You know, I really don’t like wireless networks… I really really don’t. And the funny thing is that I know that this is what people want; wireless routers streaming movies and audio to various devices around the house, wireless internet connections on laptops for when you are not at home, etc. I’ll even go and surprise you that I’m a huge fan of wireless technology (I can hear you gasping and calling me a hypocrite) but only so far as the IDEA of it goes (and now you are puzzled)…

I like the IDEA that I don’t have to deal with lots of cables, but what am I willing to give up for that? You see, I know of various instances where wireless was causing a problem just because it was wireless (instead of wired). Things like this little incident, which might sound funny until you think of the poor people that were late for work or any other appointment they had because they couldn’t get their car out of the garage! Yes, I know I exaggerated on the title, it was a joke, get over it!

The problem with wireless these days has two main faults:

• It is not thought out.
• It is not easy to use like your car or stereo.

This jamming caused by the Air Force would not have happened if someone had checked to see that the frequency was free (don’t know who had the right to that frequency, but I don’t care to make that argument, someone overstepped the other). And that happens, a lot, and will continue to happen until the problem becomes a serious one and a body is created to administer and monitor wavelength usage (which will have to happen if most of the future devices work in wireless… eventually).

The ease of use of wireless devices was not an issue in this incident, but that is the main source of problems with home networks (and people on the move). It is not “plain” to set up properly and ends up being either unsecured (which makes it dangerous and kinda negates the benefits of being free from cables) or extremely temperamental and difficult (on a number of occasions I’ve seen friends cursing at their laptops and running off to use a desktop the first chance they get – especially the non computer-savvy ones)

Of course, companies don’t help either, like with the recent release of wireless N devices, even before the IEEE approved the protocol or even had a chance to say that no changes will be required for approval. Such haphazard altitude (we have to beat the competition, so lets get it out and worry about it later) helps no one.

I’ve debated a long time (me and myself… we talk a lot) about using the free wireless router that came with my new broadband contract, only to find it still sitting near the phone plug, collecting dust. Eventually, I put it back in its box and stashed it in the storage closet and bought a wired router.

P.S. As it turns out, the jamming occurred on garage doors that were working at 390MHz, which is one of the frequency RESERVED for government use… so this was the fault of the company that made those garage door openers…