wireless broadband

Hey, I'm in Kenai. Hows it going up there. I'll be there on thursday to pick up a puppy.

Anyway, are you going to have a cable modem? I've got wireless in my house and I couldnt live without it now. I can parooze the net while sitting in bed watching stargate. It dont get no better than that man.

Yeah, but I need to find out what stuff I need and I also need to get some more ram for both computers.

Edit..If I do get wireless

If you get cable modem from GCI, they will supply a cable modem so theres no cost there. The wireless router that I bought was 125.00. A wireless card for each computer would run about 50 - 75 dollars each. However, you can connect to the wireless router with a standard network cable also. My setup has one computer with a network cable and two with wireless. So if you put the cable modem next to one computer the total cost will be about 150 -225 bucks.

You may be able to do it cheaper but thats about what I have into my setup.

It depends if your talking about 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g.

At BestBuy, most 802.11b products have really come down in price. You could get the wireless router and a couple of wireless cards for around $100, after rebates.
All I can say about RAM is the more the better. However, older computers are limited on how much they can handle. Make sure you get the correct type of RAM for your computer.

I watch the weekly newspaper advertisements and wait until the products I desire go on sale. You can really save a bundle by being patient and waiting until the right sale comes along.

I know, I know, you want it NOW!

Hahahah my sister has an ME I had an ME and updated it to an XP. BUt for some odd reason her computer seems faster, but my computer has broke down about 4 times and hers never did and all those break downs were on ME. And on one of them I got a new hard drive.. IM not sure if that or anything has effected it but its still the same as hers, 128mb and whats the difference between a b and g?

a is at a different frequency than b and g. Range is less.

b is at 11 gb per second while a and g are at 55 gb per second.

I would recommend studying up on the technology before buying it. You want to make a wise decision up front, rather than having a boat anchor after a poor decision.

Whatever you do, don’t leave the wireless access point at it’s factory default security settings. Change the default SSID. Turn off broadcasting of the SSID, and turn on encryption.

If you have questions about what these items are, you need to do a lot of research BEFORE purchase.

[Message Edited]

Netgear.com

go with 108 mbit 11.g

you open the boxes, install the nic's plug in the firewall and it works...

make sure to change the default Admin password on any that you buy no matter who makes it.




[Message Edited]

I recommend staying wired. Speaking for myself, I have seen to many shows showing how wireless can be hacked (even with tough security) and read countless articles regarding security holes. Granted things change so I might be talking to a wall here but if you go wireless, be careful!!

I definetely reccomend Norton Internet security or at the very least some really good firewall when you are using wireless

kona, for your average home user an access point with 128 bit encryption will suffice. The people who are out war driving aren't as interested in spending the time to get onto a personal network as they are a corporate network. I've had my acccess point running non-stop for between 6 and 8 months and I've never even seen anyone trying to connect much less actually succeeding. Besides, if they get onto the network that's only half the battle, they still have to try and get into my computer. It's really pretty secure as long as you take the necessary precautions.

I now return you to your regularly scheduled program...

#10 by TYBSP - 7/20/2004 11:49:45 PM I definetely reccomend Norton Internet security or at the very least some really good firewall when you are using wireless

Indeed, Hands down...

#9 by Skinner kona0197 - 7/20/2004 11:43:32 PM I recommend staying wired. Speaking for myself, I have seen to many shows showing how wireless can be hacked (even with tough security) and read countless articles regarding security holes. Granted things change so I might be talking to a wall here but if you go wireless, be careful!!

As you state at the end, do be careful to setup security period...

But.

Kona, I started in Wireless Data Communications back in 1993-4 Engineering Links and doing Site Sureveys for MicroWave with Spread Spectrum Radio Fall Back/Forward back up links with a guy who was a designer for AT&T Labs.

Today things are much better and secure on the Wireless front without a doubt. Though I would like to see Freq-Hopping added to equipment today...

The following is not going to be hacked...



$119.99 after rebate at CompUSA
-

Double firewall – Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and Network Address Translation (NAT) –
secures your network, PCs, and files, and protects against malicious attacks. Provides secure access to
remote files and options to make specific folders and files accessible only over the Internet. Offers
the best privacy control available, with web page filtering, "Trusted User" management, e-mail
alerts, and security logs. Multi-VPN tunnels (pass-through) provide secure Internet connections for
simultaneous multiple users.

