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Bowing to the obvious: a name change: You can note in the upper-left corner of the browser that this site is no longer the 802.11b Networking News site, but the more sensibly inclusive Wi-Fi Networking News site. As Wi-Fi has broadened to include 802.11a, 802.11b, and an interim security protocol, it makes sense to change the name. You can now reach the site at its current URL, but also via wi-fi.weblogger.com. (Note: We have no affiliation with the Wi-Fi Alliance, which owns the trademark to and runs the certification program for Wi-Fi.)

Get the "a" out of here!: Analysts suggest that 802.11a's physical limitations and newness may turn 802.11g into the real next-generation flavor. Of course, the article doesn't note that 802.11g's final, compatible, certified, interoperable version won't be available until late 2003, thus meaning that businesses would be choosing potentially incompatible draft versions of 802.11g over 802.11a. That seems unlikely to me, given the conservative nature of most companies. The CEO of RadioLAN has an odd paraphrase in the article about his 802.11a bridging products: Companies don't want 802.11b gear to sniff out their wireless data. This isn't a direct quote, but it's oddly naive if it's what he meant. The ease of using 802.11a to sniff traffic isn't higher than 802.11b. Security through obscurity isn't a solution; better security is.

Local reporting on Long Beach downtown Wi-Fi rollout: The article notes a few interesting points not raised in today's New York Times: downtown users will be limited to an hour a day to avoid annoying merchants with cybersquatters, and much of the equipment was donated, which doesn't make this a precise model to follow for future rollouts.

Meet me at Macworld in San Francisco, Jan. 7 to 10: I and Adam Engst, my co-author on The Wireless Networking Starter Kit, will be signing books and talking to attendees all around the Macworld Exposition show floor next week:

• Tues., Jan. 7, 3-4 p.m.: We'll be talking wireless network troubleshooting at the Aladdin booth (#1407)
• Wed., Jan. 8, 3-4 p.m. : DevDepot (booth #3761) is hosting a book signing (and selling) hour with us
• Thurs., Jan. 9, 5-6 p.m.: Find us at the Peachpit Press booth (#2029) where we'll be available to discuss Wi-Fi in general and Peachpit will be happy to sell you the book (which we'll autograph on request)
• Throughout the show: Macwireless.com (booth #1646) will have autographed copies of our book on hand, and check out their "power over Ethernet" option for Apple Base Stations
• Wed., Jan. 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m.: We're appearing from the show floor on Your Mac Life, an Internet radio program
• Friday, Jan. 10 around 4 p.m.: We'll be appearing on TechTV, a cable channel with its HQ in San Francisco, to talk about a whole range of subjects