Simple configuration of wireless networks is a hot topic at the moment. Microsoft’s Rally program will include an implementation of the Wi-Fi Alliance‘s new protocol, code named Simple Config. Microsoft’s version is called Windows Connect Now-NET. Intel released an open source reference implementation.

Frank Hanzlik, the Wi-Fi Alliance’s managing director, is quoted in a WiFiNetNews posting though as saying “Simple Config isn’t quite as simple as all that.” For somebody implementing it, that is perhaps true, but it should be much simpler for end users.

Devicescape, my employer, is holding a free seminar next week to explain simple config from both a user’s perspective and, perhaps more importantly at the moment, from an engineer’s perspective.

Following on from my Asterisk enabled access point last year, I will be showing how to integrate Devicescape’s implementation of the proposed protocol (called Easy Access Technology) into a consumer device. That device this year is a home-made digital picture frame that connects to Flickr for its photos.

If you are going to be in the vicinity of the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose around 8:30am on Wednesday June 14, please stop by, pick up breakfast, say hello or ask any questions you might have about simple config or building a digital photo frame. If you can’t attend, or would like more information, drop me a line at my work email: john <at> devicescape <dot> com.

Two nights in a row now I have tried to get on the SF TechConnect wireless network at the Ferry Building in San Francisco, only to find that they are blocking access to the web (i.e. connections on port 80). Seems to be intentional since I was able to establish an ssh connection without any problems.

It will be a shame if this is a permanent change as it was very pleasant being able to get cup of coffee from Peets in the ferry building and then sit and check email, surf the web or connect back to my desktop and work (guess I can still do this part as long as they don’t block port 22 as well).

Spent a while down at the ferry building again tonight, and used the free wireless access at the ferry building courtesy of SF TechConnect. Unfortunately, I didn’t see the “acceptance” screen until I was closing the laptop ready to jump on the ferry. Guess their captive portal is not very captive 🙂

The connection is not bad though, and it was quite pleasant sitting out by the water and writing emails.

Devicescape has an employee blog which hopefully will grow into a useful resource for those both working with wireless technologies (whether as a full time job, or just a hobby) and those simply using wireless devices.

If you have any questions you’d like answered about wireless devices, wireless standards, wireless technology or anything even remotely connected with wireless, please go ahead and post a comment on any of the articles over there and we’ll see what we can do to answer it.

An article on the BBC’s website predicts that 2005 will be the year when more devices become wireless.

As far as IEEE 802.11 devices are concerned, they refer to the Philips Wireless Music Centre, pictured right and the Sonos Digital Music System, a Linux based secure music distribution system based on a mesh network (more information in the LinuxDevices.com device profile).

They also talk about other wireless technologies, including wireless USB and the now well established Bluetooth standard.