• Routing Protocols:
- Static & Dynamic Routing with TCP/IP, multi-
VPN pass-through (IPSec, L2TP), NAT, PPTP,
PPPoE, DHCP (client & server)

• Functions:
- Automatically detects your ISP, Exposed Host
(DMZ), MAC address authentication, Dynamic
DNS available for Internet access away from home
or office, time-based usage controls, "Trusted User"
controls, URL content filtering, logs and e-mail
alerts of Internet activity, Wireless Access Control
(SSID), Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-shared Key
(WPA PSK) upgradability, remote management

• Interface:
- Internet/WAN: 10/100 Mbps (auto-sensing)
Ethernet, RJ-45
- LAN: 4 ports 10/100 Mbps (auto-sensing)
Ethernet, RJ-45
- Wireless:
- Network Speeds: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24,
36, 48, 54, and 108 Mbps
- Modulation Type: OFDM with BPSK, QPSK,
16QAM, 64QAM, DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK
- Frequency Band: 2.4 GHz
- Standards Capability: 802.11g and 802.11b

• Firewall:
- Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), Network Address
Translation (NAT), DoS Attack Detection/
Logging, Dropped Packet Log, Security Event
Log, E-mail Log, multiple VPN Tunnels (Passthrough,
2 IPSec, and multiple L2TP & PPTP)

• Security:
- 40-bit (also called 64-bit), 128-bit, Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption
- WPA PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-shared Key)


I have cleared this paticular product line on security points of interest along with two others, CISCO and WatchGUARD.
NetGear being the least expensive of the three and just as secure for running VPN tunnels into a Medical Network which has a total of 20 servers including a RISC Box serving out Medical Manager, GE's EMR software package and various other software used in the Medical and Clinical Management areas.

I personally would love to see someone directly hack it...




[Message Edited]

Besides, if they get onto the network that's only half the battle, they still have to try and get into my computer. It's really pretty secure as long as you take the necessary precautions.

f0r3, maybe the goal of someone breaking into your network isn't hacking your computer. Maybe they just want to steal your bandwidth. Once they get into your network, they have an IP that can be tracked back to you! They can spam from there, they can hack other sites from there, who knows what all they can do, and it all looks like you did it.

The ultimate goal of most people breaking into your home network isn't your computer, it's your network.

My whole point is if you are like me and only have 1 Computer and it sits right next to the cable outlet for the cable modem why bother with Wireless? I can see using wireless for the good old laptops but not the desktops. Stay wired.

It depends on your connection speed. For example, my cable connection is 10 Mbps, so getting 802.11g at 54 Mbps would be kinda useless. The speed would only be faster within your network (if you tranfer a lot of large files between the computers), otherwise the Internet connection won't be any faster. I think you can get a good 802.11b router for 60 bucks or so.

kona, true enough that. Heck they finally have network connections you run through your AC outlets which has been in the works for consumer use since 1994.

that though, I have some problems with it because they had spoken of having nic chips in all of your electronics including your door locks and such. Hell of a thing to have the kid next door hack the house and lock you out

Well we got stuff..i but the Norton Internet Security on it..and now I cant open a damn program, it says it cannot find a single file, and to use the search, and thats the only way I could geton here I went to net and typed WinCustomize, so thats the only way ill be gettin on the net now. >

You're going to have to give us a little more detail about the problem you are having. I can't understand what you are having trouble with.

actually as mentioned above there are more questions than anyone wants to type, so yeah, as much info on what you did exactly and what NIS did upon install and first run, then now would be the only way to find out where things went south...

Maybe they just want to steal your bandwidth

This is entirely possible, but I'd nail it in a heartbeat. Also, I have 3 computers that are allowed access through my router and unless said hacker can get the MAC address of one of them, he's not going to be sending any data through my router..

have 3 computers that are allowed access through my router and unless said hacker can get the MAC address of one of them, he's not going to be sending any data through my router.

It looks like you have it locked down to specific MACs, which is good. I assume you also have encryption turned on.

My comment was made in response to your comment "if they get onto the network that's only half the battle". If they get into the network, then they have already got past most of your line of defenses.

Rocky, if I try to open a program, say MSN Messenger, I get an error that says 'Windows cannot find "program location". Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search' And that happens with both shortcuts and if i go to the foldre and try to open it. And the only way i get on the net is by going to search and hitting search the net, but i prefer Firefox to IE.. BUt about security, Ive been thinking of it, I didnt need it.... I have the wired part and so does my XBox(cant find the sub card still) and my sister has the wireless.

my dad said he might bring it in to get it fixed

you need a software firewall along with a hardware firewall because of exploits and such on the web...

When your browser, ftp client, irc client and so forth makes a valid connection you open ports to the net which can be seen a validated by the firewall depending on amny different things.

a hardware firewall will keep things down to no one coming in raw and or off the net to an extent, in combination with the software fire wall you will be secure...

as far as it hosing up, that was user error and I do not have a clue what you did or did not do, with or without knowing it.

but, it can be fixed, but it would be a serious pain to try and do it online in a message board, having the thing in front of you when doing it will make it much faster and also lend to making sure nothing is forgotten

NIS you have to go into the settings and configure the firewall to allow your system to see beyond your network card and then as each application that is not configured in the firewall trys to access the network card the firewall will ask you if you want to allow it always, this time or to refuse it.

as far as it not finding the lined files (programs) goes, that generally is caused by reboot that takes place which is not done so the system saves the settings...

meaning the registry got screwed up where it points to applications...

there are utilities which can fix that, but, the fastest way to do it would be to pick a restore point before you installed NIS...

Then logout and login under an admin if need be, then install and follow the instructions on the screen to a T...

and it should install and operate fine..