Setting up Wireless at Home

[The Three I's]

I am not a techie type person by any means but I am not totally incompetent. So I have DSL at home hooked up to a desktop and a work laptop with an 802.11g card of unknown brand. If I want to go wireless at home for my work laptop do I just need to buy a router that is 802.11g compatible? Am I correct that I don't have to have the same brand card and router?

 

[EEE]

you are correct.

 

[HenryGandorf]

My modem, router, and network card are three different brands, and it works like a dream. Our router also supplies two other computers in the house no problem.

 

[The Three I's]

Anyone have a moderately priced recommendation for a 802.11g compatible router? I see Linksys and Netgear advertised in the Sunday papers every week.

 

[BA93]

place the wireless router as close to the center of your house. As you would think the signal goes out in a circle. You don't want to waste the signal on your neighbor's backyard. and on that note, place a password on the wireless router, so your neighbors don't hop on for free.

 

[goofybevo]

Either the Linksys or the Netgear would be good. Just get the one on sale. I've never had a problem with either. Not only do you want a password, you want to encrypt that *****. Don't leave it open, as half the people in my neighborhood do. With a little bit of effort, I or anyone with a little knowledge, a few programs, and a lack of morals could electronically **** you up. Plus, you're just letting the whole neighborhood use your connection.

 

[KMcCoy33]

I've had Netgear, Linksys, and D-Link all hooked up within the last year. The Linksys B, Linksys G with speedbooster, Linksys G, Netgear G, D-Link B+, D-Link G, D-Link Xtreme G. I've run all of them with the same branded stuff along with built-in laptop wireless stuff. My recommendation is to go with D-Link. Even if the product was as expensive as the Linksys stuff, I would still go with D-Link. It is the easiest to operate if you don't want to have to do a whole lot. And if you want to do a whole lot with it, you can do that with not much more difficulty. The D-Link wireless G stuff usually goes on sale for about $20-$25 after rebate for any of those products. The Xtreme G router was my favorite, but you really have no use for it if you don't have all Xtreme G stuff.
Don't get me wrong, I do like the Linksys and Netgear stuff. I am actually using all Linksys stuff right now, but I really think the D-Link stuff is the best as far as overall quality, ease of use, and price.

 

[Orange Infused]

I have a Linksys router, and don't remember setting it up with a password..........can I go back and do it now?.......how do I do that, and what about the encrypting stuff????

Thanks!

 

[flyingdoggystyle]

I found a Dlink 802.11g at Best Buy for $20 after rebate. It was very easy to set up and I have had no problems with the router or Dlink wireless card I bout at Office Depot for $20.

You can change your configuration settings on a wireless router fairly easily. Run the ipconfig command from the command prompt and see what your default gateway setting reads. Type that number in your internet browser and you are asked for the router password. I hope you changed it from admin/[blank], but most people don't. If you haven't, make sure you do. Anyway, find the WEP key in your router settings and add your encryption key. Save the setting and update your key on the wireless network settings for each computer that uses the wireless router.

If you are not technically inclined, I suggest finding a copy of the owners manual online first. It will walk you through the specific process for your router.

 

[YChang]

When I helped a friend set up her wireless network at home I was able to pick up 2 of her neighbors...one of them didn't have it wep secured. I was able to surf the net...granted it was slow as heck but...people need to take the time and read the instructions that they get with their routers.

 

[HornsHornsHorns]

Infused--if you need to set up the security features of your Linksys router, do this:

--type 192.168.1.1 in your web browser and go to it.
--play around with the features (password, router name, encryption, etc) to your liking.
--make sure you set your wireless options (in your control panel) to be the same as what you just assigned to the router. otherwise, you'll be locking yourself out in effect.

 

[Luke Duke]

I second the recommendation to password protect/encrypt your wireless connection. My GF mooches off of her neighbor's high speed connection all of the time.

 

[TheYoungHorn]

What is wrong with sharing your connection if someone really wants it?

Now if they are stealing your personal info that is different.

And I am not worried, where I live, most people around me don't know how to operate a computer, much less wardrive, and if they want to use my connection, they should feel free.

 

[Texas_Rocks]

In reply to:

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[HorninDallas]

ok, help me out a litte b/c I'm retarded. I just bought a laptop with I think this Wireless Networking Card:

Intel Pro Wireless Card 2915 (802.11 a/b/g)

in my apartment my roommate has DSL with the wired modem from SBC.

Do I just need to buy a Wireless Router so that we can both use the DSL (him wired, me wireless)?

 

[goofybevo]

I like the Linksys Wireless Router (WRT54G). I've used that same router in various incarnations for years. It's rock solid. The comparable Netgear router is also good.

 

[goofybevo]

And again, set up the encryption on that bad boy. Both those routers have pretty simple interfaces to set up the security.

 

[AUinAustin]

Think of it this way. You are paying for a connection in your name. You would probably not use this connection to do illegal things with your computer which is connected to your connection. The neighbor who uses your connection because you had no security may not be as honest as you are. Guess which doorbell the cops are going to ring first?

And yes I know that the security is not that difficult to break but all you are trying to do is make the bad neighboor mooch off some other person....