Another question about which router to buy

I know there are a million posts like this here, because I've read what
seems like thousands of them. I still can't figure out what equipment I
need.

We have two computers currently connected to a broadband cable
connection through a router in my office. We would like to be able to
connect a third computer (that has a wireless card) and various PDAs
with WiFi. I would like to keep the original two computers on wired
connections and wireless for the rest.

We would also like to be able to share certain files among the various
computers.

I also can't figure out the answer to a question I have. I know (or
think I know) that wireless networks are easier to hack into than
wired. If this is true, is there a way to protect the two computers on
wired connections from anyone who might use our wireless network?

Although we have a small yard, our house is three stories plus
basement, and we would like a wireless signal that can be used all over
the house, plus in the yard. The current wired router is on the second
floor, and we would like it to stay there.

Thanks so much for any information you can give me.

.. Joann

On 13-Apr-2006, "Joann23456" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> I know there are a million posts like this here, because I've read what
> seems like thousands of them. I still can't figure out what equipment I
> need.
>
> We have two computers currently connected to a broadband cable
> connection through a router in my office. We would like to be able to
> connect a third computer (that has a wireless card) and various PDAs
> with WiFi. I would like to keep the original two computers on wired
> connections and wireless for the rest.
>
> We would also like to be able to share certain files among the various
> computers.
>
> I also can't figure out the answer to a question I have. I know (or
> think I know) that wireless networks are easier to hack into than
> wired. If this is true, is there a way to protect the two computers on
> wired connections from anyone who might use our wireless network?
>
> Although we have a small yard, our house is three stories plus
> basement, and we would like a wireless signal that can be used all over
> the house, plus in the yard. The current wired router is on the second
> floor, and we would like it to stay there.
>
> Thanks so much for any information you can give me.
>
> .. Joann

Hi Joann. I'm going to attempt to answer your questions as clearly as I can
so bear with me. Since you already have a router (wired, i presume), then
all you will need is a wireless access point (WAP). With the WAP, you will
connect it to the router and all wireless devices will connect to your
network via the WAP. With the WAP, you should be able to enable encryption
so that the information travelling back and forth from between the wireless
devices will be encrypted. Make sure that all devices support encryption
whether it be WEP, WPA, WPA-PSK (Pre-Shared Key) or WPA2. As for protecting
your network from snoopers, your router, depending on the type you have,
should double as a firewall. "Typically speaking", users cannot access what
is not shared. Depending on your OS, you should be able to set restrictions
to shared information. Anyway, feel free to visit
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/...security.shtml and
http://netsecurity.about.com/cs/wind...aa042204_2.htm for more
information. I hope I was helpful to you. Take care.

--
----------
Just Me, D

[POSTED TO alt.internet.wireless - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <(E-Mail Removed) .com> on 13 Apr 2006
10:51:48 -0700, "Joann23456" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I know there are a million posts like this here, because I've read what
>seems like thousands of them. I still can't figure out what equipment I
>need.
>
>We have two computers currently connected to a broadband cable
>connection through a router in my office. We would like to be able to
>connect a third computer (that has a wireless card) and various PDAs
>with WiFi. I would like to keep the original two computers on wired
>connections and wireless for the rest.
>
>We would also like to be able to share certain files among the various
>computers.
>
>I also can't figure out the answer to a question I have. I know (or
>think I know) that wireless networks are easier to hack into than
>wired. If this is true, is there a way to protect the two computers on
>wired connections from anyone who might use our wireless network?
>
>Although we have a small yard, our house is three stories plus
>basement, and we would like a wireless signal that can be used all over
>the house, plus in the yard. The current wired router is on the second
>floor, and we would like it to stay there.

Connect a wireless access point (not wireless router) to your wired router.
Or instead use a wireless router with DHCP disabled and a LAN port (not the
Internet WAN port) connected to the wired router (which effectively makes it
into a wireless access point). With a three story house, I recommend MIMO for
both the wireless access point and wireless adapters (cards) for best range
and coverage. Even so, you may still have dead spots, and might need another
wireless access point for complete coverage, connected to your wired router by
cable or powerline networking. If needed, the two wireless access points
should have the same custom SSID and security, but be on different
non-overlapping channels (1, 6, 11). For security, you should use WPA-PSK.
Microsoft has help documents on how to set up network file sharing.

--
Best regards, SEE THE FAQ FOR ALT.INTERNET.WIRELESS AT
John Navas <http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/FAQ_for_alt.internet.wireless>