OT - In need of wireless router suggestions
- Thread starter captain7359
- Start date
captain7359
Active member
i'd be using the router with my work laptop basically on weekends (since thats the only time i'm home) so I don't need anything over the top. are all the security settings you guys have mentioned on most of the linksys models or only certain ones? wap vs wep what does each do vs the other and why is one better, what affect do they have on connection speed? is mac filtering only for ip addresses or another type of address? i'm new at wireless so let me know as much as you guys can.
chrisguy
New member
Couple things people forget to mention when moving to a wireless data solution. If you have a cordless phone it can interfere with the wireless data connection.
If you have a 2.4 Mhz phone and have an 802.11A (older) or 802.11G (newest) if you answer the cordless phone it can drop your wireless connection. If you have a 900Mhz or 5.8Ghz cordless phone you are ok because the signal range does not cross any of the wireless data ranges.
If you have a 2.4 Mhz phone and have an 802.11A (older) or 802.11G (newest) if you answer the cordless phone it can drop your wireless connection. If you have a 900Mhz or 5.8Ghz cordless phone you are ok because the signal range does not cross any of the wireless data ranges.
75galreef
Premium Member
captain,
Just about any wireless router will do for what you intend. As for setting it up, just about anyone posting a response is going to have a "this works best" plan and is what they use at home. There is nothing wrong with that. I personally have my home wireless router set up to use WEP @ 64bit. This allows me to set an 8 character password, though not as secure as 128bit, it works for me. Since I am also running a DOMAIN in my house, ANY outside intruder that gets past the router then has to deal with getting past my firewall, then get inside my network.
I feel pretty secure. If you have trouble setting one up after purchase, please feel free to e-mail or PM me for further assistance.
Just about any wireless router will do for what you intend. As for setting it up, just about anyone posting a response is going to have a "this works best" plan and is what they use at home. There is nothing wrong with that. I personally have my home wireless router set up to use WEP @ 64bit. This allows me to set an 8 character password, though not as secure as 128bit, it works for me. Since I am also running a DOMAIN in my house, ANY outside intruder that gets past the router then has to deal with getting past my firewall, then get inside my network.
I feel pretty secure. If you have trouble setting one up after purchase, please feel free to e-mail or PM me for further assistance.
75galreef
Premium Member
Well I guess you can call me a computer nerd, I run Windows 2003 Server set up as a DOMAIN controller with an FTP server, working on a web. I currently have 4 computers that login to get network drives for storage and printers and 2 MAC's that use it for storage and printing as well. I work for a major computer firm in Rochester and we have a branch in Buffalo, Syracure, and Albany.
sschafer
New member
Walter,
All of these features should be available on the vast majority of wireless access points. WPA and 802.11i are pretty much the defacto standards for wireless encryption now. I'm not sure if 802.11i is available on consumer gear though. WEP is the older standard that is still available and pretty much judged to be obsolete. At the line speeds ISPs are running to your house you will notice no difference in performance by using WPA over WEP. The differences in the encryption schemes gets rather technical. The MAC address is different from your IP address. The MAC (media access control) address is "hard coded" into your network interface card. The MAC can be cloned so it really isn't unique. Your MAC address information does not pass through the router to the ISP, only your IP address does. Your IP address is associated with the MAC address in a table on your local area network so the router/switch knows where packets get sent. If you need any help deciding what to get or setting it up give me a call.
Steve
All of these features should be available on the vast majority of wireless access points. WPA and 802.11i are pretty much the defacto standards for wireless encryption now. I'm not sure if 802.11i is available on consumer gear though. WEP is the older standard that is still available and pretty much judged to be obsolete. At the line speeds ISPs are running to your house you will notice no difference in performance by using WPA over WEP. The differences in the encryption schemes gets rather technical. The MAC address is different from your IP address. The MAC (media access control) address is "hard coded" into your network interface card. The MAC can be cloned so it really isn't unique. Your MAC address information does not pass through the router to the ISP, only your IP address does. Your IP address is associated with the MAC address in a table on your local area network so the router/switch knows where packets get sent. If you need any help deciding what to get or setting it up give me a call.
Steve
75galreef
Premium Member
DING DING DING
we have a winner.
http://www.ieee802.org/
If anyone has questions or would like more info, go to the link provided above.
puter
Active member
I don't usually participate in these types of threads (since I come here to get away from work-related things), so I'll just suggest that it is worthwhile for anyone setting up a wireless network who is <b>concerned</b> about protecting the information on their computers to implement both WPA and MAC address filtering.
I liken MAC address filtering to a screen door... it'll keep people from just walking in. But anyone who really wants to get in can do so quite easily. MAC addresses are very easy to detect and spoof.
A couple references for those inclined to read further:
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/excerpt/wirlsshacks_chap1/
http://home.jwu.edu/jwright/papers/wlan-mac-spoof.pdf
- Mark
I liken MAC address filtering to a screen door... it'll keep people from just walking in. But anyone who really wants to get in can do so quite easily. MAC addresses are very easy to detect and spoof.
A couple references for those inclined to read further:
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/wireless/excerpt/wirlsshacks_chap1/
http://home.jwu.edu/jwright/papers/wlan-mac-spoof.pdf
- Mark
