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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> NON CH - Wireless network Questions
        
(Message started by: ClusterChuck on Apr 13^th, 2004, 1:42pm)

Title: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by ClusterChuck on Apr 13^th, 2004, 1:42pm

OK, now that I got one of my brat kids living with me, I need to set up a network. I was thinking of going the wireless route, so I don't have to run any wires.

What should I look for in getting the needed equipment? What should I expect to pay for it? Is it wise for me to do, due to the fact that I live in a townhouse? Will others (neighbors) be able to tap in and use my connection? And if they do, is there anything they can do to my system? I have DSL, and not limited to the amount of time I put online, so if someone else taps in, I don't care, as long as they can't tap into my puter, or my daughter's.

763 years ago, when I first got out of the Navy, I had a job maintaining puters. I was considered a puter whiz. I have not kept up with the technology, so I am now a ducking fummy with all this kerap.

Any suggestions, or hints?

Thanks fer yer input!

Chuck

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Luke63 on Apr 13^th, 2004, 1:54pm

Chuck...Ill buzz ya later..Im all wireless. Luke

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Edna on Apr 13^th, 2004, 2:07pm

Chuck baby, I can't help 'tall with your puter crud......but HEY.....

what's up............

;) thought you'd just slip that by that your daughter's coming to live eh?? hmmmm.....you betta check your mail my friend!!!

hugs,
EDNA

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Superpain on Apr 13^th, 2004, 2:23pm

Yes, people can "tap in" to your network, especially in close quarters like a townhouse situation. It's unlikely that it would happen accidentally, meaning you'd probably be ok unless someone attacks your network on purpose.

I would suggest using a hardware firewall for security. That should take care of it.

Go here and find the best gear and info for using it.

http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1738,8,00.asp

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by echo on Apr 13^th, 2004, 2:38pm

Can't help you there. I'm a wire nut. 22 picafard ft ,cad 5, 4pr, 24 ga and I'm good to go.

Works better than bailing wire with duct tape.

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Opus on Apr 13^th, 2004, 8:44pm

Chuck,
You will need a broad band wireless router. If you are just using it for small file transfers and a web connection then all you need is the 802.11b type. The router will need to be by one PC that has either net and the broad band router by it, otherwise you will need to run some cat5 cable or use another accesses point. You will also need a card, or USB device for the rest of the computers in your network.

Everyone who uses Wireless, know as WiFi, needs to do these things for security. On the router, the SSID which is the name of the network needs to be changed to something besides the default. Then the password needs to be changed from default. Next, do a scan to see what other networks are running near you, if there are any they probably run on channel 6, Best to choose 1 or 11 if they are clear. After you have everything talking to the router, you can test by typing ping 192.168.1.1( your router may be different but it is not likely ) in the command line or DOS terminal. The output will tell you if it is working. Use DHCP for everything, then you won't have to set up the IP addresses and the DNS. Then disable SSID braodcast. The last thing is to set a WEP that will scramble your signal. Use a long word, you will have to do this on the router and any computer on the WiFi network. This will keep someone from tapping into your broad band and someone from bypassing your firewall and getting right to your computers. Remember that the WiFi is behind the firewall.

More advanced security would be to limit DHCP address to the number of WiFi nodes you have, and I have heard that putting your Router in the basement helps limit your network from going out into the street, and installing firewalls on the Windows machines and enabling the firewalls on Macs, Linux and Free BSD machines.

Opus/Paul

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by fubar on Apr 13^th, 2004, 9:13pm

Chuck,

If you are buying new, you should standardize on 802.11g. It provides higher data rates and much better security. When you get it and are setting it up, you want to use WPA security (not WEP). WPA is far more secure as all WEP encryption is very easily cracked. Even Cisco's WEP-on-Steroids that constantly changes WEP keys has been cracked. I would go with Dlink or Linksys, either one is cool. Once you get it, let me know and I'll help you with the setup options.

-Shawn

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Opus on Apr 13^th, 2004, 10:50pm

Fu,
Thanks for the info, has g come down in price? I haven't looked, of course no use to me unless I can get Linux drivers.

Opus/Paul

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by fubar on Apr 14^th, 2004, 1:37am

linux... not sure but I thought 2.6 kernel came with more support for wireless standards.

802.11g is getting to be at the same price point as the 802.11b stuff. It's certainly worth the extra $20 bucks or so.

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Kirk on Apr 14^th, 2004, 8:42am

Linux does just fine with wi-fi. Even that damn Linksys WPM11 PCI card may they rot in hell for making it.
Been running my web server, e-mail server, FTP server and both DNS servers wireless to a T-1 line access point about 1.6 miles away since 98. All Linux boxen. No real problems with it.

Any 802.11 a/b/g card will out run your DSL Chuck. For your internal net 802.11g is the best route to go.

My thoughts on MS and security are well known.

http://wardriving.com has some good info about wireless security with lots of good links.

Be carefull out there.

TTFN

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Opus on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 1:21am

I have got one of those linksys cards, the driver wrapper locked my keyboard. That's what I get for tainting my kernel. I'm getting a prism 2 for my laptop, just to be safe.

Opus/Paul

PS Chuck, is it done yet?

Title: Re: NON CH - Wireless network Questions
Post by Tiannia on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 11:22am

you know you all make me feel beyond stupid with att this computer talk. Software programs I can usually figurout better then the IT people at my workplace but setting up the system I am completly lost. The funny thing is when we got our second system and got a router to do it, we ended up gett a wireless even though the 2 systems are next to each other. But I set that up and have done very well. Now we are setting up a 3rd system in my daughters room and will actually be going wireless soon to your system. So that should be a real test to see if I can get that working as well.