Wireless Network Card Question

[ZrO-1]

Well the first thing you should think about is do you really need a wireless network? Wireless networks are slow as heck and they're high-maintenance.

If you can route a network cable to your desktop/workstation PCs do that and don't bother with wireless for them. It's not like you're going to be moving them around everyday is it?

For your laptop: If you're using it for graphics work at home, then you most likely need to have it plugged into a wall outlet or else the battery dies in like 45 minuets. If you do need to have it plugged in, then that sort of defeats the purpose of haveing a wireless network right? Also, have you ever tried to work on a laptop outside in the sunlight? You can barely make out a word document, let alone see with enough clarity to get any graphics work done.

Lastly (and most importantly), wireless networks are totally unsecure by default. Do you live in a populated neighborhood? Or are there any public spaces within 300 feet of your home? Wireless networks broadcast their signal in all directions. If you install one, plan on installing firewall software on all of your computers and turning off any file shareing. Oh and plan on spending about half an hour a day checking the status of the network/router/access logs/ etc... Even with all of that a hacker could gain access to your network (at least internet access) in about half an hour at most if they really wanted to.

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but I have seen too many people I know get totally burned because they set up wireless networks without knowing what they were getting into. One of my friends is getting sued right now because some cracker got onto his wireless network and hacked some sites. The trace that they ran afterwards led back to my friend's IP (his router), so they say he's to blame unless somebody came forward and said they hacked into his network against his knowledge. Not to mention that many cable DSL ISPs consider wireless networks to be connection shareing, and will either disconnect you or charge you an additional fee for every computer on your network.

Just some things to strongly consider before you go through the hassel of installing a wireless network.

[jbw]

Ah Northchild you're in a similar situation as me. Grab a broadband connection and spread it around the house, plus networked printing and file sharing...sweet? But I'm entriged by wireless networks, some people say they're pretty much secure if you know what you're doing others say that it's just too risky? I've been thinking about getting an ADSL connection at home for a while and with a wireless router, firewall and modem, could allow 3 computers to have this high-speed internet connection. Unfortuately I'm completely unsure as to whether to fork out £300 for this. Magazines state that with 128bit encryption and network hiding (can't remember what it's called?) and MAC addressing no-one could gain access to my net connection or network! Others state that I'd be better off getting a genuine wired network... not really an option in my house!

Oh and plan on spending about half an hour a day checking the status of the network/router/access logs/ etc... Even with all of that a hacker could gain access to your network (at least internet access) in about half an hour at most if they really wanted to.

Are you serious... if this is truely the case then maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree. I work 9-5 and don't really want to spend the rest of my life checking that some daft little twat is using my internet connection/accessed my home network for his/her own gain!

Please can this topic continue... I'd love to know where to go from here!

ta,
jbw

[singularity2006]

eh, some people do feel somewhat paranoid about the establishments of wireless networks. However, if you are smart and can make the time to properly configure your wireless network, you'll be just fine. Of all things, find yourself a good broadband wireless router. I highly recommend the SMC Barricade 7004AWBR series, Part No. 750.5312. SMC is really bad when it comes to easily differentiating products within a product line ... The SMC7004AWBR series comes with like 2 or 3 flavors that look slightly (only slightly) different but named identically... differentiate by part Number. so u gotta be careful about the one u get. In anycase, what I particularly like is the ability to manually assign IP's per MAC address on your network as well as filter packets via IP #'s... there are also virtual server options as well as 128bit WEP.

In anycase, my network is rigged in the following way:

Manually assigned IP's for all computers in my house, which is 6 computers:

Two are hardwired to the router cuz they reside right next to it. The third is rigged via powerline networking which comes standard with 56bit encryption (this computer is too damn far for the wireless to reach).

Two are wirelessly networked.

The print server is enabled so my printer is essentially wireless too. =)

128 bit WEP is enabled.

Packet filtering is setup such that the only data that is sent or received may only pass through the IP's I have setup per computer.

DHCP is DISABLED to prevent people finding a bypass and getting into my network.

In anycase, this is a very secure network needless to say. My Windows 2000 Pro. has all the fixin's so getting in is tough too... or at least, tough for a base user. Similarly, for someone to really break into this network would require a great amount of time for them to hack the WEP key, which is changed every one or two weeks. I think the statistic is that someone with a very hi-tech setup would need to sit within range of the wireless router for about a week in 24/7 scanning to be able to break the code.

Anyhow, all this and more can be done with a the right router and good cost.... all under $200USD. This is my entire network in one piece:

http://instillstudios.yoshi8me.com/drop_box/PDRM0203.jpg

edit*: And on another note, I plan on expanding my network so I can get some webbing action in my backyard as I overlook the bay area during a sunset w/ a nice long beach to sip on. This add on will consist of the D-link wireless repeater which is a stand alone device that can be hidden away in some shrubbery near the entrance to the backyard, after being configured to repeat and extend my signals.

And it's quite funny, both my neighbors have wireless and have no clue how to protect themselves. They have auto-authentication and stuff enabled so I get in and DHCP and poof, free internet. That's one way of spoofing the RIAA I guess... hehehe. jk

Oh, and on another note, if you find a better router than this one, which is more than likely since this one is no longer being produced, you should also be able to disable your SSID broadcast, which masks your network from the airwaves. It will only broadcast itself when communication with nodes on your network. Having a router like this means the network ID will constantly be broadcast... kind of like having a big neon sign that says "Hi, my name is" ....

[jbw]

Hey singularity2006, thanks for the reply. I'm not particularly clued up on networks could you give me a general list of the security features I should be looking to get to protect me from hackers or direct me to a site where I can read up on all this craz stuff.
Mock me if you like but I need to check this too - what kind of range does a wireless router broadcast to and do walls, ceilings, floors reduce this by much? :blush:

ta,
jbw

[gustojunk]

I recently installed a wireless network to connect my main system and 2 laptops. All linksys parts. Works great and is fast (make sure you get the G type as compared to A or B).

You can set up encription and exclusive access only to the computers with the MAC addess of your systems so nobody can see your network, so keep those noisy neighbors away. Sure if you neighboor is a super hacker could get in I guess but I'm not too concerned.

I think wireless networks rock, especially if you have laptops and you can work or surf the web anywhere around the house. pretty cool I think.

Just one last piece of advice, whatch out for interference caused by other devices in your house. We pend counless hours on support with linksys, returned 2 routers foloowing their instructions that were 'damaged' and even got to the point of believing my house was haunted. All solved once we realized it was out baby monitor signal killing any other signals in that frequebcy, so if the baby monitor in on there's no web surfing, which sucks 'cause I can't use the laptop before bedtime, well maybe is a good thing :rolleyes:

[jbw]

He he... baby monitor - I doubt I'll be having kids anytime soon.
Anyhow I live pretty much in the middle of nowhere and the chances of any of the geriatric fools being able to hack into a wireless are pretty slim, I'm more concerned about the ADSL end getting unwanted attention - will Norton internet security be enough to keep the majority of people out?

ta,
jbw

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