Need Help - What Wireless-G to buy ?

I'm looking to break down and set up a wifi network in my house, to
share my cable modem connection. I have 2 PCs (the main one in a
first floor office - running WinXP, one in the basement - running
W98). I plan to add a laptop in the next 6 months. I also have an
Xbox and a Tivo in an entertainment cabinet on the 1st floor that I
would like to connect.

Since I am a relative newbie at setting up networks, I have a few
questions. Apologies in advance for misusing any terms ...

1. What products should I be looking at. Cost is important, but I'm
looking for ease and future flexibility as well. I've always used
Linksys products to date, and am generally happy with them. If anyone
knows of a good source to buy or any good specials, please let me know
.... otherwise, it's probably Best Buy for me.

2. What's the best way to handle the 2 units in the entertainment
cabinet ? Is there a single access point I can use with 2 ports, or
could I get something like the WGA54G and hook one of my old 10/100
switches into it.

3. Are there any good internet resources on getting started in
hooking up a WiFi network ? I'm especially concerned about security,
since I live in an area with a bunch of young technophiles who love to
snoop networks.

Thanks in advance for any help.

//elvin

See response in-line below...

"elvin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> I'm looking to break down and set up a wifi network in my house, to
> share my cable modem connection. I have 2 PCs (the main one in a
> first floor office - running WinXP, one in the basement - running
> W98). I plan to add a laptop in the next 6 months. I also have an
> Xbox and a Tivo in an entertainment cabinet on the 1st floor that I
> would like to connect.
>
> Since I am a relative newbie at setting up networks, I have a few
> questions. Apologies in advance for misusing any terms ...
>
> 1. What products should I be looking at. Cost is important, but I'm
> looking for ease and future flexibility as well. I've always used
> Linksys products to date, and am generally happy with them. If anyone
> knows of a good source to buy or any good specials, please let me know
> ... otherwise, it's probably Best Buy for me.

I like the Linksys WRT54G that is a Cable/DSL router, 4-port switch, and
802.11g access point all in one. I have been using mine for about a month
and have had no issues. I got lucky and got mine from Amazon.com for $56.00
including shipping. They ran a special for a couple of days, but it is gone
now. You should be able to pick this unit up for about $100 anywhere right
now though.



>
> 2. What's the best way to handle the 2 units in the entertainment
> cabinet ? Is there a single access point I can use with 2 ports, or
> could I get something like the WGA54G and hook one of my old 10/100
> switches into it.

I don't think hooking the WGA54G or the WET11 Ethernet Bridges to a switch
or hub would work. These units don't do NAT, so it would get confused, I
would think. You willneed one for each ethernet device you want to enabled
for wireless.


>
> 3. Are there any good internet resources on getting started in
> hooking up a WiFi network ? I'm especially concerned about security,
> since I live in an area with a bunch of young technophiles who love to
> snoop networks.

Take a look at this site...

http://www.practicallynetworked.com

As far as wireless security, if you can do the following, you will be about
as secure as one can get on a wireless network.

On your router (the WRT54G supports all this)...

Enable 128 bit WEP encryption and change your key occassionally - once a
month maybe. (or use WPA if all devices support it)
Use MAC Address filtering - allows only the devices (ethernet card
addresses, actually) to get on network.
Turn off broadcasting of your SSID

On each computer...

Install a software firewall on each machine
If you use file and print sharing, make the shares password protected.

>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> //elvin

Hi Elvin,

I broke down and set up a cable modem and wireless network in my house. I
have two laptops and a desktop on the second floor. I bought the Toshiba
Cable Modem as owning the modem was $5.00 a month cheaper than renting it
from the cable company. When I went to sign up for the high speed cable
service at Adelphia, I was told that if I hooked it up myself, I could save
up to $50 for the install, as opposed to Adelphia coming out to install it.
However, if I had a problem with the self-install, it wouldn't cost me
anything for the service call to fix it. (The customer service rep looked
sort of sheepish when I repeated back what she told me and said, "I know
sir, that's just how they do it.") So, I got the self-install kit.

I had read on the internet that you want to install the the modem where the
cable enters the house. Every time the cable splits, signal is lost. My
cable comes in through the basement. I could have set it up there to run
off an old laptop using Windows 98, but I thought the wireless range signal
would be cut down, being it was in the basement with concrete walls. I
wanted to split it off in the upstairs bedroom, since I thought the wireless
signal would have a greater range, but the cable splits into six coming into
the house and it would be a second split-off in the upstairs bedroom.

