My desktop computer is in my living room. The phone jack for my DSL connection is in a very stupid place, and because of this I have phone cables stretched everywhere. The network I currently have is set up like this: modem to router, desktop connected to router via ethernet, printer connected to desktop via USB port. I have WPA encryption, hidden SSID as well as firewalls on both computers. I would like to move my router and modem into another room and make my desktop wireless. I already have the adapter for it. The problem I am having is setting up the encryption and password once the desktop is wireless. To set it up this time, I just ran the CD that came with the router (Belkin G) and punched in the applicable IP address into my firewall. Any ideas? Oh, and if it is possible to do it securely (I bank online), how would this affect my printer, being able to print from my laptop. If this is a go I will probably buy a print server anyhow. Thanks.
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Totally wireless network?
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97f150
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I want to move everything AWAY from the jack. I have never tried to set up WPA wirelessly and am wondering what a safe way to do this would be.
Personally I would just hide the SSID broadcast, change the router's default IP, change the router's default password, and use MAC address filtering. That way, only people with approved MAC addresses can access the network. WPA and WEP are hackable, so don't put your entire faith and trust into it. If someone truly wants into your network, they will do it, regardless of encryption.
For your printer, since you require it to go through one computer, you may just have to change the setting on your laptop so it will recognize the IP of the desktop (unless it didn't change). I have had some good luck with this, but not much. It's a lot easier to have a network printer, but those get pricey.
For your printer, since you require it to go through one computer, you may just have to change the setting on your laptop so it will recognize the IP of the desktop (unless it didn't change). I have had some good luck with this, but not much. It's a lot easier to have a network printer, but those get pricey.
Originally Posted By: ConfederateTyrant
Personally I would just hide the SSID broadcast, change the router's default IP, change the router's default password, and use MAC address filtering. That way, only people with approved MAC addresses can access the network. WPA and WEP are hackable, so don't put your entire faith and trust into it. If someone truly wants into your network, they will do it, regardless of encryption.
For your printer, since you require it to go through one computer, you may just have to change the setting on your laptop so it will recognize the IP of the desktop (unless it didn't change). I have had some good luck with this, but not much. It's a lot easier to have a network printer, but those get pricey.
If someone wants in bad enough MAC addresses can be spoofed also. I think the only reason I broadcast my SSID is because of extended range. I use WPA, which IMO is a heck of a lot more secure than WEP (both still hackable).
Personally I would just hide the SSID broadcast, change the router's default IP, change the router's default password, and use MAC address filtering. That way, only people with approved MAC addresses can access the network. WPA and WEP are hackable, so don't put your entire faith and trust into it. If someone truly wants into your network, they will do it, regardless of encryption.
For your printer, since you require it to go through one computer, you may just have to change the setting on your laptop so it will recognize the IP of the desktop (unless it didn't change). I have had some good luck with this, but not much. It's a lot easier to have a network printer, but those get pricey.
If someone wants in bad enough MAC addresses can be spoofed also. I think the only reason I broadcast my SSID is because of extended range. I use WPA, which IMO is a heck of a lot more secure than WEP (both still hackable).
i've done this a thousand times.
You need to start with no encryption, a wide open network, then lock it down one by one.
Most likely the wifi card is having problems with the ssid broadcast being hidden.
Get all of them to work, get all your firmware updated, then start locking it down one by one.
Once you get them to work, then setup wpa.
Then if that works fine, then setup mac filtering.
I usually recommend against turning off the ssid broadcast. Mac filtering is more than adequate, unless you have some crazy hacker within 100 feet of your access point.
Most people won't even be able to get past basic WEP encryption.
You need to start with no encryption, a wide open network, then lock it down one by one.
Most likely the wifi card is having problems with the ssid broadcast being hidden.
Get all of them to work, get all your firmware updated, then start locking it down one by one.
Once you get them to work, then setup wpa.
Then if that works fine, then setup mac filtering.
I usually recommend against turning off the ssid broadcast. Mac filtering is more than adequate, unless you have some crazy hacker within 100 feet of your access point.
Most people won't even be able to get past basic WEP encryption.
Originally Posted By: 97f150
I want to move everything AWAY from the jack. I have never tried to set up WPA wirelessly and am wondering what a safe way to do this would be.
It should be simpler if you do your initial setup with one computer plugged into the router, then change that computer to wireless after the rest of the system is working.
I want to move everything AWAY from the jack. I have never tried to set up WPA wirelessly and am wondering what a safe way to do this would be.
It should be simpler if you do your initial setup with one computer plugged into the router, then change that computer to wireless after the rest of the system is working.
Quote:
If someone wants in bad enough MAC addresses can be spoofed also.
I agree, though most of the time they'll see an encryption prompt if they try to access the network. However, it may not click to them fast enough that the network is MAC filtered.
WPA is a lot more secure. I've never setup an encryption and never had anyone in the neighborhood connect to my network. Though the range barely goes outside the house due to the brick and insulation.
If you live in an apartment, and don't feel that the neighbors have a right to use your internet for free (which they don't, and they should be heavily fined for it if caught), then the encryption along with MAC filtering is probably best.
If someone wants in bad enough MAC addresses can be spoofed also.
I agree, though most of the time they'll see an encryption prompt if they try to access the network. However, it may not click to them fast enough that the network is MAC filtered.
WPA is a lot more secure. I've never setup an encryption and never had anyone in the neighborhood connect to my network. Though the range barely goes outside the house due to the brick and insulation.
If you live in an apartment, and don't feel that the neighbors have a right to use your internet for free (which they don't, and they should be heavily fined for it if caught), then the encryption along with MAC filtering is probably best.
97f150
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I am not having any kind of problems as it is currently set up. In order to be able to share files and printer I have to plug in the IP address of all devices in order to do anything. I did not know about changing the address of the router though, and I would plan on MAC IP filtering.
I take it that you are using static IPs on each computer, correct? On my D-link router, it can assign IPs to specific MACs, which makes file sharing and networking a lot easier than worrying about the connection order of the equipment.
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