Set up a home wireless network

[Bmwolf21]

Best decision I made was to order a Linksys WRT54GL from Buy.com (after rebates and Google checkout, the $70 router ended up being $35 with free shipping) so now I can use my laptop in the kitchen and post on SabreSpace during games...

 

As a bonus I can stay on the computer and be in the same room as the wife while she watches the crap post-dinner and primetime lineups, which keeps me out of trouble with her. :beer:

[Two or less]

stay off the computer during games and keep your focus on the games!!!

 

the idea is great though not gonna lie.

[Bmwolf21]

Before getting the router, I couldn't watch the games and stay on SabreSpace - the desktop is in the "office" (which will be the nursery/guest room in about 4 months) so anytime something happened where I needed to go online, I had to into a room with no TV to do it. Now I can work from home and watch the Sabres & Bills games all at once...

[SDS]

Thank God for unsecured wireless networks... My cable modem blew on Sat. and it will take a week to get it replaced. Meanwhile, I surf free and clear from one of my generous, but clueless neighbors.

[BuffalOhio]

Thank God for unsecured wireless networks... My cable modem blew on Sat. and it will take a week to get it replaced. Meanwhile, I surf free and clear from one of my generous, but clueless neighbors.

 

I've said this a lot over the last 30 years.

 

People are idiots until they prove me wrong. It's so true.

[Bmwolf21]

Ha, I tried doing that first, but the neighbors secured theirs. Thankfully I was smart enough to secure my network, but I wish I could find some sort of online utility that will help me test its security.

[SCSabresFan!]

Great article on HOW to secure your home network - for the techie in all of us.

[HockeyFan T]

Now you can hear RJ call every game on NHL.com. It takes about 2 mins to sync it up with your DVR and you can say "Bye bye" to the crummy opponents announcers.

 

I pause the DVR as soon as I hear my first whistle on TV. I then wait til I hear it on the radio feed and hit play on the DVR.

 

Wireless is sweet!

[evil_otto]

Now you can hear RJ call every game on NHL.com. It takes about 2 mins to sync it up with your DVR and you can say "Bye bye" to the crummy opponents announcers.

 

I pause the DVR as soon as I hear my first whistle on TV. I then wait til I hear it on the radio feed and hit play on the DVR.

 

Wireless is sweet!

 

Cool... you might want to try the main WGR stream instead of nhl.com. The sound quality is better, imo:

 

http://webclust1.liquidcompass.cc/entercom...ayer.php?id=WGR

[Chilly]

Ha, I tried doing that first, but the neighbors secured theirs. Thankfully I was smart enough to secure my network, but I wish I could find some sort of online utility that will help me test its security.

 

Well, its all about how you configured the router.

 

Are you using WEP, WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2?

 

Explain in a bit of detail how you set it up and I'll be able to help out here.

[JujuFish]

You can also join us in the chatroom. I won't be there tonight, though.

[Corp000085]

bm, if you're new to the wireless networking scene, i highly recommend that you secure your network somehow. Also, if you feel like experimenting, you've gotten about the perfect router for 3rd party firmware. The wrt54gl is very compatible with dd-wrt, which i use. I've got a wrt54gs v.5 which is more complex to install the dd-wrt firmware, but its great. If you need help securing the thing, or installing the dd-wrt, PM me and i'll try to help.

 

 

www.dd-wrt.com

 

check out the wiki.. it has all the installing guides, interface manuals, etc. A quick note, print out the installation page... when you don't have an internet connection, its a pain in the ass to refresh. found that out the hard way once.

[Bmwolf21]

Well, its all about how you configured the router.

 

Are you using WEP, WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2?

 

Explain in a bit of detail how you set it up and I'll be able to help out here.

Its WEP enabled - 128 bit, IIRC - I wrote down the specs when I created the network, so I have to find the card I wrote down the network key and everything on.

 

bm, if you're new to the wireless networking scene, i highly recommend that you secure your network somehow. Also, if you feel like experimenting, you've gotten about the perfect router for 3rd party firmware. The wrt54gl is very compatible with dd-wrt, which i use. I've got a wrt54gs v.5 which is more complex to install the dd-wrt firmware, but its great. If you need help securing the

thing, or installing the dd-wrt, PM me and i'll try to help.

www.dd-wrt.com

 

check out the wiki.. it has all the installing guides, interface manuals, etc. A quick note, print out the installation page... when you don't have an internet connection, its a pain in the ass to refresh. found that out the hard way once.

