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Setting up a wireless network at home

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: 2005 Mar. ~ 2005 May: All Things Technical: The Help Desk (ARCHIVES): Setting up a wireless network at home users admin

Author Message
Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 3:53 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hello my tech friends. As you know I just bought a new laptop, and I am looking to set up a wireless network at home. My first question is which router to get. I see reviews for all of them, and they all have the same comments, some people like theirs, hate others, and then others are vice-versa. It seems like there are just as many who have returned a Netgear for a Linksys, as there are people who have returned their Linksys for a Netgear.

My main concern is dropped signals. My boyfriend's roomie had (I think) a Linksys (the one that is part blue). My boyfriend was the WIRED connection and he STILL had dropped signals where he had to reboot his computer, to regain internet access.

That seems weird to me, that the person who is using cables loses their connection. I can understand connections being dropped for the wireless user, but how can I avoid the wired computer getting dropped? I still intend to connect my desktop via cables.

Do any of you guys have advice for what router I should buy? As well, hopefully you guys can give me some advice for features to look for, for ultimate wireless security. I want to make sure no one can log on to my signal and steal bandwidth or snoop.

Thanks in advance!!

PS - Here is where I would buy from:

FUTURE SHOP WEB STORE

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 4:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
eeyore, i bought this one Tiny Link
and have never had a dropped signal. my dell is WIRED and my toshiba laptop roams around the house.


Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 4:51 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hmmmm.....that looks like the one my bf had (for his roomie). It always dropped his signal. AND he was the wired one.

Wendo
Member

08-07-2000

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 5:14 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Go with Linksys, owned by Cisco. They make the best networking hardware. There's a bit of a premium with Linksys products, but it's worth it.

As to the dropped signal on the wired network, that sounds like a bad ethernet cable.

Jimmer
Member

08-30-2000

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 7:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
You're right about people having different experiences. I wouldn't even want to recommend one at this point. I think that the ISP is a factor as well.

(I'm using a Linksys)

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 7:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Wendo, would it be the cable if he had to reboot every time the signal was dropped in order for the signal to be recognized again? Apparently that is what Linksys tech support said he would have to do. Had nothing to do with the computer itself.

The DLINK 612 is getting good reviews at Cnet. Does anyone have any experience with DLINK??

Rabbit
Member

08-12-2001

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 7:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have personal experience with Dlink, several Linksys, and Belkin. My VPN routers are Linksys so I bought Linksys access points. For the last couple of years though I have started using Belkin. I have experienced what the Cnet reviewers have found and that is Belkin equipment usually has much better distance range, therefore less disconnect as you roam, than Linksys routers of the same price range.

Setting up access by MAC address is a very effective block of intruders. I use Mac filtering and a low encryption in combination. When my linksys vpn router went out about six months ago, I was able to tap into two of my neighbors networks as neither one bothered to encrypt. The neighbor using a linksys also hadn't changed his password from the default one that all linksys equipment comes with so I could access the routers admin functions. Always encrypt.

edited after seeing Eeyor's last post: The Dlink I used was a p.o.s. but that was a long time ago when wireless was new.

Bob2112
Member

06-12-2002

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 8:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
We use a NETGEAR WGR614
and have the following devices connected simultaneously with no dropped signals:
  • 2 Desktop PCs - Wired
  • 1 Laptop - Wireless
  • XBox Live - Wired
  • Sony PSP - Wireless
It's not the fanciest router out there, but it does the job for us.


Halfunit
Moderator

09-02-2001

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 8:07 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I have a Westell VersaLink wireless router that came free when I signed up for DSL service. It has a wireless laptop and a wireless desktop 'connected' to it. The laptop has a Linksys card in it and the desktop has a Linksys USB-hub like thingy* plugged into it. Never had a problem with either.




* That's technical Juju talk.

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 8:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Hmmm.....it is sounding like maybe my bf's roomie's router was an anomaly.

I think I will do a linksys router. Once I buy it, I will be here to ask how to set up my accounts or whatever it is I have to set up, to encrypt. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out tech stuff by myself, but all the articles on wireless setup seem like they are written in another language. Even the ones that claim to be "wireless for beginners". LOL.

I'm hoping the instructions are thorough when I buy the router.

Does anyone have anything to say about the different Wireless G routers, with regards to the "super speed" and "speed booster" claims that some of them have in their names? Should I go for those things, or is it just a gimmick that is nothing I could benefit from.

I have Cable internet service. I have a 1.86 Centrino Toshiba laptop, with a built in 802.11G system. Sometimes I wonder if the super speed booster things are a waste, if you don't have a T1 connection or something.

Any comments on that aspect of the purchase?

Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router With SpeedBooster

This one is on sale until next week for 104.99 (canadian $)


Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router

This one is 99.99, but for 5 dollars more, wouldn't it be better to have the speed booster?



Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 8:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Very good use of the Juju girly girl techno-talk, Halfunit. You have a great future ahead of you in computer tutorials.

Landi
Member

07-29-2002

Friday, May 13, 2005 - 9:43 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
eeyore, i bought the linksys wireless-g broadband router with speedbooster. the instructions walk you through setting up the router, the network, etc. etc. it was soooooooooo easy!

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 7:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
This looks like a busy site to get some help with one of the threads. I don't know how to get to 'moderator'. Anyway, any help would be appreciated.

On 'TV Shows, Enterprise', the 'Preview/Post' is missing from the bottom of the thread, so I can't post anything. Help, please, by forwarding this through the proper channels. Thanks!



Moderator
Moderator

06-30-2002

Sunday, May 15, 2005 - 8:18 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ophiliasgrandma: In the 'Feedback Forum' on the main topics is a thread for Questions to Moderators where you can ask your questions.

To resolve your current problem, open the thread in your browser, then hold your shift key while clicking on your 'Reload' icon at the top of your browser. (Usually near the arrows and stop sign, looks kind of like a recycle logo) This should force the page to reload from the server and restore posting ability.

If that doesn't work, try clearing your temporary files (cache). In Explorer, click 'Tools - Internet Options' then click 'Delete Files'.

Mod (22)

Eeyoreslament
Member

07-20-2003

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 12:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Boo urns. I can't get my new router working. The laptop recognizes that my wireless is there, as I see it under "available networks", but I can't get onto it.

I enabled WEP, with 128 bit 26 hex something or other. I put in a new password, but I don't understand why I am not asked for it? Could that be why I am not getting online?

I just don't understand why I can SEE it, but can't get ON it.

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 10:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thank, for trying to help, Mod, but you might as well be speaking Chinese for all the sense it makes to me. It looks like you think this is just particular to my computer. I thought it might be something you kind folks can fix from your end.

Ophiliasgrandma
Member

09-04-2001

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 10:46 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I just checked back on the 'Enterprise' site and am happy to report all is well. Now, if I could only remember what I wanted to say. LOL

Karuuna
Member

08-31-2000

Friday, May 20, 2005 - 10:49 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Computer SuperHeroes solved my wireless/Dell notebook issues.

Apparently I had inadvertantly created two networks, instead of one. By changing how the wireless router hooks into the broadband router, problem solved.

And he was cute too!

I am such a sucker for nerds