Home Network Questions?

[BigAls87Z28]

Im about to go out and get some stuff for a home network, I need some advice on what to look for, what I need to buy, etc etc.
My dad was going to get me a modem and one for my brothers new computer, but instead of the 45 bucks per modem a month, we want to get a wireless network set up. We have a cable modem already, but that is downstairs.
Ok so here is the set up. Downstairs is the modem right now. Cable goes to every room of the house, 2 computers up stairs and one down.
Any ideas?

[ryanfx]

well to start you off here is a link for a 5 dollar wireless router with internet security software from tigerdirect

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2131983&sku=D700-2144%20ISS%20P

I've never honestly been a fan of wireless networks. 99.9% of their owners never set up the security properly, nor even change the default admin / password name. This is excluding the fact that they are just inherently slower. If all you are doing is downloading info over the web, you wont see this issue as much as if you were xfering files in between computers. People don't realize that if you do not add an encyption, the information is litterally sent plain text over the air waves. Any free scanner such as ethereal can display it. If you buy that router, and set up a WPA-2 128 bit encryption key properly, as well as having no to little need to transfer large files from computer to computer, that sounds good to me :) Just whatever you do stay away from WEP encryption. Amatuers can crack it in litterally minutes. If you have any further questions feel free to ask here or PM.



(btw I would recommend buying that router, it's an amazing router for the money)

[GP99GT]

Honestly if you want reliable, fast internet, wired is the way to go. I'd only go wireless if i didnt have the option to run network cables through the walls/floor. The rooms you have cable going to dont matter, youre gonna have to hook up the router down by the cable modem. If you have the time and patience, run a wired network...youll avoid a lot of problems.

[WildBillyT]

Wow, I was expecting to be the only one to push wired!

I stuck with it for security reasons (primarily) with speed secondary. Wireless can be easy to bust into if you don't know how to set it up correctly. At the very least you should set it to only allow certain MAC addresses.

[Tru2Chevy]

I agree with most of what Ryan said, but I wouldn't go with that router. I had one, and it crapped out on me. I didn't really care for it before that either. It was buggy, and it was a revision C with up-to-date firmware too....

I replaced it with a Linksys WRT54GL. Much better router, IMO.

- Justin

[Tru2Chevy]

BigAls87Z28 <AUTO-REPLY> : Justin is an IT God.

Aww.....I feel so honored.

- Justin

[ryanfx]

Wow, I was expecting to be the only one to push wired!

I stuck with it for security reasons (primarily) with speed secondary. Wireless can be easy to bust into if you don't know how to set it up correctly. At the very least you should set it to only allow certain MAC addresses.


All you'd have to do is use netstumbler and find a mac address that is currently associated with that wireless network, then it takes 2 seconds to clone their mac address using linux. That in my opinion, is one of the least secure means of 'security'.

But yes to sum up everything, if you can install headers, or even change your own oil, just go wired :)

[WildBillyT]

All you'd have to do is use netstumbler and find a mac address that is currently associated with that wireless network, then it takes 2 seconds to clone their mac address using linux. That in my opinion, is one of the least secure means of 'security'.

But yes to sum up everything, if you can install headers, or even change your own oil, just go wired :)

Somebody who knows what they are doing can easily thrash a wireless network. The MAC thing is good for ordinary people who try to connect to you.

[ryanfx]

true true

[BigAls87Z28]

There is a problem with wired, its the cable problem. The router would be downstairs, and my compter and my brothers are upstairs.
Right now, wireless is the way to go. I have the one Justin said from Linksys, and it has a WPA2 128bit encrypter, and it walks you through it.
There is someone always tryng to break down the better mouse trap, and then someone trying to make a better one.

[BigAls87Z28]

Signal is weak, so it looks like its either im buying some tin foil, or Im gunna have to purchase a signal booster. I need something from NASA as my house EATS radio signals. There is this inside joke that there is a black hole UNDER my house, and that it eats everything inside the house, including time and space...as well as radio signals.