When I set it up I was very nervous about being unsecured, so I did secure it as best as I could. I think I can run the Linksys installation CD again to view the security settings and verify the security level.

 

Corp, I was going through the forums at slickdeals.net, and when the posters there started talking about dd-wrt and 3rd-party firmware, I nearly backed out of buying the router. I was a more than a little nervous that it was going to be way too much for me to handle.

 

I don't know much about it, so excuse my ignorance. Does the dd-wrt firmware provide a more secure wireless security protocol?

[Chilly]

Its WEP enabled - 128 bit, IIRC - I wrote down the specs when I created the network, so I have to find the card I wrote down the network key and everything on.

When I set it up I was very nervous about being unsecured, so I did secure it as best as I could. I think I can run the Linksys installation CD again to view the security settings and verify the security level.

 

Corp, I was going through the forums at slickdeals.net, and when the posters there started talking about dd-wrt and 3rd-party firmware, I nearly backed out of buying the router. I was a more than a little nervous that it was going to be way too much for me to handle.

 

I don't know much about it, so excuse my ignorance. Does the dd-wrt firmware provide a more secure wireless security protocol?

 

Nah, it doesn't need DD-WRT to make a secure connection. The WRT54Gs have support for secure wireless networks built in.

 

The 3rd-party firmware adds some cool features, but none are really needed.

 

First thing I'd recommend is to setup Mac Address Filtering. Under the Linksys router admin page (192.168.1.1):

 

-go to Wireless --> Security --> Mac Address Filtering

- Select Enable.

- Select "Permit only PCs listed to access the wireless network".

- Click on "Edit Mac Filter List", which will popup a new window.

......- In the new window, enter in the Mac Address for each computer which will use the network.

...... - In order to find out what the Mac Address for a computer is, in Windows XP:

....................- Go to Start --> Run --> type in "cmd" and hit enter.

....................- You should get a black command prompt.

....................- Type "ipconfig /all" (without the quotes) and hit enter.

....................- Each of your network connections will have a "Physical Address" listed that looks like 00:16:56:47:60:79

......- Put that address into the popup mac address window.

......- Once you have done that for all wireless computers, hit "Save Settings"

- The popup window should be gone. Now hit "Save Settings" in the normal linksys admin panel.

 

This will make sure that, even if someone cracks your WEP key, they will not be able to connect to your network. The router won't let them. They would be able to read your data through the air, as it won't be encrypted, but they won't be able to use your internet connection or your computer.

 

WEP isn't as secure as WPA/WPA2, but I'll save that for another post. ;)

[Bmwolf21]

First thing I'd recommend is to setup Mac Address Filtering. Under the Linksys router admin page (192.168.1.1):

 

-go to Wireless --> Security --> Mac Address Filtering

- Select Enable.

- Select "Permit only PCs listed to access the wireless network".

- Click on "Edit Mac Filter List", which will popup a new window.

......- In the new window, enter in the Mac Address for each computer which will use the network.

...... - In order to find out what the Mac Address for a computer is, in Windows XP:

....................- Go to Start --> Run --> type in "cmd" and hit enter.

....................- You should get a black command prompt.

....................- Type "ipconfig /all" (without the quotes) and hit enter.

....................- Each of your network connections will have a "Physical Address" listed that looks like 00:16:56:47:60:79

......- Put that address into the popup mac address window.

......- Once you have done that for all wireless computers, hit "Save Settings"

- The popup window should be gone. Now hit "Save Settings" in the normal linksys admin panel.

 

This will make sure that, even if someone cracks your WEP key, they will not be able to connect to your network. The router won't let them. They would be able to read your data through the air, as it won't be encrypted, but they won't be able to use your internet connection or your computer.

 

WEP isn't as secure as WPA/WPA2, but I'll save that for another post. ;)

Am I adding the Mac address for just the computers connected wirelessly, or do I have to include the desktop computer, which is connected by ethernet cable to the router?

[Corp000085]

Am I adding the Mac address for just the computers connected wirelessly, or do I have to include the desktop computer, which is connected by ethernet cable to the router?

 

 

i'm not too familiar with the linksys firmware program anymore, but i do believe its just for the wireless computers. Be careful with mac address filtering though. make sure you enter the mac address exactly as it appears on your computer or you may lock yourself out of your wireless network.

