All 3Com Firewall Routers, and Cable/ADSL Wireless Internet Gateways are delivered with factory default username, password; and have a preset IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.1, 192.168.2.1, or 192.168.254.254) bound to their network interfaces.

As you may see from the following documentation, configuration screens for most of these products can be accessed (using wired access or remotely over the air) using one of these methods: HTTP, Telnet, Serial Communication Port (using a Null Modem Cable), SNMP, etc.

It would not be prudent, therefore, to operate your 3Com wireless hardware using its factory default configuration settings. Considering how well known aforementioned factory default authentication settings are, operating your 3Com gear in factory default settings mode would effectively leave you with a completely insecure network.

3COM offers several Wireless/Broadband products including the 3COM® OfficeConnect group of products (such as 3COM Cable/ADSL routers) that support IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g standards, ADSL Wireless 11g Firewall Routers, 3COM OfficeConnect Travel Routers, 3Com Wireless LAN Workgroup Bridges for interconnecting IEEE 802.11a/b/g based networks, Wireless Access Points, and a host of Wireless Adapters.

In order to install/run management applications that are bundled with most 3COM products, you may need a PC (with CD-ROM) running a version of Microsoft Windows XP/2000 ME/SE/98/95b+/NT 4.0+, etc.

Most 3COM wireless products that support multiple (802.11a/b/g) standards have ability to automatically detect the network type, and to dynamically/automatically shift transfer rates (connection speeds) to keep your network client connections operating reliably/optimally.