View Full Version : wireless networking preferences?
lostdreamer
7-29-02, 10:05 PM
hello, have a question for all:
am on a cable modem connection. was wondering what products people go with when they want to set up a wireless network? have been favoring dlink, but i've heard that the complementary wireless pci does not bode well with xp; the drivers would not load. (the pcmcia seems to be fine.) also, have noticed that the 2.4ghz router seems to conflict with a 2.4ghz wireless (landline) phone.
would surely appreciate any feedback on this.
additionally, if anyone knows of a good networking forum, i'd love to hear about it; i'm finding i need to know more about this stuff. thanks in advance.
My home network is 100% ethernet network using Linksys equipment. I have looked into wireless a little for my laptop, but for now it is going to still be wired. For desktops I would stay with wires, it is faster and no interferance.
I use static IP routing inside my network and my outside address is static so I can access my computer by FTP from anywhere with a internet connection.
teamantivir
7-30-02, 07:50 AM
With the insecurity and conflicts with wireless phones, I too have stuck with Wires (it doesn't hurt when you know how to do the job yourself). In the future I may concider Wireless, for a handheld device, but for me right now the negatives are larger than the possitives.
Wireless all the way.... here... well almost
6 PC's all running on a linksys wireless router..... and there is no security issues... if you read the documentation... and reset the esid of the router and all of the antennas...
as for speed.... cable is throttled at 10mps so on the internet you'll never see a drop in performance... since 802.11b , is rated... and performs flawlessly at 11 mps......
I do have one wire.... connecting my pc to a "make shift file server "... w 2 80gig HD's..... cause 11 mps is sluggish for large ... or numerous files..... the wire takes it back up to 100mps... if everything is OK....
The wireless router handles all the DHCP... and routing duties... and you can set the Router... to send all HTTP / Or FTP request to a specific PC... running on the inside network.....
Best thing about it.... and a true seller for me..... between.... the wireless router handling DHCP.... and running " non routable IP's on the internal network"...... HACKERS.... don't bother...
I used to get port scans at least a dozen times a day.... before using any kind of router.... " started with a wired router"... running BLACK ICE DEFENDER firewall.....
NOW all the cable company see's is the router.... even on port 80 scans.....
I had some service issues... when I move to a new house... and RoadRunner.... said I had ro remove the router.... cause they said they couldn't see my PC...... from their network...
I'm sure the other brands are comparable to linksys... but that's what I've been using....
I have been thinking about the Linksys wireless access point so that I can use my laptop any where, but
A) It is pretty pricy
B) I transfer MP3 between computers so speed is an issue (I am a DJ, but yes I use copyrighted music for free)
BUT I AM GLAD TO HERE A GOOD REVIEW OF IT. I might have to look into it again!
PS: I use all static IPs. Inside my network and outside. I also run an FTP server so I can connect to my computer from the road!
teamantivir
8-3-02, 09:36 AM
Originally posted by SBGlasby
6 PC's all running on a linksys wireless router..... and there is no security issues... if you read the documentation... and reset the esid of the router and all of the antennas...
Sorry to dissapoint, but There are loads of security issues with Wireless. Granted you can minimize them, threats like wardriving are offset simply by turning on the encryption. This simple step will solve many issues, as most people are just looking for a free ride. However, if you look a little deeper, you'll see the actual encryption is fairly easily broke, and there are utilities out there to do that. For a home user, or small business you can restrict the accessing devices via NAT address, but this is not realistic for a Medium to Large size corporation (too much administrative overhead). Next gen of the wireless protocall promises stronger encryption. I'll re-evaluate it at that point, but for now, since I concider the wife's checking account sensitive, as well as all my work, I think I'll limit the available connections to hard wired physical locations rather than anyone in a radious of x foot.
Plus rember one thing, by installing a wired network in your home, you do increase home value/ resale value.
if there are security issues I should be aware of on my home network....
please be specific.... generalizations mean nothing....
until you've actually run a wireless network.... and seen waht can and can't be done..... with it.... there is no NAT....
that's OLD... as for the encryption.....
wirless tech. has a range limitation.... not because of equipment... but for security.....
and IF I wake up in the middle of the night.... and see several cars parked in front of my house.... with a faint glow coming from the steamed up windows...... I'll hit the switch....
as for increasing the value of your home.... that's only if the person buyinbg it has more than 1 computer... and actually knows how to maintain a wired network.....
My house I am selling.... is wired..... and the RE agent... said she would mention it... but doubted if it mattered much....
since you can now ... PLUG & PLAY... your network...
Fastlaneweb.... I almost forgot you...
$169.00 is waht I gave for mine.... along with $69.00 for each antenna....
but I hard wired a house.... " what a pain".... and if you're not careful.... and know exactly how to make the cables... properly...
you can actually hurt your throughput......
one crossed wire.... can cause the entire network.... to be sluggish.....
So by thie time you buy the NORMAL router..... WIRE... CONNECTORS..... & A TESTER.... and crawl around... where you probably don't want to...... you've got just as much time and money tied up in a hardwired network....
802.11a is being relased in production mode... very shortly....this will drive the price of 802.11b equipment down...
Some are already available.... what's 802.11a You ASK ?
up to 54mps , as opposed to 11 mps....
after having... and working on a wired & wireless networks....