[GP99GT]

they make access points so you can put them in between the router and the computer to boost the signal

[BigAls87Z28]

Its a wireless set up.

[Savage_Messiah]

well to start you off here is a link for a 5 dollar wireless router with internet security software from tigerdirect

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=2131983&sku=D700-2144%20ISS%20P

I've never honestly been a fan of wireless networks. 99.9% of their owners never set up the security properly, nor even change the default admin / password name. This is excluding the fact that they are just inherently slower. If all you are doing is downloading info over the web, you wont see this issue as much as if you were xfering files in between computers. People don't realize that if you do not add an encyption, the information is litterally sent plain text over the air waves. Any free scanner such as ethereal can display it. If you buy that router, and set up a WPA-2 128 bit encryption key properly, as well as having no to little need to transfer large files from computer to computer, that sounds good to me :) Just whatever you do stay away from WEP encryption. Amatuers can crack it in litterally minutes. If you have any further questions feel free to ask here or PM.



(btw I would recommend buying that router, it's an amazing router for the money)
wOw R u TeH 1337 h4x0|2?!?!?!?!!111 :lol:

[Tru2Chevy]

Its a wireless set up.

We know Al.....signal booster, range enhancer, and access point are all pretty much used interchangably.

Stick that somewhere in between the router and the PCs upstairs, and you should be golden.

I would try the aluminum foil + cardboard trick first though....it's way cheaper.

- Justin

[BigAls87Z28]

Yeah, Im gunna see if I can grab a dish from Ft.Monmouth, because thats the only way Im gunna get signal up here.
11mbps is still a hell of a lot faster then 56k, but my brother had soemthing like 40mbps yesterday, and that was only half signal.

[Tru2Chevy]

Gotta get some more boost!

- Justin

[BigAls87Z28]

Justin, my wireless topped out at 11mbps this morning. I need naaaaws....the big ones...two of them. And Justin, I need them by tonight...

[BonzoHansen]

...There is this inside joke that there is a black hole UNDER my house, and that it eats everything inside the house, including time and space...as well as radio signals.Might explain the sluggish performance of the 72? :)

[BigAls87Z28]

Ahh...didnt think about that.

[Savage_Messiah]

COMPUNAWWWWWWWWWWWZ

[Tru2Chevy]

Justin, my wireless topped out at 11mbps this morning. I need naaaaws....the big ones...two of them. And Justin, I need them by tonight...

In this case, overnight parts from Japan would be quite fitting.....

- Justin

[BigAls87Z28]

Alright, here is something very wierd.
This morning...well, afternoon, my dad tells me that he cannot get on line using the network. He tells me that he has to use his wireless Verizon card that he uses when he is on busines(not connected to the home network). He wants to know why, and that is problem one. but there a bit more to problem one, which causes problem two.

Problem Two.
He then goes on to tell me that he STILL cant get on line even after he unplugged the ethernet wire from the router, and hardwired it straight off the cable modem.
Now, for thoes of you who are fast thinkers, you might be thinking "well...how the hell is Big Al still on line and typing this post..."
Which gets me to problem 3
How am I still on line? I do not have my phone line hooked up, and my Network Icon still says that I am connected to the network, but at a low 11mbps.
I can only assume I highjacked someone elses wireless set up, and Im running through that system, probably one of my neighbors as our houses are close together.
When I click on my Linksys green icon, it says on the site survey, there are 4 different networks. The one I am apparently hooked up to is NOT mine.
What is going on, how come my dads computer cant get on line? Im going to be calling Cabelvision soon so I can figure this crap out.

[GP99GT]

if youre online, and the ethernet cable is unplugged from the router...youre on someone elses network.

have you tried resetting the modem (unplugging and plugging back in) and restarting your dads computer? or have you tried another computer directly connected to the modem? if neither of those will work then theres something going on with the signal coming out of the modem, or coming from your cable company.