[FLW]

This idea comes from after reading "Real 802.11 Security" book since 802.11i will do nothing to address the ongoing DOS issues.

A simple homemade frequency generator and amplifier, one person could pollute the air waves for a hour or less by just jamming either 2.4 or 5 GHz band with a noise generator of around 1 to just a few watts, normal wifi milliwatt devices could't hear anything but the noise and thus be dead.

In the old days (1970's) in C.B. talk we called this stepping on each other and that was with devices of equal power before signal amps in U.S. were outlawed.

Thoughts on the concept as a DOS issue or not?

Just seems they issue just hangs out there and no one has done anything about it proactively in the SOHO hardware or software area's. Which is the only reasonable point I've heard about going to or staying with 5 GHz wifi equipment for now.

Any insightful thoughts?

[Jeremy]

Fact of the matter is that all frequencies can be jammed, whether its wifi, cellular, or FM. Its not something anyone has really been able to prevent. No matter what frequency they change wifi to, there is going to be hardware that can create the same frequency at a stronger level and jam the wifi signal.
Its just a fact of life. That is why wired personal/corporate connections will always exist no matter what new speeds and security (encryption) comes to Wireless Fidelity. Can u even think of a possible way, not even one that is probable to create, that wireless jamming can be prevented?

[FLW]

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Can u even think of a possible way, not even one that is probable to create, that wireless jamming can be prevented?

The idea like encryption and other techniques would be to deter the traditional attacker as a first step. If nothing is done, then there is no deterance.

High speed RF filters are one of many examples that are used to help filter out the noise from a real legit signals in military communications. It works, yet we as consumers still have nothing as a deterant or any even lame protection.

[Head_Hunter]

FHSS is better for use against jamming than DHSS. But yes, if someone wanted to jam your connection, they will.

[easternerd]

Wave jammers are used for everything from Cellular signals like GSM to CDMA and wireless jammers for most frequencies are also available.
These are mostly used by Security and Military personnel to jam signals of cellphones when a VIP is travelling the jammer is fixed somewhere in the car so that no Improvised Electronic Bomb may blast as the bombs are usually triggered using cellphones.
Its also used when cellphone signals of a border country is being beamed into the territory.

[FLW]

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FHSS is better for use against jamming than DHSS. But yes, if someone wanted to jam your connection, they will.

That paritially my point. FHSS which is far from new, has been around for years and does offer some protection vs none.

I'm sure it not the only method that could be used to just deter the efffect of jammers so they will move on. Just like using wep will keep alot of people out becuase there are so many people using nothing at all.

It just seems as comsumers, we should have some level of a deterant against another comsumer level attack. We have nothing now so I can take down any wifi net I choose.

Yes I understand a jammer with enought horsepower can easily overwhem any comsumer level approach. But some protection is better than none, and thats what we've been getting and will continue to get.