If you
haven't already set up a wireless router or networking access point in your home
or office, chances are you will within the next 6 months. Wireless networking is
becoming so prevalent, and so easy to set up, that there isn't much of a reason
not to.
Data speeds are comparable to wired 10/100 networks, and the freedom
of networking without wires is very compelling.
Gigabyte include the little GN-WBZB-M USB 802.11b wireless network
card with the GA-8IPE1000 Pro2-W motherboard; it plugs directly into one of the
internal USB headers on the motherboard with a short cable, and
screws into any free PCI bracket. A removable dipole antenna, screws in
and projects outside the case.
Since the
USB GN-WBZB-M does not plug into a proprietary slot, it's compatible with any
motherboard! To test this, we tried the GN-WBZB-M with two other
motherboards and it worked flawlessly. Pretty cool. It's great to see
that Gigabyte aren't limiting the adaptor to just their motherboards by using proprietory USB
header pin-outs.
The
software that accompanies Gigabyte's wireless NIC is quite basic, but it gets the job done on
all important fronts; SSID, WEP, and basic security.
![](https://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200404/8ipe1000pro2w_w1.gif)
Here as you can see there
are three wireless LAN's within the GN-WBZB-M's range. Two are WEP protected while one is
not, in theory if we wanted to connect to the unsecured network, we could.
![](https://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200404/8ipe1000pro2w_w2.gif)
Pretty general information about the wireless LAN from the
SSID name to being able to specify the network card's transfer rates.
![](https://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200404/8ipe1000pro2w_w3.gif)
The drivers that accompany the GN-WBZB-M only allow for
64bit or 128bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) encryption, and not the more secure
WPA (WiFi Protection Access). Since all that is needed for WPA is a driver
update and a patch for WindowsXP, we expect Gigabyte to
release a new driver which supports the new WPA encryption.
![](https://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200404/8ipe1000pro2w_w5.gif)
Lastly the GN-WBZB-M can be turned into a
Wireless Access Point which is great if you want your wired and wireless
networks to coexist.