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Setting up a home WiFi wireless ADSL connection.


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  • zeke
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  • Member For: 21y 7m 25d
  • Location: Adelaide

Yeah, Tab, I understand the difference between what I'm doing and wireless. But Blown BA seems to be talking about a software alternative to the hardware router (still wired but using eg USB instead of ethernet). Like I said, my understanding is that it can be a hassle, but when it works OK, then its all good. (bit like an XR6T)

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  • voy74656
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  • Member For: 21y 2m 29d
  • Location: Adelaide
One quick suggestion, as well as the encryption it is also an idea to filter by MAC address. In your wireless router/access point you should be able to configure it to talk to only specific devices - as every device has its own unique MAC address.

At least then you will keep out nasties (no offence ZapXR6T) as it will only communicate with your defined list of allowed devices.

Trent.

Even with MAC Address filtering - all u need is a packet sniffer to grab a few packets that have your mac address printed all over them and then just change your mac adress via your registry and u've then gained access - its a nice thought but its still better to stick with the cables unless u know what your doing. :pooh:

I've got wireless adsl at home for my lappy - luckily I'm in adelaide and theres noone in our neighbourhood who would even know what wireless is - so I dont worry about any encryption or security. :lol:

Slightly off topic but my roommate is actually doing his PHD in wireless technology and was on the Today morning show program and spoke about how businesses are implementing wireless and not bothering to secure them properly. They think that the wireless is only accessible within the building walls and are shocked when ppl can just sit outside and access their network - which is what we did. We build a home antenna - plugged it into a lappy and ran netstumbler and drove around adelaide. Surely enough - up popped all these access points with SSID's of 'default' and no security...:k24t:

He then did a conference paper on all of this and presented it to the Wireless conference that was held soon after- From memory he found that 85+% of businesses arent implementing secure measures to keep hackerss at bay. - funnily enough - of all the businesses that he found were vulnerable - not 1 of them wanted to know that their business was at risk.....idiots.... :pooh:

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  • Sucker
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  • Member For: 20y 9m 21d
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  • Location: Brisbane

Zeke: sorry, had the tit by the bull!!!

voy: very valid points but to go further on your comments, nothing is secure in this day and age. We have a very high tech system established at work as we are in the city and only required WiFi network during a short and specific time frames each day. Along with all of the various protocols etc we have installed a timer - yes the $15 kmart powerpoint timer.

So if you are not using your wireless network, turn it off at the powerpoint to prevent sniffers checking things out - not the most sensible and usable solution but there is no better protection!

Trent.

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  • Member For: 20y 10m 25d
  • Location: Siddie

I've just gone wireless at home.

I have two dell notebooks (one through work as well) one desktop and Bigpond cable.

I did some research, bought a mag, and went shopping for a router and PCMCIA card to 802.11g standard.

Tom, my local computer shop ownwer, sold me a Netgear WGR614 54Mbps Wireless Router and WG511 card for $260 all up. This was four weeks ago. Dell had a similar deal for $290ish. This was my target cost.

Both are 802.11g spec which is faster than 802.11b and the way to go.

The router has a firewall and 4 port switch.

I found it pretty easy to set and it was the right price.

Some people will argue, that there are better units but I have found this one to be great for my needs and for the right price.

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  • voy74656
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  • Member For: 21y 2m 29d
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Zeke: sorry, had the tit by the bull!!!

voy: very valid points but to go further on your comments, nothing is secure in this day and age. We have a very high tech system established at work as we are in the city and only required WiFi network during a short and specific time frames each day. Along with all of the various protocols etc we have installed a timer - yes the $15 kmart powerpoint timer.

So if you are not using your wireless network, turn it off at the powerpoint to prevent sniffers checking things out - not the most sensible and usable solution but there is no better protection!

Trent.

Couldnt agree with u more - if not using - unplug it. :pooh:

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  • In Your Face
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  • Member For: 21y 11m 6d
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Not sure if we're talking about the same thing. I've ordered a netgear DG834 (not wireless) for about $170. It'll connect to both of my computers via the 10/100 ethernet cards and I won't need any special software to share the internet or network between the computers. It incorporates ADSL modem, firewall, router and switch and can connect up to 4 computers.

But Blown BA seems to be talking about a software alternative to the hardware router (still wired but using eg USB instead of ethernet). Like I said, my understanding is that it can be a hassle, but when it works OK, then its all good. (bit like an XR6T)

Zeke ..you seem to be missing the point here SOLIDSHARE is so easy to set up even my daughter knows how to. And as for sharing PCs , you can share as many as you like to share, there is no limit. :pooh:

As for firewall you can download tonnes of firewall software from the net...not to mention if you have XP Pro it has a firewall in itself.

But you want to waste your money on routers and hardware that's your call, l just saying there is easier ways and cheaper ways to skin a cat :pooh:

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  • Sucker
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  • Member For: 20y 9m 21d
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  • Location: Brisbane

Not sure if we're talking about the same thing. I've ordered a netgear DG834 (not wireless) for about $170. It'll connect to both of my computers via the 10/100 ethernet cards and I won't need any special software to share the internet or network between the computers. It incorporates ADSL modem, firewall, router and switch and can connect up to 4 computers.

But Blown BA seems to be talking about a software alternative to the hardware router (still wired but using eg USB instead of ethernet).  Like I said, my understanding is that it can be a hassle, but when it works OK, then its all good.  (bit like an XR6T)

Zeke ..you seem to be missing the point here SOLIDSHARE is so easy to set up even my daughter knows how to. And as for sharing PCs , you can share as many as you like to share, there is no limit. :pooh:

As for firewall you can download tonnes of firewall software from the net...not to mention if you have XP Pro it has a firewall in itself.

But you want to waste your money on routers and hardware that's your call, l just saying there is easier ways and cheaper ways to skin a cat :pooh:

There are a few possible concerns, but in a home setup these probably wouldn't be relevant. The most obvious one is that you have to have a gateway PC running for any computer to have internet access.

But if it works for you - then essentially that's all that matters!

Trent.

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  • zeke
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  • Member For: 21y 7m 25d
  • Location: Adelaide
Zeke ..you seem to be missing the point here SOLIDSHARE is so easy to set up even my daughter knows how to. And as for sharing PCs , you can share as many as you like to share, there is no limit. :gooff:

I don't think I am missing the point.

If it works for you, that's great. If it works for 100 of your mates, that's great too. But the info I've read suggests that the software solutions cause problems a lot more often than the hardware approach. Considering that about 90% of computer hassles and conflicts seem to be software related, that sounds credible to me.

Anyway, how much would I save by doing the routing/firewall/sharing through software? The modem/firewall/router/switch only costs about $160 all up and my computers already have ethernet cards. Even if I use a software approach to routing/firewall etc I still have to buy an adsl modem.

So you choose to use software where I prefer to let hardware do the job. I'm not saying one is better than the other - though a lot of the info I've read does recommend the hardware approach. I'm just suggesting that we all make our own choices based on what makes sense to each of us. These days I'm quite happy to go out of my way to avoid software conflicts as much as possible.

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  • Firm Member
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  • Member For: 22y 3m 14d
  • Location: Adelaide Hills

A packet sniffer :ermm:

Its all geting a bit confusing :ermm: My laptop runs an 802.11b standard so it seems from the above that if l get a wireless ADSL modem l should be laughing. The secruity side of things is a bit of a concern but l dont know what people are going to sniff anyhow, the sh*t l post on here inst going to get them too far. Maybe they can steal bandwidth?

So would this modem be a good choice?

D_Link_DSL_604_.pdf

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