I just bought a laptop computer and I have my desktop at home and I am wanting to hook them both together using wireless. Anyone do this or know much about it? I am hoping to be able to switch to DSL conection at home by next month. I have ben looking at Linksys Wireless G router and then a card to go into my desktop. My laptop came with a wireless card already installed.
Any ideas, do's dont's?

Thanks in advance,
Andy

I am on wireless, its very nice. A couple tips, when you are setting up the wireless router, disable broadcasting. Broadcasting sends your network info out all the time looking for wireless devices. The benefit of this is that you can boot up your wireless and it will see the network and attempt to log in. The downside is everyone within wireless range (sometimes ALOT further than you would think, I've heard of some routers near a window broadcasting nearly a mile away)will pick up your network info and be prompted to log in. They then have access to your network and internet, and can tie up valuable bandwidth. Anybody with a little knowledge and a wireless laptop can drive around looking for broadcasting networks. I know a person here who has done it just to see what he came up with, and within 10 minutes of leaving his house already had been hit by over 20 networks. Sooo....turn off broadcasting, all you will have to do is enter network info into yourlaptop like network name etc.

Next,
CHANGE THE NAME of your network!! Windows defaults to something like homenet, change this to something unique. make up your own name, this one simple thing can shut down most average hackers.

Change you Subnet mask!
This is easy, whatever you pick, just make sure all comps on the network use the same number. Default is 192.168.1.*** Change it to something like 10.2.21.*** (no thats not mine just an example..LOL) Its another easy hacker way in if they can automatically find your IP range just by the default range. When your comp requests an IP, it will automatically assign an IP within the correct range of your subnet mask if you have DHCP enabled. They should set those routers up to automatically assign a unique random subnet, but they dont they all default to 192.168.1.***

All this looks like alot, but it actually takes under 2 or 3 minutes when you set up your router and it will keep out from novice to good "drive by" hack attempts.

If you do these couple things, it makes your network safer than a direct internet access comp by a long shot with the built-in firewalls they provide. Wireless can be very safe if you just change a couple of the default items. Otherwise they can just pick your info out of the air, refresh IP, and whala, your giving them free internet access and to a semi-knowledgeable hacker, access to everything on your network.

I use a Linksys router, and love it, the setup and changing defaults is useful for even a beginner.

Good luck and enjoy being able to sit on the porch or take your laptop out into the garage to look for that info while working on your car, wireless is a wonderful thing smile.gif


Scot

Here is a great article that can teach you alot about networks, this is based on "B" technology, but most of it will also apply to "G" as well. Alot of this isn't neccasary for a home network, but alot of it will also apply to a home setup. This is the article that got me started on the road to setting mine up alot safer, hope this helps you too.

http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,11388,00.asp

Thanks for the advice and the link, that will help me out alot,

Andy

Just a side note: This range of IP addresses are blocked from being used on the internet and are what are called private. They are set aside for use on privite networks like what we have behind our dsl and cable modems if we have a router or WiFi router.

10.0.0.0 - 10.255.255.255
172.16.0.0 - 172.31.255.255
192.168.0.0 - 192.168.255.255

Using an address or range of address' from above is not a security risk. You're router has 2 sides to it and the outside sees the address assigned by your ISP and the inside (your private network) sees something like 192.168.1.0 as your router. A stranger having a wireless laptop out on the curb with an address in the range you are using can't get in if you have wep encription enabled. Also the name of your network and ssid will most likely show up on the guy outsides laptop even if you rename it, it's not a real security issue.

If you read the article 71 wanna-be-ss linked above you'll see they used shareware and can sniff out your AP's (wifi router) mac address, network name, ssid, AP manufacture and more... You'll also see a large percentage didn't have the WEP enabled. From your configuration page (usually 192.169.0.1 or 192.168.1.0) you can set the wep as well as build a list of the nodes (wifi devices that can access your network). That will keep the honest folks honest. Almost anyone wanting a free ride on the web will go looking for an open AP as opposed to hacking your wep encripted AP...

Here's another link from teh same folks... http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1558,1157725,00.asp

Their is no real reason to go to Wireless G unless its cheaper than B for some reason. G is 54MegaBits (@ optimum humidity etc). B is 11MegaBits which is like 6000K/Sec. Which is about as fast your hard drive can spin so i say go with B find a cheap one, i have used all of them, had lots of failures with D-link. Netgear and Linksys are nice and easy to configure. Unless you plan on sending loads of files between your two computers get the cheaper of the two, and don't listen to the retarded salesman trying to tell you how much better it is. I recommend chcking out http://www.newegg.com quick shipping and good prices.

Good comments Dennis, my point on changing IP is behind the router you can use the private IP numbers, my only thing I was pointing out is with broadcasting off, it doesn't send the subnet info along with most other info, its just one more way as you put it "of keeping the honest man honest" Put enough potholes in the road, they'll look for another road tongue.gif
Quick note on WEP encrytion, I didn't bring it up for two reasons, one is there are countless dowloadable hacks to get around standard WEP, and two, it talks alot about it in that article I posted, I didn't want to type a 40 page long post...LOL
All good points though, my only point I was making before I made that long thread was.....don't leave the default settings on your new router smile.gif

Now on to the other one, Newegg is my hero, I have another order coming from them now, Fedex guy knows how to find me just by the name on the box now...LOL

I just built 2 new systems from them, fast shipping, good service, and no one on the web or otherwise beats them on price as a general rule. You may find a one off good deal thats better than them once in awhile, but I shop around alot and 95% of the time them are considerably cheaper on everything, even after you figure in rebates, like Circuit city is so proud of.


Scot

Thanks to a wireless router and a laptop, I no longer need magazines in the bathroom :D