OT: Networking

[Ikaria]

I know we have a bunch of computer knowledge on here, so I'm drawing upon your expertise!

I have a DSL modem, linksys router connected by cable to my desktop, and my daughters laptop.

I want to go Wi-Fi to the laptop, but don't know what the best way would be based on what I already have. The laptop has built in wireless.

Another consideration is that I don't want to provide free internet to the neighborhood!

Let me know what you think!

 

[karoo]

Simplest solution is to replace your router with a wireless router. Most of the wireless routers will also have regular eithernet ports for you desktop too.

To prevent providing access to the neighborhood just set up the router to use encrypted authentication. Preferably WPA encryption, but you need to make sure the laptop can use WPA encryption.

It's all standard stuff nowadays and a linksys or netgear wireless router with the WPA encryption should run less than $80.00

Hope that helps.

Gus

 

[czieler]

Dwight...

Karoo is correct. If you get a wireless router, it should still allow for hardwired connections as well, so you can connect your daughters computer via a cable to the router, and install the control software for the router on her pc.

Then you just go to the control program and tell it you want to enable WAP. It will give you a long key that you have to write down... then you go to your lap top and tell it to find wireless networks... it will find yours..then you type in the long key..and you should be good to go.

If you do this and it's not working...feel free to let me know...and I can pop over to help one day after work. It'd give me a chance to see Shelia again too

Carole

 

[Ikaria]

Thanks for the advise. I noticed wireless routers in the paper today for about $50.

I have had bigger problems today as I accidently deleted about 40% of my D: drive (160gb) .....errrrgggghhhh! So I've been restoring files for the last 10 hours.

Carole, you can come see Sheila anyway!

 

[czieler]

Thanks Dwight! I'll PM you sometime soon to maybe schedule dropping by to visit if that's ok. I'm in the middle of getting tile layed at home over the next few days..but maybe after that

My dogs have been having a fit all weekend...a wild female turkey keeps flying over my back fence to eat birdseed off the ground under my bird feeders...heh.

That stinks about losing your data... always a pain when that happens.

 

[mpdharley]

In addition to enabling WPA (or WEP) for encryption, I would also recommend setting these options:

SSID Broadcast: Disable. This makes it a little more difficult for people to find your wireless network.

Wireless MAC Filter: Enable and set to Permit only. You will have to add the MAC addresses for each of your wireless computers that you want to have on your network. However, only the systems whose MAC address that you enter will be allowed on your wireless network.

The easiest way to find your MAC address, is to bring up a command box (Start Button, Run, type in "cmd" (without the quotes) and press enter) and type "ipconfig /all" (again without the quotes). Information on all your network cards will be displayed.

BTW, these options are from a Linksys wireless router and may be listed differently (or not available) on all wireless routers.

I would also recommend that you walk around your house (on the outside) with a laptop computer and see how far outside your house you get signal.

 

[Ikaria]

Thanks Mike! Good to hear from you again!

 

[mpdharley]

No problem!

One other option is to use some application that constantly scans your wireless network for systems that are on it. I use Trend's Firewall/Antivirus and they have an option to do this. If it picks up a machine that is not on the approved list, you are notified via a dialog box.

Can you tell I'm paranoid about my wireless!! <G> Seriously though, if you are running wireless, it pays to be paranoid.

Mike

 

[czieler]

eh...I let my neighbors use mine

 

[Ikaria]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7337922#post7337922 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpdharley
No problem!

One other option is to use some application that constantly scans your wireless network for systems that are on it. I use Trend's Firewall/Antivirus and they have an option to do this. If it picks up a machine that is not on the approved list, you are notified via a dialog box.

Can you tell I'm paranoid about my wireless!! <G> Seriously though, if you are running wireless, it pays to be paranoid.

Mike

Sounds like something I'll be looking for.

Since my modem is a couple years old, would it be worth getting a wireless gateway?

 

[mpdharley]

I assume that you are talking about your DSL modem.

You would replace your Linksys router with a Linksys Wireless router that also has switch ports (for wired connections). The DSL modem would connect to the WAN port on the new Linksys Wireless router.

 

[grochmal]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7338289#post7338289 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by czieler
eh...I let my neighbors use mine

I hope you know them well

You guys here about the Jacksonville woman who was recently charged with downloading a movie?
Of course she's claiming she didn't know it was illegal.
But they are going after small time offenders...

 

[Ikaria]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7346880#post7346880 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mpdharley
I assume that you are talking about your DSL modem.

You would replace your Linksys router with a Linksys Wireless router that also has switch ports (for wired connections). The DSL modem would connect to the WAN port on the new Linksys Wireless router.

Well, what I was thinking about was something like the Linksys WAG54G gateway which is a combo modem / router / switch.

http://www1.linksys.com/international/product.asp?coid=5&ipid=371

Hope this link works!

 

[mpdharley]

That looks good, but I would check with your DSL provider first. Just to make sure that it will work with their service. There may be issues with being able to log in, etc.

Assuming all that is kosher, then I'd go with it. One other thing to remember about your linksys router, something that a lot of people don't do -- change your admin password!

You would be surprised how many people don't do that simple thing.

 

[Ikaria]

Hey.... Thanks again! I will contact bellsouth to see if it will work. Yeah, that WOULD suck if I bought it and it didn't!