I want wi-fi but i don't know how

[Simon811]

if you use aol, then make sure its a compatable. aol is a bitch for router modems. i use a netgear and they supply a patch for it.

I'm on aol (only people to offer broadband out inthe sticks here), was a bit tricky as one of the settngs is obscure but their blurb about only opne pc can access the net at any time unless you are on aol gold is tosh.

[sparkyaj]

When I moved house after using bt broadband for 3 years they took my phone line up the road and re-connected my broadband to my old house. It took me 6 weeks after going through.oh sir it looks like their is a problem with your phone points blah blah blah etc.....

I have to chuckle now looking back. I'm an electrician...........Problems with my wiring!!! HUH!!!!!

Anyhows.moving on. They finaly said my wiring was ok and it must have been the modem!

(My first suggestion) SO................after waiting a month for a new one to come and having to pay out as the old one was out of g/t to my supprise it still didn't work!

After alot of shouting and swearing I got a free voyager 2091 adsl router!

It's the d's b's!

Stongly recomend it......

I Hate AOL, but...Can't recomend BT!!

[andycook]

I strongly recommend getting a router which also has a hardware FIREWALL
to help prevent hackers

[anson]

Good evening Ladies and Jellyspoons,

I've ordered broadband and got my D-link adsl modem. But I want to set up a wi-fi thingy so I can use my laptop on t'internet anywhere in the house. I've spent the last hour searching and seen that many blessed products i'm not sure what I need anymore.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? My only criteria is it must be cheap, and it won't be out of date come next year. Oh and my laptop is not currently wi-fi enabled.

any ideas?

cheers,

Mart

as a broadband engineer i was going to reply but seeing that there are alot of other broadband engineers on the site!!!
they have all covered what you need to buy and do,so i`ll just say when you get your wireless working you`ll love.
mmm all those nights that the g/f and i have sat on the sofa using our laptops infront of a real fire,drinking wine..

[Esamed]

Chaps

Whilst on the subject, heard stories of people accessing their neighbours PC using thier wireless connection.

Is this easily avoided ?
What are these people not doing?

I'm considering going wireless as fed up with tripping over the telephone cable as I don't have point where my PC I have a windy extension.

Bit worried as to how easy it is to hack into someone elses set up.

Steve

[Gizmo]

Look at D-Links website as they have a Wireless Router with Dongle combination www.dlink.co.uk - seems to be slow or down at moment but heres the product at Microdirect

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/Product...ProductID=7954

Firewall protection, IP-routing, DHCP support, NAT support, BOOTP support, ARP support on the device for security and issuing IP-addresses. Also has 4 ethernet ports so you can jack in other PC's with standard network cards
- allows one or more PC's to be hidden by using One IP Address [Network Address Translation (NAT)]

May require 1 static IP address from your ISP and then configure the machine to issue IP addresses on your side using the DHCP function and configure the external address with the IP provided by your ISP.

Need to ensure that your security settings are switched/enforced otherwise peopl will be able to use your connection as a backbone for them.

[mooter]

Chaps

Whilst on the subject, heard stories of people accessing their neighbours PC using thier wireless connection.

Is this easily avoided ?
What are these people not doing?

I'm considering going wireless as fed up with tripping over the telephone cable as I don't have point where my PC I have a windy extension.

Bit worried as to how easy it is to hack into someone elses set up.

Steve

there are a couple of ways to secure a home wireless network.

the first is through encryption. this basically puts a key onto the network which needs to be entered before the network can be accessed, it then encrypts the data being transferred. you can choose the key yourself or have one generated randomly. there are different levels of encryption available dependant on your setup but they all operate this same basic principal, it's just that some will take more time for a hacker to crack than others.

the second is the more simple option of MAC address filtering. each PC has a unique "serial number" which identify's it - 12 digits long, in pairs of 2 (numbers and letters). this is called a MAC address. if you turn on MAC address filtering in the router settings, it will only let specified MAC numbers connect. you just need to pre-enter the MAC numbers of your PC's/laptops and it's all done.

the first is a good method, but requires you to type the encryption key each time you want to connect (usually). it is probably the most secure though as it not only stops others connecting, but it encrypts the data you are sending so it cannot be intercepted.

the second is a more relaxed security measure but suits most people without problems. i use it. I'm happy that my neighbours aren't master computer criminals

(feel free to ask me any further techie related questions.... I'm no master but I moderate for a PC help forum)

[B16mts]

WOW!!

