a PC to a stereo or other audio device over a Wi-Fi network using a wireless media adapter. Your PC communicates with the wireless router, which sends the music to the wireless media adapter that is physically connects to your stereo (using RCA cable or a mini stereo plug). A number of manufacturers, including Linksys and Apple, offer wireless media adapters that utilize 54g technology.

What is the difference between a wireless router, a wireless gateway and an access point?
In general, access points, routers and gateways do the same thing: they function as base stations connecting various wireless laptops and desktop computers, ensuring that wireless data gets shared and transmitted among them as needed. There are a few important differences, as outlined below:

A wireless gateway is an access point with NAT routing (which stands for Network Address Translation and enables your Wi-Fi gateway to share a single Internet connection among all the computers in your home or business) and DHCP server (which stands for Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol and enables your network to use TCP/IP to connect different devices). Most homes and small offices use wireless gateways because they need the NAT routing and DHCP server that enables them to share a single Internet connection among all the computers in the home or office.

An access point is a wireless gateway without NAT routing and DHCP server. It essentially extends the functionality of an existing wired network to wireless users. Most large businesses use access points, not gateways, because their wired network (their "backbone") already has NAT and DHCP server supplied by an industrial strength router or hub. Many access points also have extra network management and advanced user functions and security capabilities built into them.

Wireless routers provide the same functionality as access points, but include the added features of allowing multiple users to share a wide area connection to a broadband modem-providing multiple IP addresses, firewall capabilities, and hub and switching functionality.

How do I get multiple access points to peacefully co-exist in my house?
When you have multiple access points in close proximity to one another, setting each to a different channel should reduce interference and ensure peaceful coexistence. 802.11g offers three non-overlapping channels (1, 6, 11), so you could set one access point on channel 1 and the other on channel 6 or 11. In addition, to make it as easy as possible to roam between access points, you should assign them the same wireless network name (SSID), make sure they use the same encryption type (WPA, AES, etc.), and require the same encryption key or password.

How can I add a printer to my wireless network?
If you have a standard printer (without built-in wireless), you will need a print server to connect it to the network. When purchasing a print server, make sure it supports the exact model number of your printer, and it has the appropriate connector type (parallel port or USB). If your router has a built-in print server, you can simply connect your printer to the router with a cable. Another option is to purchase a printer with built-in Wi-Fi. HP now offers a number of wireless-enabled printers that eliminate the need for a print server. Models include:

• HP Photosmart 2700 All-in-One series
• HP Officejet 7410 All-in-One
• HP Deskjet 6840 Color Inkjet Printer

What can I do if I'm having trouble getting an IP address from the DHCP server?
When a wireless connection is established, the computer requests an IP address from the DHCP server. If the request or the reply isn't received, your computer will assign itself an address such as 169.X.X.X. There are several reasons for this error. Below are a few common problems and their solutions.

1. Your wireless signal is too weak or unreliable to establish a connection
   • Move closer to the AP
2. Your wireless encryption method or password does not match the router's
   • Verify the encryption method and key. Remember the key or passphrase may be case sensitive and beware of leading or trailing spaces.
3. The DHCP server has been disabled
   • Use the router's management application to enable DHCP
   • If you cannot enable DHCP on the router, define a static IP address on your device
4. You have more than one device on your network that is acting as a DHCP server
   • Disable DHCP services on all that devices except the one that you want to deliver IP addresses on your network.

My wireless Access Point seems to block DHCP, how can I fix it?
An access point usually passes data packets directly between the wireless and Ethernet portion of a network without affecting the data. Some high end, enterprise class access points can filter information as it passes from one side to the other, but this is not common in devices designed for the home. If you are not getting a valid IP address (but instead are getting a Windows generated 169.X.X.X address), it more likely due to a poor wireless connection.

If your computer shows a strong wireless signal, a significant amount of interference may be corrupting your wireless data so that the DHCP conversation can not be completed successfully.

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