Right here seemed to be six of one, half dozen of the other - I could get
the strongest cable signal in the basement, but I thought it might be less
wireless range or a better wireless range, but a weaker cable signal in the
upstairs bedroom. My preferred location was the upstairs bedroom, so I
hooked it up there first. It was easy installation with the diagram and I
hard wired it into the desktop computer. However, there was no cable
signal. I called Adelphia tech support and they came out in two days. Sure
enough, with the two split-offs, there was no cable signal. Now, I could
have tried the basement, but the Tech fiddled with the cable box and boosted
the signal, so I had high speed cable internet access for the desktop. That
is all the tech would do, anything you do with networking after that is up
to you.

So, I followed Laptop's magazine's best buy recommendation and got the
Belkin 54g Wireless Router and the matching pcmcia cards. The magazine said
set-up was easy as one, two, three. Nothing is ever that easy when it has
to do with computers, but it almost was. I hooked all the cables together,
according to the manual, and ran the CD. I checked one of the laptops, and
to my surprise, there was a new bubble message saying "54G wireless network
available". The other one picked it up just as easy, too. So, I don't know
about the other brands, but the Belkin was easy for me and did the job.

I took the laptop out and walked around the deck, yard, sidewalk, and
street. It appears that I am throwing signal out about three house away on
each side. I installed the Zone Alarm Firewall and set the WEP security
feature. The WEP was alittle tricky, as there wasn't much about it in the
manual. I did some guessing the first time and actually locked myself out
of the system on the laptops. However, I was able to re-set everything by
using the desktop and, after somemore reading on the internet, got the WEP
set-up and going.

My family really likes our system. Before we had dial-up and my wife would
be using that, when I had to use it for work, so she had to get off. Or, I
would be using it and my son would need to need the internet to look up some
homework. Now, it is always there and on for all of us.

Adelphia is running a special of $25 a month for the high speed cable
internet. That will change in January, but they were not sure what it would
be then.

Hope this helps.

Marshall


"elvin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> I'm looking to break down and set up a wifi network in my house, to
> share my cable modem connection. I have 2 PCs (the main one in a
> first floor office - running WinXP, one in the basement - running
> W98). I plan to add a laptop in the next 6 months. I also have an
> Xbox and a Tivo in an entertainment cabinet on the 1st floor that I
> would like to connect.
>
> Since I am a relative newbie at setting up networks, I have a few
> questions. Apologies in advance for misusing any terms ...
>
> 1. What products should I be looking at. Cost is important, but I'm
> looking for ease and future flexibility as well. I've always used
> Linksys products to date, and am generally happy with them. If anyone
> knows of a good source to buy or any good specials, please let me know
> ... otherwise, it's probably Best Buy for me.
>
> 2. What's the best way to handle the 2 units in the entertainment
> cabinet ? Is there a single access point I can use with 2 ports, or
> could I get something like the WGA54G and hook one of my old 10/100
> switches into it.
>
> 3. Are there any good internet resources on getting started in
> hooking up a WiFi network ? I'm especially concerned about security,
> since I live in an area with a bunch of young technophiles who love to
> snoop networks.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> //elvin

Consider setting up MAC address filtering for added security - if your
wireless access point allows it. IF so, you enter the MAC address for each
computer accessing the wireless. An added piece of security beyond the WEP.

Also, it is suggested to turn off the broadcast of the SSID.

Not broadcasting the SSID and use of WEP can be gotten around but they are
deterrents at least and perhaps barriers to less sophisticated attacks.

