Wireless USB Products Certified

Six consumer products have been certified by the USB Implementers Forum for wireless USB

Certified Wireless USB allows users to connect up to 127 devices and deliver up to 480Mbps at 3 meters, or up to 110Mbps up to 10 meters. The technology is based on the WiMedia Alliance Ultra-wideband Common Radio Platform.

The six certified products include:
* Dell Inspiron 1720 notebook and the Lenovo ThinkPad T61/T61p 15.4-inch widescreen notebook.
* D-Link's Wireless USB Adapter (DUB-1210) and a 4-port Wireless USB Hub (DUB-2240).
* Iogear Wireless USB Hub & Adapter Kit.

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All Your Garage Doors Belong to US(AF)

The Air Force tested a radio frequency to be used in communication that overlaps with garage door openers. Luckily this frequency would only be used for first responders in a homeland security threat.

A secretive Air Force facility in Colorado Springs tested a radio frequency this past week that it would use to communicate with first responders in the event of a homeland security threat. But the frequency also controls an estimated 50 million garage door openers, and hundreds of residents in the area found that theirs had suddenly stopped working.
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In general, effects from the transmissions would be felt only within 10 miles, but the Colorado Springs signal is beamed from atop 6,184-foot Cheyenne Mountain, which likely(my emphasis) extends the range.
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David McGuire, whose Overhead Door Co. received more than 400 calls for help, said the Air Force may be able to slightly adjust the transmission frequency to solve the problem. If not, it will cost homeowners about $250 to have new units installed.

"The military has the right to use that frequency. It is a sign of the times," he said.

Further evidence that the spectrum is a bit tight. The wireless spectrum is incredibly delicate if you have a powerful enough transmitter. WiFi users are limited to a measly 4 Watts but licensed radio HAM operators have every right to blast WiFi out of the air with power levels up to 1.5 Kilowatts.

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Senator Calls for Higher Encryption Standards for No Swipe Cards

Senator Schumer from New York held a press conference today calling for higher encryption standards for new no swipe credit cards being introduced. I'm relieved to see that some of our elected officials are technically informed and looking out for the consumer.

No-swipe credit cards that use radio waves to relay their data put consumers at increased risk of identity theft, Sen. Charles Schumer said Sunday.

"These cards may be convenient, but they're a double-edged sword," said Schumer, D-N.Y.

Tens of millions of no-swipe credit cards have been issued in the past year.

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