cross compatiblity of wireless.... B and G? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

AquaFox · 03-05-2006, 03:03 PM

someone i know bought a device with a wireless B palmpilot and was hoping to use it on a new wireless network being installed on campus later this year... he was told that the network is going to be wireless G i think... since nobody nows what they are doing on campus, they told him it wouldnt work and that he would have to return it and buy a new palm pilot... soo thats what he was planning on doing... i recently talked to someone else who knows what he is talking about, and said it would work, i trust his judgement, but i figured i might as post to be sure

the network will be uber-secure and G, the palm is a T | X and it says 802.11b...

http://www.palm.com/us/products/hand...x/wireless.epl

soo does anyone have any input for me about this? will this work?

Confederate · 03-05-2006, 03:16 PM

G device works on both G and B networks
B device only works on B networks

AquaFox · 03-05-2006, 04:29 PM

you mean G networks work with both G and B devices?

MikeSty · 03-05-2006, 04:31 PM

A B device works with only a B network, whereas a G device will work with both.

cyrnel · 03-05-2006, 04:46 PM

B devices will work with other B devices, or with G devices that allow mixed access. However there's no requirement that G devices allow mixed. It's up to the admin.

If the campus access points are G, they certainly could allow access to B devices, and in that setting it would be somewhat silly not to, but there's no way to know without trying.

Edit: I missed the "uber-secure" part. That may be the obstacle. If they require WPA encryption or an advanced authentication method then his old palm may be out of luck. Security and support headaches from shoe-horning old devices are valid reasons a G network wouldn't allow B devices. I'd find the actual connection spec before buying anything.

MikeSty · 03-05-2006, 05:09 PM

I don't think I've come across anything yet that allows for mixed access - I've only seen client-side doodads that can pick up B and G.

I suppose it would work, I just haven't seen the soft option yet.

Aro23 · 03-05-2006, 06:48 PM

it's up to the network if it allows B devices, but it's usually not a problem

ratbastid · 03-05-2006, 09:22 PM

Yeah, the issue probably isn't the B-to-G compatibility. It's the encryption and security. There currently (well... last I looked, which was a few months ago) isn't a WPA client for the Palm desktop. If they're using WEP encryption (which wouldn't classify as "secure", let alone "uber-"), it wouldn't be a problem.

AquaFox · 03-06-2006, 02:04 PM

the networking people have since jumped into the situation and are going to test it on the equiptment that is going up soon... as for uber secure, the networking people are really tight about who's allowed on and stuff... the current network is WEP and requires the MAC address to be registered with it beforehand.... and knowing the people, i can only imagine that they will find some crazy new way of securing it....

spindles · 03-06-2006, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeSty

I don't think I've come across anything yet that allows for mixed access - I've only seen client-side doodads that can pick up B and G.

You can certainly config a wireless router to allow mixed access - here is a screen shot of my linksys, with the specific drop down selector...

sailor · 03-07-2006, 09:58 AM

What cyrnel and spindles said. G networks don't have to allow B devices, and G-only cards wont work on a B network. That said, I've only seen a couple of G-only cards--most support at least B, and often A. But we've had a couple of people come in with wireless problems that ended up being because they had a G only card that wouldn't work on the campus B network. The cards were always no-name cheap pieces of junk though--I don't think I've ever seen a major name card that didn't include B access as well.

MikeSty · 03-07-2006, 02:57 PM

*shrug*

AquaFox · 03-07-2006, 03:35 PM

that linksys tool thing is alot fancier than microsofts, but i'm not a fan of that ugly purple!

03-05-2006, 03:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	cross compatiblity of wireless.... B and G? someone i know bought a device with a wireless B palmpilot and was hoping to use it on a new wireless network being installed on campus later this year... he was told that the network is going to be wireless G i think... since nobody nows what they are doing on campus, they told him it wouldnt work and that he would have to return it and buy a new palm pilot... soo thats what he was planning on doing... i recently talked to someone else who knows what he is talking about, and said it would work, i trust his judgement, but i figured i might as post to be sure the network will be uber-secure and G, the palm is a T \| X and it says 802.11b... http://www.palm.com/us/products/hand...x/wireless.epl soo does anyone have any input for me about this? will this work? __________________ ...AquaFox...

03-05-2006, 03:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
Confederate Death Leprechaun Location: College Station, TX	G device works on both G and B networks B device only works on B networks Last edited by Confederate; 03-05-2006 at 04:36 PM..

03-05-2006, 04:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	you mean G networks work with both G and B devices? __________________ ...AquaFox...

03-05-2006, 04:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	B devices will work with other B devices, or with G devices that allow mixed access. However there's no requirement that G devices allow mixed. It's up to the admin. If the campus access points are G, they certainly could allow access to B devices, and in that setting it would be somewhat silly not to, but there's no way to know without trying. Edit: I missed the "uber-secure" part. That may be the obstacle. If they require WPA encryption or an advanced authentication method then his old palm may be out of luck. Security and support headaches from shoe-horning old devices are valid reasons a G network wouldn't allow B devices. I'd find the actual connection spec before buying anything. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195 Last edited by cyrnel; 03-05-2006 at 05:09 PM..

03-06-2006, 02:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	the networking people have since jumped into the situation and are going to test it on the equiptment that is going up soon... as for uber secure, the networking people are really tight about who's allowed on and stuff... the current network is WEP and requires the MAC address to be registered with it beforehand.... and knowing the people, i can only imagine that they will find some crazy new way of securing it.... __________________ ...AquaFox...

03-05-2006, 04:31 PM	#4 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	A B device works with only a B network, whereas a G device will work with both.

03-05-2006, 05:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	I don't think I've come across anything yet that allows for mixed access - I've only seen client-side doodads that can pick up B and G. I suppose it would work, I just haven't seen the soft option yet.

03-05-2006, 06:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
Aro23 Crazy	it's up to the network if it allows B devices, but it's usually not a problem

03-05-2006, 09:22 PM	#8 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Yeah, the issue probably isn't the B-to-G compatibility. It's the encryption and security. There currently (well... last I looked, which was a few months ago) isn't a WPA client for the Palm desktop. If they're using WEP encryption (which wouldn't classify as "secure", let alone "uber-"), it wouldn't be a problem.

03-07-2006, 09:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
sailor beauty in the breakdown Location: Chapel Hill, NC	What cyrnel and spindles said. G networks don't have to allow B devices, and G-only cards wont work on a B network. That said, I've only seen a couple of G-only cards--most support at least B, and often A. But we've had a couple of people come in with wireless problems that ended up being because they had a G only card that wouldn't work on the campus B network. The cards were always no-name cheap pieces of junk though--I don't think I've ever seen a major name card that didn't include B access as well. __________________ "Good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly, while bad people will find a way around the laws." --Plato

03-07-2006, 02:57 PM	#12 (permalink)
MikeSty The Computer Kid :D Location: 127.0.0.1	shrug

03-07-2006, 03:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
AquaFox WaterDog	that linksys tool thing is alot fancier than microsofts, but i'm not a fan of that ugly purple! __________________ ...AquaFox...