Now if only my LInksys befw11s4 had a bit greater range/power!!!!!!!!!!
--
Bob Alston
(E-Mail Removed)
http://members.cox.net/tulsaalstons/
"Marshall Karp" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:RsI9b.11001$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi Elvin,
>
> I broke down and set up a cable modem and wireless network in my house. I
> have two laptops and a desktop on the second floor. I bought the Toshiba
> Cable Modem as owning the modem was $5.00 a month cheaper than renting it
> from the cable company. When I went to sign up for the high speed cable
> service at Adelphia, I was told that if I hooked it up myself, I could
save
> up to $50 for the install, as opposed to Adelphia coming out to install
it.
> However, if I had a problem with the self-install, it wouldn't cost me
> anything for the service call to fix it. (The customer service rep looked
> sort of sheepish when I repeated back what she told me and said, "I know
> sir, that's just how they do it.") So, I got the self-install kit.
>
> I had read on the internet that you want to install the the modem where
the
> cable enters the house. Every time the cable splits, signal is lost. My
> cable comes in through the basement. I could have set it up there to run
> off an old laptop using Windows 98, but I thought the wireless range
signal
> would be cut down, being it was in the basement with concrete walls. I
> wanted to split it off in the upstairs bedroom, since I thought the
wireless
> signal would have a greater range, but the cable splits into six coming
into
> the house and it would be a second split-off in the upstairs bedroom.
>
> Right here seemed to be six of one, half dozen of the other - I could get
> the strongest cable signal in the basement, but I thought it might be less
> wireless range or a better wireless range, but a weaker cable signal in
the
> upstairs bedroom. My preferred location was the upstairs bedroom, so I
> hooked it up there first. It was easy installation with the diagram and I
> hard wired it into the desktop computer. However, there was no cable
> signal. I called Adelphia tech support and they came out in two days.
Sure
> enough, with the two split-offs, there was no cable signal. Now, I could
> have tried the basement, but the Tech fiddled with the cable box and
boosted
> the signal, so I had high speed cable internet access for the desktop.
That
> is all the tech would do, anything you do with networking after that is up
> to you.
>
> So, I followed Laptop's magazine's best buy recommendation and got the
> Belkin 54g Wireless Router and the matching pcmcia cards. The magazine
said
> set-up was easy as one, two, three. Nothing is ever that easy when it has
> to do with computers, but it almost was. I hooked all the cables
together,
> according to the manual, and ran the CD. I checked one of the laptops,
and
> to my surprise, there was a new bubble message saying "54G wireless
network
> available". The other one picked it up just as easy, too. So, I don't
know
> about the other brands, but the Belkin was easy for me and did the job.
>
> I took the laptop out and walked around the deck, yard, sidewalk, and
> street. It appears that I am throwing signal out about three house away
on
> each side. I installed the Zone Alarm Firewall and set the WEP security
> feature. The WEP was alittle tricky, as there wasn't much about it in the
> manual. I did some guessing the first time and actually locked myself out
> of the system on the laptops. However, I was able to re-set everything by
> using the desktop and, after somemore reading on the internet, got the WEP
> set-up and going.
>
> My family really likes our system. Before we had dial-up and my wife
would
> be using that, when I had to use it for work, so she had to get off. Or,
I
> would be using it and my son would need to need the internet to look up
some
> homework. Now, it is always there and on for all of us.
>
> Adelphia is running a special of $25 a month for the high speed cable
> internet. That will change in January, but they were not sure what it
would
> be then.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Marshall
>
>
> "elvin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> > I'm looking to break down and set up a wifi network in my house, to
> > share my cable modem connection. I have 2 PCs (the main one in a
> > first floor office - running WinXP, one in the basement - running
> > W98). I plan to add a laptop in the next 6 months. I also have an
> > Xbox and a Tivo in an entertainment cabinet on the 1st floor that I
> > would like to connect.
> >
> > Since I am a relative newbie at setting up networks, I have a few
> > questions. Apologies in advance for misusing any terms ...
> >
> > 1. What products should I be looking at. Cost is important, but I'm
> > looking for ease and future flexibility as well. I've always used
> > Linksys products to date, and am generally happy with them. If anyone
> > knows of a good source to buy or any good specials, please let me know
> > ... otherwise, it's probably Best Buy for me.
> >
> > 2. What's the best way to handle the 2 units in the entertainment
> > cabinet ? Is there a single access point I can use with 2 ports, or
> > could I get something like the WGA54G and hook one of my old 10/100
> > switches into it.
> >
> > 3. Are there any good internet resources on getting started in
> > hooking up a WiFi network ? I'm especially concerned about security,
> > since I live in an area with a bunch of young technophiles who love to
> > snoop networks.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for any help.
> >
> > //elvin
>
>

Look for a WRouter with UPnP support if you want to do video
conferencing/netmeeting etc


"elvin" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> I'm looking to break down and set up a wifi network in my house, to
> share my cable modem connection. I have 2 PCs (the main one in a
> first floor office - running WinXP, one in the basement - running
> W98). I plan to add a laptop in the next 6 months. I also have an
> Xbox and a Tivo in an entertainment cabinet on the 1st floor that I
> would like to connect.
>
> Since I am a relative newbie at setting up networks, I have a few
> questions. Apologies in advance for misusing any terms ...
>
> 1. What products should I be looking at. Cost is important, but I'm
> looking for ease and future flexibility as well. I've always used
> Linksys products to date, and am generally happy with them. If anyone
> knows of a good source to buy or any good specials, please let me know
> ... otherwise, it's probably Best Buy for me.
>
> 2. What's the best way to handle the 2 units in the entertainment
> cabinet ? Is there a single access point I can use with 2 ports, or
> could I get something like the WGA54G and hook one of my old 10/100
> switches into it.
>
> 3. Are there any good internet resources on getting started in
> hooking up a WiFi network ? I'm especially concerned about security,
> since I live in an area with a bunch of young technophiles who love to
> snoop networks.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> //elvin