Advise on setting up wireless home network

bumpy · Aug 13, 2005

I was wondering if any of you have a wireless home network. If so what brand are you using and are they good. Any recommendation on which is a good brand or product. Or any advice in general on a wireless connection at home?

talon · Aug 13, 2005

I've had great results with Linksys, I have one at home a small one at work and I recommend the brand to our over 300 field sales people all across the country for their homes. Make sure you get a access point that has wireless and wired capablities - you never know when you might need it!

gilly · Aug 13, 2005

I have wireless!

IMO, it's been great for me because my PC is in the kitchen yet the computer points are all the way down the long hallway in the sitting room so I either had to have cables running up the walls or buy wireless.

My modem is from UKOnline and I have a 2 meg net connection with them as well. I had to buy the wireless stuff seperate - it's a Netgear wireless USB adaptor - it's been great!

I normally have 56Mbps speed which is the max it can go, but sometimes it might drop to 24Mbps if the sitting room door is shut (there's a brick wall near as well so the signal has to zap through that!).

Here is what I have:

It was really easy to set up with my modem and before when I used to have a laptop, I can't believe that I didn't go wireless sooner!

kellyyfaber · Aug 13, 2005

Originally Posted by Talon

I've had great results with Linksys, I have one at home a small one at work and I recommend the brand to our over 300 field sales people all across the country for their homes. Make sure you get a access point that has wireless and wired capablities - you never know when you might need it!

We have Linksys and have had great results as well. We have 2 laptops and a blackberry that is set up through a router and we have not had any problems (except when the power goes out, you have to reset the DSL and router connection). We are very pleased with the Linksys

. I'm pretty sure we got all of the things we need for it at Radio Shack.

misscharlotte · Aug 13, 2005

I don't have a wireless home network. My sister has her two computers connected to a home network (Linksys, I think) that is capable of both wireless and standard cable connections. My sister's neighbor is a computer tech wiz and informed her that he was able to "hijack" or "use" her wireless connection to gain FREE access to her DSL!! Anyone who is close enough to the wireless signal and has the right software can take advantage of this little loop hole. Now she uses the cables.

talon · Aug 13, 2005

If you set up the wireless router properly - no one would be able to reasonably break in.

momofmany · Aug 13, 2005

We use Linksys. My husband used to set up PC networks for a living and he thinks its the best for home use. I've also had it recommended by a number of folks that do a lot of networking configuration for a living.

And p.s.: It's my DOGS that like to chew on the internet cables!

bumpy · Aug 13, 2005

Ok so far from what I have heard here and checked out on C-NET, these are the good brands.

1) Linksys
2) Netgear
3) D-Link
4) Belkin (Apparently the highest rating on CNET)

katachtig · Aug 13, 2005

Originally Posted by MissCharlotte

I don't have a wireless home network. My sister has her two computers connected to a home network (Linksys, I think) that is capable of both wireless and standard cable connections. My sister's neighbor is a computer tech wiz and informed her that he was able to "hijack" or "use" her wireless connection to gain FREE access to her DSL!! Anyone who is close enough to the wireless signal and has the right software can take advantage of this little loop hole. Now she uses the cables.

This is the biggest challenge to setting up a wireless network. It is possible to make it difficult for someone to access your connections.

Here is a site from microsoft that goes into one type of security for your wireless network. WPAWireless Security for Home Networks

I do everything recommended:
Hide the SSID (I pick a large random name like ok88cue9q09k and change it every few months)
Restrict the router or access point to use MAC addresses
Use WPA-PSK security.

I would recommend trying to understand this before getting a wireless network.

arlyn · Aug 13, 2005

Over the last ten years or so, I have had nothing bad experiences with Belkin.
We use Linksys

misscharlotte · Aug 13, 2005

Originally Posted by katachtig

This is the biggest challenge to setting up a wireless network. It is possible to make it difficult for someone to access your connections.

Here is a site from microsoft that goes into one type of security for your wireless network. WPAWireless Security for Home Networks

I do everything recommended:
Hide the SSID (I pick a large random name like ok88cue9q09k and change it every few months)
Restrict the router or access point to use MAC addresses
Use WPA-PSK security.

I would recommend trying to understand this before getting a wireless network.

Thanks for the information. I passed it onto my sister who has a home network. I only have one computer so I don't need to network.

Advise on setting up wireless home network

bumpy

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talon

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gilly

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kellyyfaber

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misscharlotte

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talon

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momofmany

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bumpy

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katachtig

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arlyn

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misscharlotte

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