Best wireless networking solution?

I recently got broadband installed (BT) and I'm very happy with it. I kept
my dial-up ISP account (Freeserve) going since my daughter accesses the Net
from her PC in her bedroom (using an analogue modem). I now want to cancel
this ISP account.

So what's the best way to share broadband? Is it just a case of connecting
the PCs (using cable or wireless) and activating Internet connection sharing
on my broadband?

If I go wireless, what's the best (and cheapest) option? Is it best to go
for a router so that she can access the Net without turning-on my PC?

Cheers.

Bobby

On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 18:14:27 +0100, "Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>So what's the best way to share broadband? Is it just a case of connecting
>the PCs (using cable or wireless) and activating Internet connection sharing
>on my broadband?

yes,

>If I go wireless, what's the best (and cheapest) option? Is it best to go
>for a router so that she can access the Net without turning-on my PC?

yes and yes. You can get a combined router/firewall and use cables or
add a separate wireless access point to use wireless. "All in"
wireless/adsl modem/router boxes are also around.

http://www.adslguide.org.uk/ has kit reviews and message boards that
will help.

Phil

I already have an ASDL modem (which came as part of the BT Broadband package
so I don't need an all-in device - just a (wired or wireless) router? Is
that correct?

BT does a device just now that "allows 10 people to share a wireless modem".
It's their Voyager package. Is this really an ASDL modem and router combined
in a single box?

Can anyone recommend a good (cheap) router? Both wired and wireless?

Cheers.

Bobby

"Phil Thompson" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 6 Sep 2003 18:14:27 +0100, "Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >So what's the best way to share broadband? Is it just a case of
connecting
> >the PCs (using cable or wireless) and activating Internet connection
sharing
> >on my broadband?
>
> yes,
>
> >If I go wireless, what's the best (and cheapest) option? Is it best to go
> >for a router so that she can access the Net without turning-on my PC?
>
> yes and yes. You can get a combined router/firewall and use cables or
> add a separate wireless access point to use wireless. "All in"
> wireless/adsl modem/router boxes are also around.
>
> http://www.adslguide.org.uk/ has kit reviews and message boards that
> will help.
>
> Phil

On Sun, 7 Sep 2003 11:57:10 +0100, "Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I already have an ASDL modem (which came as part of the BT Broadband package
>so I don't need an all-in device - just a (wired or wireless) router? Is
>that correct?

nearly. It is a USB device ? so you either have to run the PC
connected to it to share or buy a router that will power and
communicate via a USB modem - like
http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop...?ProductID=162

>BT does a device just now that "allows 10 people to share a wireless modem".
>It's their Voyager package. Is this really an ASDL modem and router combined
>in a single box?

A voyager what ? - which model. "The BT Voyager 2000 Wireless is an
ADSL Modem developed for ‘Self Install’ ADSL combined with an IEEE
802.11b Wireless LAN Access Point. The Wireless Modem allows you to
connect personal computers to the broadband Internet without the use
of cables between your computer and the ADSL socket. "

you could use that as it has a single ethernet port for the wired PC,
accotding to the review at
http://adslguide.org.uk/hardware/rev...q3/bt-2000.asp

>Can anyone recommend a good (cheap) router? Both wired and wireless?

http://adslguide.org.uk/hardware/reviews

name a price limit if you want people to make solid sugestions. The BT
thing looks to be a one box solution for £120 quid or so.

Phil

"Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:bjg4gs$ic6a2$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Thanks Phil, the Voyager 2000 looks like a safe (if not cheap) option.
>
> I was hoping for a cheaper solution that used my existing (BT) ADSL modem.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Bobby
>

This is what I decided to go for:-
http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/produ...KGCOMBO&pm=877

Its not cheap - but it'll give you everything you want. Remember, pulling up
carpets, drilling walls and ripping up floorboards isn't cheep either (in
time OR money). You could do worse. Shelling out an extra couple of hundred
bucks could really save some grief in the longrun.

Its got 4 Ethernet ports and supports 36 wireless connections!

I've got 6 'puters hanging off it, all connected to the net, and singing and
dancing nicely.

HTH
Paul

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On Sun, 7 Sep 2003 21:30:25 +0100, "Bobby" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I was hoping for a cheaper solution that used my existing (BT) ADSL modem.

well you can do that but only if you want to use one of the PCs as the
internet gateway and leave it on so the other can access the net.

If you go that way then a wireless access point for under £100 would
be required, the saving isn't huge and you have the inconvenience,
security/reliability issues and slower performjance of the USB modems
to live with.