Thanks for all the responses! In the wee small hours last night i purchased a Netgear WGT624 108Mbps Wireless Router + WG511T PCMCIA, from a dealer on old fleabay. Should be here tomorrow at a cost of £56 delivered. Hopefully i'll get it all up and running tomorrow, and away we go!

If it all goes Pete Tong i'll be back on the scrounge for more assistance.

Thanks to everyone for their pointers. Just waiting for someone to tell me what i've bought is useless!

cheers,

Mart

[mark g8awo]

Here is a very cheap but usefull aid to improving the reception of a wifi signal
on a router or if you cut the card up a little you use it on the dongle for the same effect

www.Tritium.co.uk

[Esamed]

there are a couple of ways to secure a home wireless network.

the first is through encryption. this basically puts a key onto the network which needs to be entered before the network can be accessed, it then encrypts the data being transferred. you can choose the key yourself or have one generated randomly. there are different levels of encryption available dependant on your setup but they all operate this same basic principal, it's just that some will take more time for a hacker to crack than others.

the second is the more simple option of MAC address filtering. each PC has a unique "serial number" which identify's it - 12 digits long, in pairs of 2 (numbers and letters). this is called a MAC address. if you turn on MAC address filtering in the router settings, it will only let specified MAC numbers connect. you just need to pre-enter the MAC numbers of your PC's/laptops and it's all done.

the first is a good method, but requires you to type the encryption key each time you want to connect (usually). it is probably the most secure though as it not only stops others connecting, but it encrypts the data you are sending so it cannot be intercepted.

the second is a more relaxed security measure but suits most people without problems. i use it. I'm happy that my neighbours aren't master computer criminals

(feel free to ask me any further techie related questions.... I'm no master but I moderate for a PC help forum)

Thanks, best get it ordered then.

[B16mts]

Hi all,

I need some help major assistance!

I bought a netgear WGT624 router and pcmcia card. I then found that there was no internal modem with it, and to have it always on I needed an ethernet modem (only had the d-link usb modem) so I bought a cheap ethernet modem off t'internet. I'm now trying to get it all working, but the instructions are pants.

i'm really lost and the suppliers don't have a phone number for support, they have an e-mail address. That's no fooking use if I can't blinking connect!!

are any techy's in the house?

cheers,

Mart

[Guest]

Hi all,

I need some help major assistance!

I bought a netgear WGT624 router and pcmcia card. I then found that there was no internal modem with it, and to have it always on I needed an ethernet modem (only had the d-link usb modem) so I bought a cheap ethernet modem off t'internet. I'm now trying to get it all working, but the instructions are pants.

i'm really lost and the suppliers don't have a phone number for support, they have an e-mail address. That's no fooking use if I can't blinking connect!!

are any techy's in the house?

cheers,

Mart

Mart.

What make is the Ethernet Broadband Router/modem?

[stormforce]

i bought a netgear router off of ebay about a year ago as i have 3 computers and 1 spare and just plugged it in and away you go.never had to run any programmes to install it.but what i was told last w/end if you have windows xp and got service pack 2 installed then you wont need to install the router anyway

[Fieldsy]

sorry m8, I know this is a bit late in the day, but one of these is ideal. It runs at 108 and if used with a compatible safecom pcmcia card, it runs in turbo mode.Its a wireless/modem/router with 4 way hub.

I've set up about 5 of these for different people in the last two weeks, and its childs play with the enclosed software.

It comes with an ethernet cable, a usb cable, adsl cable, and mains cable.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=74902

I've set up laptops for all the people I've connected. The old ones being bog standard lappys which needed the card, but the newer lappys with built in wifi find the wireless connection immediately. All you then need to do is, initially, type in the WEP number (the numbers in pairs, explained earlier by mooter), click connect and away you go. The older lappys require the software installed for the relevant card you are using.

I also enable the share folder and printer on my pc, which enables my son and daughter to print and transfer files around the house.

Sorry, its not much use to you now, but if you decide to bin/sell what you've got, this would be a good alternative.

[B16mts]

Mart.

What make is the Ethernet Broadband Router/modem?

It's a AVR-8000 1 port ethernet Modem/Router ADSL 2/2+

I only bough it cos the place I bought the netgear thing from reccomended one of them to go with it.

I wish i'd bought an all in one modem router! I didn't realise I hadn't til I got it home.

any help greatly appreciated! If anyone fancies calling me to assist (Preferably tomorrow cos wifey wants to watch eastbenders), it'd be grand.

cheers,

Mart