Guest schussat Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I have just about convinced my wife that both our lives would be that much better if we could both be online at the same time, so I'm looking into a router. She'll be out of town all next week, so it seems like an ideal time to spend a little bit of money without spousal oversight. Not desiring to run cat5 cable through windows and down hallways I'm thinking about a wireless (an idea which also feeds the geek in me) connection for our laptop. We would have a small network consisting of cable modem, wired desktop, and wireless laptop. I'm curious if anyone has had particularly good or bad experiences with some of the current routers and PCMCIA wireless cards out there. Circuit City is running what seems like a good deal right now: Linksys router + card for $90, thanks to two rebates. Would anybody make the case for going to 802.11G at this point? Would anybody make the case for saving money and dragging a cable around behind me? Finally, I will want to make the wireless PCMCIA card work under Linux -- any particular recommendations? Thanks- -Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEO Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I have high speed internet connection (~750K), Netgear's MR814 Router, MA521 wireless card and MA111 Wireless USB Adapter. Works like a charm. I also received a great rebate (got the package for under $60.00). My wife was reluctant too, but happy now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Rob Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Scott, Where do you live? I am comming by with my laptop and a can of pringles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarqFlare Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I would go wireless all the way. If you can afford it, go wireless using the faster systems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head Guru Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 If your main thing is surfin, wireless is great. I am a speed freak, and will take a wired connection any day of the week. Wanna have some fun? Get in your car with laptop and wireless card in hand, start driving really slow around the block. Took me about 10 minutes and I was surfing high speed internet using my neighbors DSL connection and his Wireless Lan. Security is a a real issue with wireless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Rob Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Thats what I was saying about the pringles can. They make a great antenna. If you go wireless, lock it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEO Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I too am a speed freak... live way (way) out in the country and was instrumental in lobbying my local ISP to offer high speed wireless access, was going to be my only option out here. The other CPUs on my network are mainly for surfing... not much crunching done unless you’re using the workstation. Security is a definite concern... here not so much. Again, I am way out in the country (and everybody knows everybody... good and bad). If I was in a residential area... I might think differently. P.S. Rob... drop by anytime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Dick Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Would anybody make the case for going to 802.11G at this point?I see no need in spending the extra money on 802.11g for a home network,unless you just want to. If you are going to use your laptop to access public hotspots, the majority of them are 802.11b, but 802.11g is compatibale with 80.11b networks. I would take a look at the Netgear MA401 and look here http://www.linux-wlan.org to get it all going. I have high speed internet connection (~750K), Netgear's MR814 Router, MA521 wireless card and MA111 Wireless USB Adapter. Works like a charm. I also received a great rebate (got the package for under $60.00). I just snagged the same deal a couple of a weeks ago, minus the MA521. It's a great router for the price. I already run 4 machines and wanted to add one for my kids but was to lazy to make the cables. Just be sure to enable the Security Encryption and a nice firewall software doesn't hurt. One of the downsides to Netgear routers is that you can't change the user name. Where do you live? I am comming by with my laptop and a can of pringles. LOL I prefer my Ipaq, Mini Stumbler, and a can of pringles. Also this is a great toy WiFi Finder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samporras Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I have heard overall good things about the Linksys routers. I myself purchased a router from Best Buy about 2 weeks ago (although it wasn't wireless) and made a network for a small office. They are very easy to set up and so far, there have been no problems. Security is an issue though. I am currently looking into putting in some sort of firewall for the network. Any ideas? I have a small budet so the cheaper and easier to use the better. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Dick Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I am currently looking into putting in some sort of firewall for the network. Any ideas? I have a small budet so the cheaper and easier to use the better. I use Norton Internet Security but you can use Zone Alarm for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEO Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 (edited) I am currently looking into putting in some sort of firewall for the network. Any ideas? I have a small budet so the cheaper and easier to use the better. I use Norton Internet Security but you can use Zone Alarm for free. I too use Norton Internet Security... there is a beefier Zone Alarm (i.e. not free version) that a lot of people recommend. I looked at the two and did a side by side comparison and settled on Norton... don't remember exactly why though. Edited November 13, 2003 by TCH-Scott Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Dick Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I looked at the two and did a side by side comparison and settled on Norton... don't remember exactly why though. I went with Norton because it has firewall, antivirus, spam filtering(I use OutLook) and parental controls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samporras Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I have Norton as well on my home PC and I love it. Is it still as effective for a network? I'm still new to networking so I was wondering if I have to install the firewall on each computer or just on one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCH-Dick Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I have Norton as well on my home PC and I love it. Is it still as effective for a network? I'm still new to networking so I was wondering if I have to install the firewall on each computer or just on one. Yes install it on each system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head Guru Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 IMO Forget the software firewalls. Get a good hardware firewall if your serious. Good firewalls can be had for about $200 USD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarqFlare Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 I think they build some systems that have their own encrypted security code that is stored on the router, and only wireless cards with the correct security code added can access that wireless router. I may be wrong. But that would certainly be the best way to a secure wireless system... If they don't have encrypted systems yet, they need to have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lianna Posted November 13, 2003 Share Posted November 13, 2003 Been holding my breath through this one, but here goes: I have a Linksys WRT54G and wireless card for the laptop...It absolutely blows away the 'b' system that I have setup at home. There I'm using a Linksys BEFSR41 and D-Link Access Point. I also have several clients with various configurations. My findings: 1. If you go wireless, go G. 2. If you go wireless, go with it built in to the router (easier, more convenient to configure). 3. If you go wireless, secure it!!!! Mine are locked down to a. No broadcast (so HG won't see it driving by) b. Enable WEP - encrypted transmissions c. Utilize the Allow/Block MAC Filters. I have each of mine set to only allow access/communications with MY pcmcia card. I also agree with HG, software firewalls are for the birds if you have good hardware in the stream and it's configured correctly. My two, well ok, three cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest schussat Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 Thanks to everybody for their input! I wasn't able to follow up for a few days, but I think I'm just about setup now. It took some digging to find a local source for a PCMCIA card that supports linux -- most of the new-model cards at places like Circuit City have chipsets for which linux drivers aren't yet available (that appears to exclude most of the G adapters, too, at this point, which is just fine for my needs). This afternoon, though, success! A little tinkering, and I'm officially untethered! (With WEP and MAC access control enabled, of course.) And I have to say, this is a lot of fun. -Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lianna Posted November 15, 2003 Share Posted November 15, 2003 The freedom to ZOOM! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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