 

It hasn't been mentioned before, but please, make all changes with a computer that's WIRED to the router itself. You can use your laptop and keep your wireless on if you want, but I highly recommend plugging the router to the computer you're going to use to modify the router. If your router has a wireless problem after you've set something and you're using the wireless to edit the thing, you might lock yourself out.

 

 

Another thing, if you're new to the router, use the CD... however, after about 10 minutes of research, you can do so much more if you edit your router's firmware using internet explorer.

 

the defaults are as follows:

 

 

ip address: 192.168.1.1

 

login info

username: leave this blank

password: admin

 

default ssid: linksys

default security: none

 

 

 

 

 

I recommend you do these steps in order:

 

 

1) change the login information. you can create a different password. If you're network in unsecure, a neighbor can log in, change stuff, and then hijack your router and internet connection... it only takes about 1 minute of being up and running unsecure. I know. i live on a cul-de-sac.

 

2) change the SSID and encryption. if your wireless computer has windows xp with SP2, you should use WPA with a long password that the neighbor can't guess. Experiment with wpa2 with your computer. if it works, great. use it. if not, its probably because your wireless card in your computer can't support it. We'll cover driver updates in a different thread.

 

3) if your wireless coverage in your house is spotty, you may want to c hange your wirless channel. the default is 6. the wireless g spectrum is around 2.4ghz, which is the same as your microwave and telephones, and of course, neighbors wireless networks. I set mine for 9, simply because a quick scan of the neighborhood WIFI showed them all running at 6. SCOOOOOOOOOOOOORES, AFINOGENOV by the way... 2-0 good guys

 

 

 

 

 

I consider myself very proficient at wireless networking and basic home routing, simply because i f***ed around 4 years ago when i got my first router. you'll be a pro soon enough. the linksys router is a great unit. the built in firmware is very easy to use. I do recommend that dd-wrt, but if you're not comfortable switching, its not necessary at all. the security is the same for either firmware. you just get more options and tweaks with the 3rd party firmware. SCOOOOOOOOOORES pominville... 3-0

 

 

 

The one thing that is universally recommended is to secure the thing, preferably with WPA. If you don't, you're risking some potential privacy problems, and possibly legal problems... what if your neighbor's 14 year old son downloads some sweet metallica? what if your pedophile next door neighbor finds those pictures of your daughter on your computer? what if he downloads kiddie porn using your internet connection... the police and lawyers won't come to their doors... they'll come to yours. get my point?

 

 

www.dslreports.com is a great information forum. they've got ISP forums, hardware forums, software forums, and most importantly for this conversation, networking forums. There's a linksys forum there and you can search for what you're looking for. there's also been a huge rash of threads at the consumer reports forum at TBD too. plus, you can use us here. don't get discouraged if you can't get your laptop to connect either. everything has a simple fix.

 

 

edit: i actually forget what the login password and username is. i know its some combination of a blank, admin, and/or linksys. its in the documentation and online at the linksys website.

[Bmwolf21]

Wow....thanks (I think)...lot of stuff you covered there. Some of it was taken care of when using the installation CD, but I guess I'll go line-by-line:

 

1. Already changed the login info and SSID - names have already been changed, and it should be unknown info to the neighbors.

 

2. I tried to set up WPA but I think you are right - I don't think my laptop's wireless card supported WPA.

 

3. No problems with spotty coverage or anything like that - the router is only about 5 feet away, through a (surprisingly thin) wall. Signal strength has been excellent since I set it up.

 

As far as I can tell, it is secured basically, using WEP 128 bit, 26hex digits encryption. When I connected to the network the first time from my laptop, I had to input the 26-digit network key before I could connect.

 

game break - - two crappy goals in a row. 3-2 good guys with :19 to go...

[Corp000085]

glad to see you pretty much have it set up. If i were you, i really would do some research on getting wpa to work with your laptop... however, WEP is ok for the time being. one thing, make sure that your router is not directly next to a speaker, monitor, or something else that gives off electrical noise... it may interfere with the strength of your network. Also, make sure to angle the antenna. If you put them at 45 degrees facing outwards, you generally get the best signal.

 

 

 

a quick solution for that wpa thing... run windowsupdate. you may get a hardware driver update for the wireless network card through there... if not, do the other updates. it never hurts. then you can go to your wireless card mfg. website or your laptop mfg. website and look for driver updates. they usually also provide a good step by step readme text file.