I'll go wireless... definetly worth the extra cost.... " in my book"
I use a wireless access point just for my laptop, But seriously stick with wires its much faster for desktops. And if you're gonna go wireless , make sure you use static for each of your computers. You may want to range or organize your network to only work on a certain range,. If this is personal use, DO NOT USE DHCP. ahahha, cuz you never know your neighbor can get free access to the internet.
Those Access points are still pretty powerful in range. I can connect to my house while at my neighbors place. So specify your network.
cy
OK.... here's the poop.... but if you don't beleive me.... you can read up on it and take classes on it as I did.....
Wireless systems "newer"... use what's called an ID system....
the same ID is entered into the Router... and all antennas connecting to it.
my linksys uses e-sid.... so unless someone can GUESS... my e-sid... they cannot get on my network.... IT also has the capability of allowing only a certain number of connections....
So I have that set at 6 , the # of PC's... I have connecting...
So even if some were good enough at guessing my e-sid. unless one of my computers goes down... they still won't get on...
then there is host name restriction... where you can limit it to only certain "computernames" can get on the network....
So someone would have to be really good at a lot of guessing.... just to browse the internet...
Where people get into trouble... is they take it out of the box... and plug it in... "it does work this way"..... if you use the Default factory settings..... "90% probably do".....
someone cruising the neighborhood... with a laptop... and a wireless antenna.... may just be able to pick up the signal....
Again... cable modems are limited to 10mps.... 802.11b can handle 11mps at 100 yards from the base antenna.....
the only real drawback I've found.... is trying to burn data from one PC.... to another..... 11mps is too slow for that....
OH.... BTW....Wireless Access Points.... "early" use the broadcast method..... and no security...
wireless access points... and wireless routers... are 2 completely different animals....
Thankx, I haven't really worked with Wireless Routers, I hope that it does us the ID system,
My wireless is hooked up with my other computers network so it's all internal.
But thanks for the info bout the router, I would still rather use wired routers.
DRnetman86
8-23-02, 10:46 PM
I have a wireless, and I'm sad to say that I have it for my desktops. I have large home network with 2 laptops and about 6 desktops. We got wireless to connect one desktop and laptop wirelessly to a wired desktop. I ended up having a ton of hassle trying to reconfigure every 2.4 gigahertz device near my house (including setting up my neighbor's wireless so it won't interfere with mine). My 2.4 gigahertz phone knocks everything off the network on wireless, the wireless goes down without reason sometimes, and is unrelyable for having a server on. I'm geting cat5 run to my desktops and leaving the wireless for the laptops. If you're going to get wireless for your desktop(s) and you're only running Windows on it, I'd suggest the Compaq HNW-200 11mps 802.11b wireless USB network adapter. It's got great range and is much more efficient than it's Linksys counterpart. As far as a laptop, I'd go for the Orinoco Silver PCMCIA card unless you're doing 128 bit encryption, in which case get the Gold model. It has excellent range and is the most relyable card. The Gold just supports higher encryption. Orinoco also makes excellent access points, but Linksys ones are the most common. If you have a laptop with wireless, a fun thing to try is Wardriving, driving around looking for wireless networks with your laptop. Use a program such as Netstumbler or Areosol for Windows. I've found tons of insecure wireless networks in my neighborhood, including one at a local elementary school. Overall, wireless is great for laptops, horrible for desktops.
>>as Netstumbler or Areosol
I might have to try that just for the fun of it! If I am real lucky my neighboor will be running an insecure wireless network and I will never have to pay for internet AGAIN!!!!!!!! well maybe thats a little wishful thinking. I am glad to know that the wireless thats price is in range is not all its spiced up to be.
Best,
MarkHutch
8-23-02, 11:24 PM
I've used Linksys at home now for about 8 months. I use it on my laptop in the bedroom and desktop in the living room. I like it very much. No problems at all with the desktop like others have talked about. Router is hooked into a cable modem, apx 1.5 mgbs and have no speed problems with only two PC's on the system. I do have a unique user password setup for each comptuer, and have 128 bit encryption enabled with a unique pass key and I only enable two IP's on this router. Since both computers are connected all the time, there should be no way for another person get on the router, even if someone was able to break the encryption and both pass keys.
P.S. I think it would be easier for someone to tap into the cable line outside, than it would be to break all this security, in my opinion.
DRnetman86
8-24-02, 12:17 AM
even the 128 bit encryption sucks. It takes anything on the network spewing even the slightest bit of it makes it simple to crack. The best way to do it is 128 bit encryption with MAC address restrictions for wireless since you can't (currently) change your wireless mac addresses on a USB adapter, PCI, or PCMCIA card.
SBGlasby
8-25-02, 08:43 PM
that's funny , don't need to change mac address's
each PC's wireless network adapter card.... and the software that came with the router... allows me to use "MAC address" restrictions.....
then you restrict by MAC address , on secure channel, with or without an encryption key,.... along with TOD restrictions. Unless you're extremely lucky..... and can guess one of 30 billon possible mac address codes..... you're not getting on my network.....
but those people aren't the ones I'm really concerned about....
maybe 1 in 100 people have the knowledge to get around my network setup......
but there are a lot more that can come in ..... from the other direction....
never interfered with anything else on the 2.4 GHz range , in mine or my neighbors.....
you must have had something buggy...
Wireless is OK, for surfing the net.... because the cable modem is throttled at 10Mps anyway..... "or at least RR is " but I've run a hardwire to my File Server.... nothing like a 100Mps connection for large files....
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