Community weekly poll: Do you have a wireless network setup at home?
- 1/4/07 3:26 PM
Do you have a wireless network setup at home?
by Marc Bennett - 1/4/07 3:26 PM
Do you have a wireless network setup at home?
Yes--look ma, no wires!
No way, my data stays on land!
Not yet, but I'm considering it.
No, and I'd love one, but I don't know where to begin.
yes
by ktreb - 1/4/07 6:48 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
set it and forget it
True, true
by speedypeed - 1/5/07 1:22 PM In reply to: yes by ktrebI agree, just "set it and forget it". I like that way of thinking. I never thought of it that way.
Wouldn't even think about it (Wireless)
by moondoggy - 1/5/07 1:02 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
There would be no way I would use wireless. Remember RF signals are fair game to anyone. That's like stating, here it is, anyone care to tap in.
Um, but that's just kinda silly....
by owilde - 1/5/07 4:53 PM In reply to: Wouldn't even think about it (Wireless) by moondoggyThat's the reason behind Firewalls (in your Router as well as software on your computer), the Authentication (WEP or WPA etc) and the Encryption (TKIP). Also you can have it set up so that you do *not* broadcast your SSID (you manually enter in the SSID name instead of having it shown in a list of available networks in the area) or you can set it up so that you only connect to a certain SSID/Network (from your laptop/desktop/PDA etc to the router) so that you never accidentally join someone else's network that is open/shared and possibly have your data stolen from you on the (not your) router's end... Also, setting the channel # (up to 11) to keep it away from other close by networks that might start to interfere with your signal quality.
There are tons more things to do, like making your router's firewall be enabled in "stealth mode", and blocking all ports as well as types except for certain applications, and having your software firewall have to "accept" an application for any Internet or Networking involement by selecting "Allow this program, this time or always" etc.
But other than the very basic settings, you will have to use the same caution and procedures for Ethernet Internet/Network connections as well... Use WPA over WEP as often as you can (depends on the hardware which ones are supported). I used WPA-PSK (Authentication) and TKIP (Encryption). Without actually adding my other computers on the home network to my internet security software to be "trusted", even basic "pings" and such from them (the computers that I actually own and have in the apartment) get denied and put into the log. There are also usually "alerts" for any time a suspected computer is detected on the network so you can either say it is "trusted" at that time, or do whatever for if it isn't (I'm sure there are ways to kill *evil* connections to your Router...
The only thing is that WiFi can be slower depending on what you are doing, but then again, specific speeds and rates are not definite for either Ethernet or Wireless data... And they can change within a certain range from day to day or depending what you are doing.
I had wireless
by sharee100 - 1/5/07 5:41 PM In reply to: Wouldn't even think about it (Wireless) by moondoggyI had wireless and every time the ice cream truck would come by by computers would lock up. I made sure I set access to only the number of computers I had on (2 all the time). I switched to wired and haven't had any problems with my network since. NO WIRELESS FOR ME.
YES!
by cougville - 1/5/07 1:08 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
Use an Apple AirPort base station with WPA - no one can get in without my password.
I love it - have a remote base station downstairs for iTunes connected to the stereo and better laptop reception around the house.
THE only way to go!
Josh has wireless Internet
by speedypeed - 1/5/07 1:19 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
Well, I know for a fact that for anyone to use a wireless connection, they can encrypt the signal with WEP or WPA keys, and it is to my understanding that WEP is better. I have no WEP key, but my router only has a range of 50 feet until there is no signal, and nobody on my street has a PC or any device that can catch WiFi signals. However, I configured my settings on my notebook so I can use an RJ-45 CROSSOVER cable for use with system linking X- Box consoles. I connected one end to my notebook LAN jack, and the other to the broadband jack on my PlayStation 2. With that, I can play online, and I thought the only way I could play online was if I used the cable coming directly from my radio (a square Motorola radio that picks up internet signals from the tower over at the tech center) but since I use this CROSSOVER method, it offers me flexibility and I don't have to worry about wires, except for the CROSSOVER cable. And, not only that, but I also have a PlayStation Portable in which I can play online or browse the internet through my WiFi connection. If you're looking for a flexible internet connection which offers peace of mind, I would recommend a wireless router. Simply plug it in, configure it, and encrypt it with a WEP key. I really should be doing the same as well, you never know if a hacker can just drive by and try to use my WiFi signal.
That's wrong...
by owilde - 1/5/07 4:55 PM In reply to: Josh has wireless Internet by speedypeedWEP is *not* better, WPA is... A key to use that is fairly good for the average person/network (IMO) would be WPA-PSK (for the Authentication) and TKIP (for the Encryption).
Wireless connection
by jcallas - 1/5/07 1:28 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
I just got a wireless router and it works great. While my old Mac is wired in, the wireless allows my youngsters, who are technically more advanced than their old man and got MacBooks for Christmas, to use the internet and check email without using the mothership (my computer). When all three of us are on-line, things slow down a tad, but other than that I am pleased with the arrangement. And we have included a password to discourage intruders.
Wireless
by yogi21a - 1/5/07 1:28 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
YES! Wireless and loving it! Bill
Secure it, too !
by jamal hafez - 1/5/07 1:43 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
Yah ..I agree ..fire it up but remember to secure it and then forget it.
It's a bear to setup! Not for a novice!
by henry_apple - 1/5/07 1:58 PM In reply to: Do you have a wireless network setup at home? by Marc Bennett
I bought a Linksys WRT54G v5 a year ago. I needed it for a desktop and two laptops. I was going to try to use ethernet cabling but it would have been a lot of work to run the cable. What seduced me in getting it was the "easy setup" CD that came with the system. The only problem was, the last part of the CD asked for information that I didn't have or knew where to get it. IP addresses, gateway addresses etc. After the second day of trying to make it work, a friend of mine helped me get it all setup. It took him two hours one day and another 2 hours the next day!
Linksys customer service told me to contact SBC internet service, who in turn told me to call Linksys for the IP addresses! Neither gave me the info correctly!
In the beginning, one or two or all three computers could not get into the I/N. So I unplug the router and reset it and then it might work or not. This happened often. Now, for whatever reason, it works OK. Once in a while one computer may not be able to get in; so I wait a couple of hours and it works!
Why doesn't the manufacturers give directions of how and where to get the info required?
And setting up the security is another pain. With the help of my friend we used the WEP, not WAP. I wasn't going to take a chance of screwing everything up trying to update to WAP!
And where is a "setting up a wireless router for dummies" book???
Wifi is a piece of cake
by ludedude25 - 1/5/07 2:51 PM In reply to: It's a bear to setup! Not for a novice! by henry_appleI've used a wireless connection off and on for around 4 years now. My suggestion is do a little background reading on setting up a router and skip the easy cd.
As for your IP address you get it from your router.
Your Linksys is probably 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1
Whatever you use to log into your router. That number is also your gateway.
Address's for your computers can either be auto assigned by dhcp or you can use your own as long as no to are the same.
Ex. Say your router is 192.168.0.1
you can make computer 1. 192.168.0.105
computer 2. 192.168.0.106
and computer 3. 192.168.0.107
That and all you computers get the same gateway which is your router IP. You click your subnet and it should automatically enter itself something along the line of 255.255.255.0
Encryption is pretty easy too. Just enter it in the router and the same info on each computer with wireless adapters.
Any questions my handle is also my yahoo messenger handle.
maybe not so bad, but.....
by ackmondual - 1/5/07 3:00 PM In reply to: Wifi is a piece of cake by ludedude25still not as straightforward as pluggin in an ethernet cable into a preinstall NIC card :P
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