[Bmwolf21]

I'll try that, thanks.

[Corp000085]

no problem... good luck

[Bmwolf21]

When I first set it up, I had major problems setting up the file sharing. Turned out I had to change the Zone Alarm firewall settings to allow access to both computers. I tried to figure out the problem for about four hours (on & off) and it was one of those "slap-my-forehead, can't believe that I didn't check such an obvious solution" type of things. :doh:

[Eleven]

i'm not too familiar with the linksys firmware program anymore, but i do believe its just for the wireless computers. Be careful with mac address filtering though. make sure you enter the mac address exactly as it appears on your computer or you may lock yourself out of your wireless network.

 

It hasn't been mentioned before, but please, make all changes with a computer that's WIRED to the router itself. You can use your laptop and keep your wireless on if you want, but I highly recommend plugging the router to the computer you're going to use to modify the router. If your router has a wireless problem after you've set something and you're using the wireless to edit the thing, you might lock yourself out.

Another thing, if you're new to the router, use the CD... however, after about 10 minutes of research, you can do so much more if you edit your router's firmware using internet explorer.

 

the defaults are as follows:

ip address: 192.168.1.1

 

login info

username: leave this blank

password: admin

 

default ssid: linksys

default security: none

I recommend you do these steps in order:

1) change the login information. you can create a different password. If you're network in unsecure, a neighbor can log in, change stuff, and then hijack your router and internet connection... it only takes about 1 minute of being up and running unsecure. I know. i live on a cul-de-sac.

 

2) change the SSID and encryption. if your wireless computer has windows xp with SP2, you should use WPA with a long password that the neighbor can't guess. Experiment with wpa2 with your computer. if it works, great. use it. if not, its probably because your wireless card in your computer can't support it. We'll cover driver updates in a different thread.

 

3) if your wireless coverage in your house is spotty, you may want to c hange your wirless channel. the default is 6. the wireless g spectrum is around 2.4ghz, which is the same as your microwave and telephones, and of course, neighbors wireless networks. I set mine for 9, simply because a quick scan of the neighborhood WIFI showed them all running at 6. SCOOOOOOOOOOOOORES, AFINOGENOV by the way... 2-0 good guys

I consider myself very proficient at wireless networking and basic home routing, simply because i f***ed around 4 years ago when i got my first router. you'll be a pro soon enough. the linksys router is a great unit. the built in firmware is very easy to use. I do recommend that dd-wrt, but if you're not comfortable switching, its not necessary at all. the security is the same for either firmware. you just get more options and tweaks with the 3rd party firmware. SCOOOOOOOOOORES pominville... 3-0

The one thing that is universally recommended is to secure the thing, preferably with WPA. If you don't, you're risking some potential privacy problems, and possibly legal problems... what if your neighbor's 14 year old son downloads some sweet metallica? what if your pedophile next door neighbor finds those pictures of your daughter on your computer? what if he downloads kiddie porn using your internet connection... the police and lawyers won't come to their doors... they'll come to yours. get my point?

www.dslreports.com is a great information forum. they've got ISP forums, hardware forums, software forums, and most importantly for this conversation, networking forums. There's a linksys forum there and you can search for what you're looking for. there's also been a huge rash of threads at the consumer reports forum at TBD too. plus, you can use us here. don't get discouraged if you can't get your laptop to connect either. everything has a simple fix.

edit: i actually forget what the login password and username is. i know its some combination of a blank, admin, and/or linksys. its in the documentation and online at the linksys website.

 

Geez. Just get a Mac.

[Chilly]

Geez. Just get a Mac.

 

As if getting a Mac would have anything to do with securing a wireless network. :blink:

[Bmwolf21]

Bluefire, thanks for the tips. Did you see this post & question?

 

Am I adding the Mac address for just the computers connected wirelessly, or do I have to include the desktop computer, which is connected by ethernet cable to the router?

[Chilly]

Bluefire, thanks for the tips. Did you see this post & question?

 

Doh! Totally missed it. I best be getting sum betta reading skillz :lol:

 

You just need to insert the mac addresses of any wireless computers. This does not apply to wired connections.

 

Its good too, because if you #%^$#! it up (like I have in the past), you can always just connect wired to fix it.

 

Also, if you ever get a new wireless card (even if its the same computer), it'll return an error until you add the mac address to the router. Easy little thing to forget!