Phil

In article <bjd4lk$hp236$(E-Mail Removed)>, Bobby wrote:
> I recently got broadband installed (BT) and I'm very happy with it. I kept
> my dial-up ISP account (Freeserve) going since my daughter accesses the Net
> from her PC in her bedroom (using an analogue modem). I now want to cancel
> this ISP account.
>
> So what's the best way to share broadband? Is it just a case of connecting
> the PCs (using cable or wireless) and activating Internet connection sharing
> on my broadband?
>
> If I go wireless, what's the best (and cheapest) option? Is it best to go
> for a router so that she can access the Net without turning-on my PC?
>
The 'best' can mean several things.

best == easiest
In this case then something like the Netgear DG824W (with a minor easy to do
firmware upgrade) is very easy, same to be said about the D-Link DSL-600+.
There is however a big problem, wireless networks are insecure by their
nature and also the built in security is extremely poor and added on as
second thought. This means that people within range will be able to use your
equipment with very little problem; I would not worry about the security of
any files you store on your network but maybe more of credit card details and
also people sharing your connection without you knowing. There is nothing
stopping people using your ADSL connection to send spam or worse still
downloading very illegal pornography which you will find hard to prove is not
your doing. The advantage with cable is that the intruder will need physical
access to a plug in your house, rather than be within the very theoretical
range of 200m.

best = secure The built in security is something called WEP, which is easily
cracked on a low grade machine within a few days (via brute force). Tools
can be easily download from the web which do this, so someone with an IQ
slightly more than a stick can do. You can also lock your wireless equipment
so that only one wireless card (the one in your wifes laptop) will work with
the gateway however this is not a particularly bullet-proof approach either.
For security you need VPN networks and usernames/passwords/certificates.....

As you can see its not a clean cut easy solution to get the 'best', and you
have to always think that what makes it easy for you to use the system, makes
it also very easy for an intruder. Everything you read about wireless
networking has really so far been pure hype, its not particularly fast,
definately not secure but it does let you be lazy in bed browsing the web
with no wires on a laptop.

I am not saying, you should not use wireless products unless you use a VPN,
but at least be aware that these problems exist, so prepare yourself for the
worst.

Regards

Alex

--
Alexander Clouter <(E-Mail Removed)>
MetroNet Support http://www.metronet.co.uk/support/

Oh, just ignore the metronet 'support' reply !

First of all he didn't answer the question: How to share ADSL.
Two ways: Using Internet Connection Sharing (M/soft software, in Win98 or
later).
This requires wired connection between the computers AND the computer with
ADSL modem must be ON for the other to have access.
Else you need a 'ADSL modem / router combo' which allows each computer to
connect independently.
You can add wireless Access Point, or get all in one box. Computers connect
either by ethernet cable or via wireless adapter.
Stay away from Netgear, just too much trouble, I returned mine, just didn't
work !
Following many recommendations here and ADSLguide.org etc. I bought Draytek
Vigor 2600We all in one solution, not cheap but works great.

WiFi Security. Two aspects: you can prevent unauthorised access to your
network by specifying the unique number of the wifi adapters that are
allowed access and maybe also screen off signal going outside your premises.
It will still be possible for someone to listen in on your traffic in the
air, but you can use the WEP encryption to stop them reading it.
Yes, professional hackers can crack both these protection systems but it's
more then safe enough for domestic use (no one is going to bother to spy on
your wifi for weeks to intercept one credit card number).
Actually I don't bother with either, the signal barely reaches the end of my
drive.
Regards,
Martin

In article <nS88b.874$(E-Mail Removed)>,
(E-Mail Removed) (Martin²) wrote:

> Following many recommendations here and ADSLguide.org etc. I bought
> Draytek
> Vigor 2600We all in one solution, not cheap but works great.
>

seconded :-)

- Steve

In article <nS88b.874$(E-Mail Removed)>, Martin² wrote:
>
> WiFi Security. Two aspects: you can prevent unauthorised access to your
> network by specifying the unique number of the wifi adapters that are
> allowed access and maybe also screen off signal going outside your premises.
> It will still be possible for someone to listen in on your traffic in the
> air, but you can use the WEP encryption to stop them reading it.
>
WEP is _not_ secure, that was my whole point. When brute force attacks take
a week (worse case) the system really is a joke. If you want to blindly
believe that turning on a tick box gives you security, then its your choice.

> Yes, professional hackers can crack both these protection systems but it's
> more then safe enough for domestic use (no one is going to bother to spy on
> your wifi for weeks to intercept one credit card number).
>
Professional? You can just go to any Script Kiddie website, download a tool
which sits passively listening for traffic extractin all the information you
need. After you have the WEP key packet sniffing and obtaining one single
ethernet packet gives you the valid MAC addresses. Set your MAC addess to
match, pick a different IP address and you are set to go. Even ifthe legit
users are using the connection you can still have the same MAC addresses. I
think you really need to read independent advice on wireless networks before
you say "oh but this card can be locked". It is locked on a MAC address and
nothing more, MAC addresses can be changed like IP addresses, under Win95 you
get a box to fill in, no need for special scripts.

Spending a few weeks to obtain a credit card number without people knowledge
and undetectably.....many people would. Come on get a grip.

> Actually I don't bother with either, the signal barely reaches the end of my
> drive.
>
for other people it might not.

Regards

Alex