Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support |
Hardware advice needed |
DVA1190
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on April 21 2003
Everett 250 Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Quincentenary Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"Never try, never fail" Greenville, SC
524 legs, 1,777.8 hours
490 legs,
1,650.8 hours online 144 legs,
373.3 hours ACARS 35 legs,
89.2 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
February 19 2005 12:49 ET by David Schaum
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I've decided to go wireless in the house as our five year old daughter is now asking for a computer. That'll be one for our son Ryan, one for Alexa, and 2 for me.
Our house is three stories, but I'm guessing that any wireless system will have no range problems within one house no matter how big the house is correct? My son's room is on the first floor, but the master bedroom where one of my computers will be is on the third.
Now, I guess I need a wireless router, then a wireless what?? for each PC.
Can someone spec out the hardware I need for four PCs to be on one cable modem in a wireless configuration.
Also, will I have any security concerns with PC's on a wireless system? I'll assume that my neighbors will be able to use my internet if they have a laptop with wireless capabilities and they discover my IP address. Is there anyway to prevent this or should I even care.
Thanks in advance for any assistance.
David SchaumSenior Captain, B777-200
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DVA1910
Senior Captain, B777-200
Joined on September 18 2004
Triple Century Club
Online Century Club
Northeastern United States
352 legs, 1,543.8 hours
132 legs,
557.8 hours online 58 legs,
220.8 hours ACARS 1 legs,
4.3 hours event 741 legs, 3,101.2 hours total
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Posted onPost created on
February 19 2005 17:48 ET by Ryan Wilson
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Basically your going to need a wire less router, and have a firewall which you plug the router through to ensure protection against hackers etc.. Since you have a three story house you might need to also buy a repeater or something of that design to relay the singal to the outer parts of the house. I have a NetGear wireless router and firewall but had to put it on the side because the Macs werent compatible (tech support was not very helpfull). Apple Airport extreme to act as a wireless base and firewall. I also have a Airport express to relay the singal further in the house. All of the hardware depends on what macines you are running. You have to buy wireless cards (plug ins for laptops or internal or external USB ones for desktops). All of the Wi-Fi stuff can get very complicated. The items above are the basic things you need to run a sucessfull wireless network. Thats what my set up is in the house and it works quite well once its in place. Its just a pain at times fixing it and getting everything set up but once its in, its amazing
Good luck! (If you need more help just respond back!)
Ryan
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DVA2080
Captain, B777-200
Joined on January 07 2005
Everett 500 Club
Million Mile Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Millennium Club
Broomfield, CO
1,303 legs, 3,611.0 hours
2 legs,
3.3 hours online 1,137 legs,
3,253.7 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 19 2005 17:49 ET by John Noe
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David, follow the instuctions with the router you buy. You can get any brand and they all work the same. As far as the other computers, you can mix and match, cards, USB adapters or anything that is a good deal. With a cable modem, the speed will make no difference with B, g or enhanced G. You can encrypt between your router and the computers to keep the neighbors out.
I have had wireless for a couple of years and find it works just fine for my three stories.
John NoeCaptain, B777-200
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DVA2080
Captain, B777-200
Joined on January 07 2005
Everett 500 Club
Million Mile Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary
Millennium Club
Broomfield, CO
1,303 legs, 3,611.0 hours
2 legs,
3.3 hours online 1,137 legs,
3,253.7 hours ACARS
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Posted onPost created on
February 19 2005 17:54 ET by John Noe
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Firewalls are usefull but the router is also a hardware firewall. Use something on the other computers. Zonelarm is free and works just fine. Don't overthink this, just follow the instructions. Rocket science, it ain't.
John NoeCaptain, B777-200
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DVA057
Senior Captain, B777-200
COMM
Joined on June 02 2002
Events Century Club
Six Century Club
Online Quintuple Century Club
Everett 500 Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"We Are ... Penn State!" Atlanta, GA USA
672 legs, 1,338.4 hours
531 legs,
1,076.4 hours online 392 legs,
786.1 hours ACARS 190 legs,
406.3 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
February 19 2005 21:10 ET by Terry Eshenour
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David,
I believe that you already have a wired router. You can either buy a new router that includes wireless or purchase a Wireless Access Point for your router. The Linksys wireless router includes CAT5 ports as well. You need to purchase a Wireless NIC for each PC. I just purchased one for my laptop at Frey's Electronics for $10.
Hardware manufacturers continue to introduce faster transfer protocols. Choose "-G" or better for good performance.
As to whether you will have the range within your home, it is something that you will have to try since building construction and location of your Wireless Access Point can affect coverage.
