wireless networks

[biker's back]

ok so i just got this cool dell laptop, all decked out and it came with this wireless network card. I bought a wireless access point. Any of you have experience with wireless networks?

Im trying to figure out if its worth the effort to WEP the network, and if i really should be that worried about someone within 300feet of my house surfin the web on my connection.

How big of a deal is this?

on a side note: being able to sit in my backyard, with a beer, a buger, tunes and the setting sun is pretty cool.

[ebpda9]

it's not too hard. just follow the instructions with that camewith the router and make sure the card and router are on the same channel. i spent 3 days trying to figure why my wireless wasn't working

[biker's back]

oh my wireless works, just fine but cant turn the WEP secruity feature on.

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Yeah, I run a wireless network.

Don't use WEP, use WPA. If you have a new access point, new card, and running Windows XP with the appropriate WPA updates, you can use it. WEP is too easy to break.

I worry about wireless security because I was living in an apt. complex. If someone jacks my connection and uses it for something bad, I can get blamed for it. Plus I don't want people in my comptuers looking at my stuff.

Its easy to setup. Make sure the key is the same on the WAP settings and your laptop. Also, you might want to look up some network security tips on google. Disable SSID broadcast, use MAC address filtering, etc. and you'll have a network that's difficult enough to crack to the point where someone would just move on.

[biker's back]

for whatever reason I cant seem to login to my access point. I got it cheap zonet zew3000 it has WPA but i aint got a clue how to set it up.

[Rob]

Rob...I just have one question...what the hell is a buger? :confused:

[biker's back]

Originally posted by AccordinStyle
Rob...I just have one question...what the hell is a buger? :confused:

haha burger.. ma bad

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by biker's back
for whatever reason I cant seem to login to my access point. I got it cheap zonet zew3000 it has WPA but i aint got a clue how to set it up.

Hmm, never heard of it. I guess it has some sort of config area where you can logon to it with your internet browser. You can setup WPA from there....

[biker's back]

Originally posted by 94_AcCoRd_EX
Hmm, never heard of it. I guess it has some sort of config area where you can logon to it with your internet browser. You can setup WPA from there....

haha you'd think so. BUt there is some app that doesnt work, and right now the wireless works but my whole area is getting free net on me :yes:

So I'll just let it ride!
Thanks anyways guys

[GeneralDzur]

Use WEP if you don't have anything but that...but WPA would probably be a better choice. Here is a list of some commonly used ports, and what they do in case you want to close them off.

For instance - I close off the Gnutella P2P (BearShare, LimeWire etc..) port from 1-6 AM because I don't want anyone using my connection at that time.

I know this doesn't have much to do w/ encryption - but these ports are really handy to know. Write them down or cut & paste them.

Protocols:

TCP - Transmission Control Protocol
IP - Internet protocol
FTP - File transfer protocol
ARP - Address Resolution Protocol
(resolves IP to MAC address)
SMTP - Simple mail transfer protocol
RIP - Routing information protocol
(used by routers)
SAP - Service advertising protocol (used by routers)

---------------------
TCP Ports:
TCP: 1 (TCP port service multiplexer)
MSP: 18 (message sending)
FTP: 20, 21 (data/control)
SSH: 22 (remote login)
Telnet: 23
SMTP: 25
DNS: 53 (domain name system)
TFTP: 69 (trivial file transfer)
Gopher: 70
Finger: 79 (important)
HTTP: 80
POP: 109, 110 (2/3)
SFTP: 115
NetBIOS: 137, 139 (name/datagram)
IRC: 194 (internet relay chat)
DHCP: 546, 547 (Client, server)
MSN: 569
Gnutella: 6346 (filesharing)

Ports range from 0 to 65,536
---------------------

- Dzur

[biker's back]

thanks dude

[Racing Rice]

I would definately lock it down, for no other reason then your bandwidth being eaten alive by your neighbors (if you have them.) Ive seen highspeed cable connections come to a crawl because a handful of people start download stuff off of Kazaa, etc. Thats just the practical reason, then you have the security reasons. Which Id rather not go into.

If you want to run it wide open feel free, but I personally wouldnt. Didnt your router come with a manual?

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by biker's back
haha you'd think so. BUt there is some app that doesnt work, and right now the wireless works but my whole area is getting free net on me :yes:

So I'll just let it ride!
Thanks anyways guys

Very bad idea. If the app won't even run, and you can't configure it, just return the WAP and get a good one.

[vtecb20gsr]

Back when I was more independent I had a microsoft wireless router with the latest encryption. I'd recommend microsoft stuff since they have updates like every 10 min. 802.11 is tha shyt!

[vtecb20gsr]

One more thing... DO not purchase netgear. Linksys is good, I worked for a linksys tech level1(for a day) but their products are also acceptable.

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by vtecb20gsr
One more thing... DO not purchase netgear. Linksys is good, I worked for a linksys tech level1(for a day) but their products are also acceptable.

Netgear's not bad at all, why do you say that?

I run Linksys stuff right now, but I've had 2 8 port routers die on me in the last 6 months, so I'm thinking of switching next time...

[vtecb20gsr]

It's too cheap, sure it works but I get things for reliability and long term. Just bad expiriences I guess...