I've decided to set up a home wireless network in my house (well duh!) I can't decide between an 802.11a and 802.11b compliant router. For obviuos reasons, I would prefer the latter (cheaper price). However my house uses telephones on the 2.4ghz range. How much interference does this cause with the 802.11b routers? What about Wireless-G, which uses the same range. I've searched around the web and gotten some solid information, but what I'm looking for is first hand experience from some good ole' cc.net'ers. Anyone, anyone?
I bought this Mircosoft Wireless Base Station: http://computers.cnet.com/hardware/0-7052-404-20428224.html? Been using it for 3 months, and its been great. Its 802.11b compliant and actually have a bit issues with my wireless phone. My family uses a 2.4 Ghz wireless phone, and it came with a second handset which is in my room. I have the laptop hooked up with a PCMCIA Wireless card attached right next to handset/charger base and dont have any issues. It does though lose the signal if I am using the phone, which is rarely.
If you go with 802.11b make sure you do the following to harden your network: 1. Enable 128bit WEP (if you can) 2. Change the WEP key on a regular basis (more often if a lot of traffic goes across your wireless lan - once a month?) 3. Enable MAC address filtering 4. Don't use DHCP to assign addresses (assign them manually) 5. Disable the SSID broadcast (configure it manually as well) 6. Change the default IP Subnet from 192.168.0.X to something in the 172.16 - 32.X.X range. 7. If you are going to have a server in your network that the wireless clients are going to connect to, think about using IPSec or a VPN between the clients and server. Wireless networks are notoriously insecure but if you do the above you will make great strides in preventing all but the most determined hacker from accessing your net connection. These steps aren't perfect but they are better then nothing! Any other security comments?
This seems like overkill for just a home network. It's all good advice, but how necessary is it really? I use 128bit WEP, and I turned off SSID broadcast, but the range of my WAP doesn't really extend past the end of my driveway. I think I'd see a determined hacker!
I have a cisco base station. The unit pumps out a good signal (a problem with some cheaper models), but the software is cisco's achilles. It sucks. When I try to enable WEP, it will permanently drop the signal, and you must reinstall. Support worked on it for 3-4 hours w/me, could never get WEP working. I hope no hackers walk up my drivevway.
I am in the market also, let me know what you do drapg. Buy.com has some good prices on the 802.11b with rebates also. I just need to place my dang order. Make sure to follow some of the steps 111chase111. (hijacking) I am looking to build a new PC from scratch. What websites do you guys use to get hardware? I have used newegg.com and buy.com p4 2.53ghz, 1gb ram ddr 2700, 120gb drive, ATI Radeon all in wonder 8500 (64mb). The main thing I am looking for is a good case. I am also pretty set on the motherboard, its an ASUS. Any suggestions for the p4? This board has ata133, agp 8x and serial ata.
(edit) I meant to say follow the first two steps posted by 111chase111 at least. Also get the Linksys gear, it is cheaper and reliable. Make sure to update the firmware.
Cohen:: Mine works ok. My XP with a linksys works great also.. No 2.4 mhz phone, though. It was extremely plug and play.
I wanted to set up a wireless network, but I don't want to sacrifice speed, so I'll wait until they come out with a 100 Mb wireless network that's affordable. Sonny, If you're looking for cases, go to www.directron.com. They're located in Houston and I've bought lots of stuff from them. I usually place my order online and pick it up when I drop into Houston. Don't just walk in and try to pick up something - I think they charge you more for that. Order it online and select to pick the products up. A solidly built mid or full tower case otherwise would cost a bit to ship. For parts, I almost always use www.newegg.com. They're always close to being the cheapest and their rep on the 'Net is near-perfect. I've ordered dozens of products from them with no problems or issues whatsoever. I noticed you're looking into getting an AIW 8500. The new 9100 card is basically an improved version of the 8500 that's faster than their 9000 series. The 9100 is basically an 8500 with an improved BIOS. The only problem is I don't know if they offer it in AIW form yet.
Thanks for all the responses guys! I appreciate it. Sonny, I've seen many of the same deals, especially on FW. However after lots of research, I've decided to go with a Linksys 802.11b router. I'm hoping it won't cause too much interference, especially since I've decided to put an old 900mhz phone in the same room as all computers with a wireless card in them. Funny thing is that my dad called the cable modem provider to ask about "home networking" and the CSR said that their service doesn't allow for it. Their webpage says you have to pay an extra $10 per month if you want it. But this guys says "home networking is not compatible with Earthlink." And to think people like that are actually employed.
Well most of the steps that I've outlined you only have to set up once and then not worry about it so it's not really that hard to make your network safer. The only thing that would be a pain would be to change your WEP key on a regular basis. Also, you said that your WAP doesn't extend past your driveway but that's only when you try to access it with your equipment. If someone is activily seeking out wireless networks they can detect them from pertty far away with a decent (cheaply homebuilt) antenna. I bought my wife a laptop for Christmas along with a wireless NIC so she could get online from wherever in our house she wanted to. However, over Christmas we were staying at her parents house. When I fired up the laptop the NIC connected to a neighbors WAP on the next block and I was able to successfully surf the net. They didn't have WEP and they used DHCP and the signal was going much farther then they probably though it could go. Why take the chance?
Don't get me wrong, all of the advice that you gave is reasonable. I think it was the regular changing of the WEP key that seemed a pain. Plus, if someone did get onto my network and access the internet, I'm quite confident that's all they'd be able to do. I try to keep my machines as secure as possible. No telnet or FTP on my network!
We have two home computers networked through the RoadRunner service. They told us they same thing: that they wouldn't do it, but the technician saw how completely helpless I was and set it up for me. Have you considered using RoadRunner instead of Earthlink? We have had no problems for 3 years now.
Earthlink has a special right now. First 3 months for $21.99/month and $41.99/month after that. I have Roadrunner in Austin right now and they charge me $45/month. Earthlink wins!
I dont know about Austin, but Earthlink goes through Time Warner here in Houston, which is Roadrunner. So, its the same thing. I switched last month and havent had any issues. Just had to change the mailing and news servers. I got the tip from somebody here, can't remember who.