Terry EshenourSenior Captain, B777-200
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DVA1910
Senior Captain, B777-200
Joined on September 18 2004
Triple Century Club
Online Century Club
Northeastern United States
352 legs, 1,543.8 hours
132 legs,
557.8 hours online 58 legs,
220.8 hours ACARS 1 legs,
4.3 hours event 741 legs, 3,101.2 hours total
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Posted onPost created on
February 20 2005 03:57 ET by Ryan Wilson
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If your house is made out of wood then you should be fine but if you have metal support beams etc. through the house you might have to place to wireless box where everyone can acess it or got a repeater etc.
Ryan
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DVA1190
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on April 21 2003
Everett 250 Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Quincentenary Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"Never try, never fail" Greenville, SC
524 legs, 1,777.8 hours
490 legs,
1,650.8 hours online 144 legs,
373.3 hours ACARS 35 legs,
89.2 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
February 20 2005 04:26 ET by David Schaum
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Thanks for the tips everyone. I think I?ve got it and I?ll head to Best Buy sometime next week.
John, I really like your advice for setting up Encryption between the router and the computers. I?ve heard of that before but had forgotten about it.
Terry, I?m interested in your information about keeping my current router and purchasing a Wireless Access Point. I?ve never heard of this so I?ll investigate this with my IT department at work tomorrow.
Again, Thanks everyone!!!
David SchaumSenior Captain, B777-200
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DVA057
Senior Captain, B777-200
COMM
Joined on June 02 2002
Events Century Club
Six Century Club
Online Quintuple Century Club
Everett 500 Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"We Are ... Penn State!" Atlanta, GA USA
672 legs, 1,338.4 hours
531 legs,
1,076.4 hours online 392 legs,
786.1 hours ACARS 190 legs,
406.3 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
February 20 2005 04:50 ET by Terry Eshenour
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David,
Your IT staff will recognize WAP as the device that you need. CompUSA, if you have one in your area, is running specials this weekend on wireless gear. You can buy a wireless router for $15, probably less than the cost of a WAP. You can of course connect two routers together.
Read Bill Hustead's technical column in Sunday's paper. He walks you through setting up a wireless networl. BTW, current wireless routers have data encryption and password access to prevent hacking.
Terry EshenourSenior Captain, B777-200
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DVA1190
Senior Captain, B777-200
OLP
Joined on April 21 2003
Everett 250 Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Quincentenary Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"Never try, never fail" Greenville, SC
524 legs, 1,777.8 hours
490 legs,
1,650.8 hours online 144 legs,
373.3 hours ACARS 35 legs,
89.2 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
February 20 2005 05:02 ET by David Schaum
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What paper is that article in? The Atlanta Herald? Can I see the article online? I'll hunt a little.
David.
David SchaumSenior Captain, B777-200
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DVA057
Senior Captain, B777-200
COMM
Joined on June 02 2002
Events Century Club
Six Century Club
Online Quintuple Century Club
Everett 500 Club
50 State Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
"We Are ... Penn State!" Atlanta, GA USA
672 legs, 1,338.4 hours
531 legs,
1,076.4 hours online 392 legs,
786.1 hours ACARS 190 legs,
406.3 hours event
|
Posted onPost created on
February 20 2005 12:19 ET by Terry Eshenour
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David,
Bill Hustead's col. appears in The Atlanta Journal Constitution. AJC.com Today's column is not yet posted.
Another excellent resource is Broadband Reports Their WLan is overflowing with FAQ and help. Issue is sorting through it. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/wlan
Do keep in mind that if you are going to replace your current router to buy one that is compatible with AVC for now and SB3 in the future. You may recall my frustrations with a router that wouldn't stay connected to RW and AVC.
Terry EshenourSenior Captain, B777-200
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DVA1603
Captain, B727-200
Joined on April 02 2004
Double Century Club
Albany, GA USA
266 legs, 399.1 hours
85 legs,
131.0 hours online 93 legs,
129.4 hours ACARS 2 legs,
3.4 hours event
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Posted onPost created on
February 20 2005 15:43 ET by Michael Wilson
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David,
As far as internet connection speed is concerned, you would not notice the difference between 802.11B and 802.11G, as both of them exceed the speed of your internet connection. If you use your LAN for anything other than connection sharing, look into 802.11G or some of the "Super G" technologies.
If concerned about security, you have two options with most hardware: WPA/WEP and MAC filtering. WPA/WEP is easier to configure and manage, but encryption requires overhead. MAC filtering operates by allowing or denying access based on hardware address. You can choose between the two, or you can use both.
There are a host of things you can do to prevent a wireless network intrusion from doing anything other than stealing your internet access. If you wish to know more about that, just say so.
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