Wireless network access questions

I just set up a wireless network. Initially, I wanted to set up my wireless
router as a DHCP server thinking I would allow access to anyone within my
range who had a wireless card. Problem is that when I connected with my
laptop I was able to access all the freely shared items on my LAN. BIG
PROBLEM - so I have to keep prying eyes out of my network.

I don't want to give my laptop a static IP because then it will be a pain to
network wirelessly when I'm not on my own network. So I'm wondering if the
following configuration is a way to both restrict access to my wireless
network and keep my laptop configured to dynamically accept IP addresses.

I have a D-Link DI-624 wireless router and deisabled the DHCP server. I also
assigned a static IP to the MAC address for my laptop. My thinking is that
my laptop still expects to look to receive a dynamic IP address (so I can
more easily get access to other wireless networks) and my router will only
permit wireless access to my laptop.

Are my assumptions correct?

> I have a D-Link DI-624 wireless router and deisabled the DHCP server. I also
> assigned a static IP to the MAC address for my laptop. My thinking is that
> my laptop still expects to look to receive a dynamic IP address (so I can
> more easily get access to other wireless networks) and my router will only
> permit wireless access to my laptop.
>
> Are my assumptions correct?

Why not enable DHCP in the 624, but only allow the MAC address of your
laptop to connect.

In advanced - filters - MAC filters.

"Chris Glover" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) om...
> > I have a D-Link DI-624 wireless router and deisabled the DHCP server. I
also
> > assigned a static IP to the MAC address for my laptop. My thinking is
that
> > my laptop still expects to look to receive a dynamic IP address (so I
can
> > more easily get access to other wireless networks) and my router will
only
> > permit wireless access to my laptop.
> >
> > Are my assumptions correct?
>
> Why not enable DHCP in the 624, but only allow the MAC address of your
> laptop to connect.
>
> In advanced - filters - MAC filters.

No reason, I just happened to do it this way because I can do it all from
the same control panel screen.

Is one method more advantageous than the other, or do they accomplish the
same goal? To the point, is either approach more secure than the other?