Wireless equipment vendors are in a very competitive state as businesses and consumers embrace new technologies and innovative new products are being introduced on a regular basis. You must keep up with the evolving landscape surrounding wireless supplies in order to compete and stay in business. You need to follow the pricing and marketing efforts of your competitors while watching your own company's operations.

Follow the trends that are affecting wireless broadband equipment options that are under government scrutiny. As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) releases more air space, you need to be on top of the news to take advantage of any opportunities for your own company to excel. Look for wireless equipment news and trends from a variety of perspectives.

1. Find associations for wireless equipment vendors that provide members with up-to-date information.

2. Watch for sites that provide important headline news about the wireless accessories industry.

3. Subscribe to wireless equipment publications that provide detailed reports and information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get newsletters from organizations that give members cellular equipment news

Associations usually provide members with newsletters and a website they can access to keep up with current news. They utilize the expertise of the membership to provide analysis of wireless trends and to bring governmental regulatory information to members' attention.

I recommend: Valuable news resources are available at the Infrared Data Association website. Find industry news and stay informed of the research that’s driving the industry through membership in CTIA.

Get up-to-date news for wireless equipment vendors

Find news publications that cover the wireless industry leaders as well as breaking government news and technical advancements as they make the headlines. A good news resource mines the headlines to deliver news from a variety of places on one site.

I recommend: RCRWireless keeps readers updated daily with headline news that could drastically affect your wireless broadband equipment sales. Stay on top of the latest news and trends at Wireless Week.

Read analysis of the trends affecting wireless Internet equipment

Look for sites that go deeper than the wireless industry headlines. Often, the best information that can help drive your own business decisions comes from investigative reporting and research articles. Watch articles that take a deeper look into wireless trends and report on other issues such as financial news, marketing and technology trends.

I recommend: Get the latest news briefs from around the world that have an affect on your business at Telephony Online. The Broadband Wireless Exchange Magazine keeps readers in the loop with important news and information that affects the industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Attend seminars that feature industry experts on wireless network equipment to get more insight into the trends and news and how they will affect your business in the future.

Wireless equipment provides business owners with the freedom to connect to the Internet from anywhere in their offices. Offices using wireless Internet equipment need to be aware of any intrusion that could affect their Internet connection. An unsecured wireless network equipment is a vulnerability you cannot afford.

Unsecured wireless LANs are easy targets for Internet predators using laptops and scanning programs to search out unsecured Ethernet connections. This enables a hacker to log in and have access to passwords and anything else you are authorized to do. A hacker would have access to any information you send or receive through your network. There are steps you can take and wireless supplies you can use to protect your company's accounts, passwords and other confidential information. Wireless suppliers can easily be found online with everything you need. This guide will show you how to:

1. Add firewall protection on each computer and router used.

2. Position your router facing the center of the room; keep it away from windows which could cause leakage.

3. Turn off the network when it has been on for long periods of time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Change Your Computer's Wireless Equipment Set Up

Wireless Internet equipment requires network signals to be exchanged to and from your computer. You can improve a weak signal by replacing wireless accessories like your laptop's PC card-based wireless adaptor with a USB network adaptor that uses an external antenna.

I recommend: Purchase wireless accessories like the Wireless-G Networking Adaptor for your wireless network are. It is ideal for connecting your desktop or laptop computer to a wireless network and securing your wireless communication with WPA encryption. Check out USB-Ware and other wireless supplies for adaptors and more wireless Internet equipment.

Encrypt your wireless connection

Unfortunately no wireless equipment is 100% secure. But an unencrypted wireless network allows anyone access to information shared in your network.

I recommend: Tutorial 5 offers instructions for setting up a secure wireless network on LYNKSYS. You can also download Windows based desktop security from Secure ZIP Standard Version 11 free.

Keep your computer and equipment for wireless connection updated and protected by a firewall

Keep your computer's wireless technology system up to date with a virus, spyware and firewall program. Wireless technology exposes your business to a variety of security risks. These things are essential to insuring your security.

I recommend: You can take a free short course at 3com on how to protect your business network with firewalls. Larger businesses might consider hiring the services of wireless equipment vendors like Symantec to manage your company's network security for you. They also provide additional wireless equipment like disaster recovery.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Once your wireless equipment is up and running, make sure that you immediately change the default administrative passwords and usernames to insure your Internet security.

Wireless equipment vendors need employees that are well-trained in installation, troubleshooting and monitoring their products. While there is some variation in wireless supplies and wireless accessories, there are basic skills that are universally needed to work in the industry, such as training on emerging technology.

Look for basic courses in wireless equipment setup to get you started. Later, you can add professional development courses that offer advanced designations such as the Certified Network Wireless Professional (CNWP) or Certified Wireless Network Administration (CWNA) certifications, which are both highly regarded in the industry. Watch for training for wireless equipment in a number of places online and through local training centers.

1. Watch for basic wireless Internet equipment training.

2. Enhance your career with advanced wireless network equipment training.

3. Participate in trade groups for training for wireless equipment vendors.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for entry-level training for wireless network equipment

Consider the trends that are driving wireless suppliers to find the training that you need in areas such as satellite and microwave wireless technology. From there, you can find basic courses to get you started in the field. Earn your Certified Wireless Network Professional (CWNP) certification to get started.

I recommend: Get involved with TONEX to find fundamental training as well as continuing education courses that you can take as you grow in your career. Learn about the basics and find basic certification courses at CWNP.

Find advanced training for wireless equipment

Keep up with your training by looking for online training courses in wireless project management or video surveillance that you can take while you continue working. Look for ways to expand your skills by taking courses in tower maintenance, network security or wireless broadband technology.

I recommend: The Wireless Developer Network is a good place to find online training. TESSCO has more than 150 courses for wireless equipment professional development, from lessons on high speed transport to wireless broadband, project development and cable and base station infrastructure applications.

Join associations that offer members additional training in wireless supplies

Most trade associations offer continuing education and professional development courses for their members. Look for groups that will instruct you on how to implement new technology as it emerges as well as ways to incorporate the wireless network equipment.

I recommend: Find surveys and training that will help you test new equipment as you incorporate it into your career through CTIA, the International Association for the Wireless Industry. Members of Comptel receive continuing education in new wireless products on the market through a series of professional development seminars and conferences.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look for opportunities for training in the wireless network equipment industry from members of the Certified Wireless Network Executive (CWNE) Roundtable that oversees the industry standards.