Southern California Wireless Users Group

The SonicWALL TZW device was an easy install. I had an initial secure setup running in less than 20 minutes. The device appears to be well thought out. With SonicWALL’s years of experience with the small home office (SOHO) environment, this appears to be a well developed package.

The box includes a QuickStart guide, two high gain detachable R-TNC 5 dBi “rubber duck” antennas, two Ethernet cables (one crossover), a wall mount plate, the power cable and a CD-ROM. Where many products use a less expensive low gain antennas, SonicWALL uses a higher quality high gain antennas. One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is “how do I increase the range of my Access point?” well, SonicWALL’s decision to include the better antenna may reduce the frequency of this question.

In testing the SonicWALL TZW, I placed the device in the center of my house. I was able to use the wireless network throughout my house, upstairs, front and back yards. In comparison to another inexpensive brand, the range was significantly better. Also, the power supply is inline! No “wall wart”, all of us with crowded power strips will be pleased with this.

This device is both a firewall for your wired LAN and a strong encryption device for your wireless network. This saves the expense of multiple products. For a simple secure office or home setup one device is all you need for the wired and wireless network.

The main reason for purchasing this product is to secure your wireless network. For years, strong encryption for a small environment has been the domain of expensive enterprise systems. This is no longer. Most anyone with the ability to install a network card or other equipment should be able to setup a very secure wireless network.

The initial setup is done through Wizards, in a matter of minutes you have have a secure wireless network for a small environment.

If you have experience with other SonicWALL firewall products, you will feel at home with the SonicWALL TZW administration software. It supports all setup and administration though easy to use SSL encrypted web pages.

To make a secure wireless connection:

1. Add user in Sonic TZW.
2. Install software on client.
3. Login using password on client.

Client login:

That’s it! Once this is done, you are connected via wireless using a very secure triple DES (3DES) encryption over wireless. No more worries about weak WEP.

Features I like:

• Option to disable communications between wireless clients.
• Optional guest mode allows non-encrypted Internet access, no access to LAN.
• Can use Radius server for centralized authentication.

Features I’d like:

• Option to disable one of the antenna ports.
• Support for roaming between multiple SonicWALL TZW’s.

Summary:

This device appears to fill a long needed market for a secure wireless device in the small office or home. The SonicWALL TZW, gives these environments enterprise features at a very low price. Some large enterprises that have banned home wireless use in their security polices, can now allow their employees use of home wireless with safety. For small businesses that have held back because of security concerns over wireless, you now have no more excuses.

Frank Keeney

Co-Founder, Southern California Wireless User Group.
President, Pasadena Networks, LLC

Pasadena Networks, LLC is a leading integrator of indoor and outdoor secure wireless networks for corporations, utilities and universities.

The SonicWALL TZW device was an easy install. I had an initial secure setup running in less than 20 minutes. The device appears to be well thought out. With SonicWALL’s years of experience with the small home office (SOHO) environment, this appears to be a well developed package.

The box includes a QuickStart guide, two high gain detachable R-TNC 5 dBi “rubber duck” antennas, two Ethernet cables (one crossover), a wall mount plate, the power cable and a CD-ROM. Where many products use a less expensive low gain antennas, SonicWALL uses a higher quality high gain antennas. One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is “how do I increase the range of my Access point?” well, SonicWALL’s decision to include the better antenna may reduce the frequency of this question.

In testing the SonicWALL TZW, I placed the device in the center of my house. I was able to use the wireless network throughout my house, upstairs, front and back yards. In comparison to another inexpensive brand, the range was significantly better. Also, the power supply is inline! No “wall wart”, all of us with crowded power strips will be pleased with this.

This device is both a firewall for your wired LAN and a strong encryption device for your wireless network. This saves the expense of multiple products. For a simple secure office or home setup one device is all you need for the wired and wireless network.

The main reason for purchasing this product is to secure your wireless network. For years, strong encryption for a small environment has been the domain of expensive enterprise systems. This is no longer. Most anyone with the ability to install a network card or other equipment should be able to setup a very secure wireless network.

The initial setup is done through Wizards, in a matter of minutes you have have a secure wireless network for a small environment.

If you have experience with other SonicWALL firewall products, you will feel at home with the SonicWALL TZW administration software. It supports all setup and administration though easy to use SSL encrypted web pages.

To make a secure wireless connection:

1. Add user in Sonic TZW.
2. Install software on client.
3. Login using password on client.

Client login:

That’s it! Once this is done, you are connected via wireless using a very secure triple DES (3DES) encryption over wireless. No more worries about weak WEP.

Features I like:

• Option to disable communications between wireless clients.
• Optional guest mode allows non-encrypted Internet access, no access to LAN.
• Can use Radius server for centralized authentication.

Features I’d like:

• Option to disable one of the antenna ports.
• Support for roaming between multiple SonicWALL TZW’s.

Summary:

This device appears to fill a long needed market for a secure wireless device in the small office or home. The SonicWALL TZW, gives these environments enterprise features at a very low price. Some large enterprises that have banned home wireless use in their security polices, can now allow their employees use of home wireless with safety. For small businesses that have held back because of security concerns over wireless, you now have no more excuses.

Frank Keeney

Co-Founder, Southern California Wireless User Group.
President, Pasadena Networks, LLC

Pasadena Networks, LLC is a leading integrator of indoor and outdoor secure wireless networks for corporations, utilities and universities.