Wireless Routers

[Cebby]

use a WEP key

[d0ubledown]

yup..you should be able to setup your wireless so that its password protected.

[reggie 00]

dont broadcast your SSID

limit the nmber of wireless ip addresses to the actual number of computers you have that are connecting wireless.

[Ric]

Hey all,
I greatly appreciate all your help and suggestions, but we decided to go another route, lol

[BruceTS]

my wireless router died a few weeks ago, fortunately Fry's electronics had a sale, I ended up going the $$$ route and getting a Linksys wireless-N Gigabit Gamming router. The range is awesome compared to my old "G" router, my laptop with built-in G gets full bars throughout my house now, when I used to lose reception, but I did pick-up an N card for it....

[Tanto]

If you do decide to revisit this topic for your setup, Ric, I know that all the consumer Linksys wireless routers also have a couple ports in the back to connect Ethernet cable for your desktop.

[Ric]

awesome, thanks for he heads up

[hillbilly]

Use the "MAC Address filter" feature in conjunction with your preferred WEP,WPA/WPA2. Just be sure to specify that 'only addresses' on the MAC address filter list are permitted to connect. MAC addresses are unique to specific network adapters, so by turning on MAC filtering you can limit network access to only your systems (or those you know about). Establishing a MAC address filter list prevents unknown devices, regardless of your WEP, WPA/WPA2 security settings, from connecting. Be aware that MAC addresses can be spoofed (imitated), but the majority of people don't know its even possible nor how to do it.

Not sure how to find out what your MAC address is?:
Windows = Go to the "Start" button, "Run", then type "cmd" or "command". Once the DOS CLI (command line interface) opens, type "ipconfig /all" and look for the wireless network device. The "Physical Address" is the MAC addy.

Mac (Apple)= open "Terminal", then type "ifconfig". The alphanumeric string to the right of "ether" is the MAC (the Airport is typically "en1:"). Or you can go to "System Preferences", "Network", highlight "Airport", select the "Advance". The "Airport ID" is the MAC address.

[mastacox]

I use WPA/TKIP encryption and a MAC filter on my linksys wireless router at home, works fine with no decrease in speed or anything. The cards we have on my fiance's laptop and desktop don't support WPA2 otherwise I'd use that (my computer stays plugged into the router through ethernet).

One of my friends that is an electrical engineer who works for an industrial supplier in Tempe showed me how easy it is to crack into a WEP encrypted network, it's kinda scary Definitely go with at a bare minimum a MAC filter, and WPA if you've got it. Also on the plus side, WEP uses a hex key that's hard to remember, whereas WPA uses a password.