Re: I'd try to go with WPA-PSK if possible

Post #201,307 by dws 3/30/05 3:23:46 PM Reply	Re: I'd try to go with WPA-PSK if possible WPA-PSK is like WEP, but the key changes during the session, making it harder for someone to sniff traffic and use available tools to break your key. The newer Netgear wireless broadband routers do WPA-PSK. It takes a few extra dialogs to set up on WinXP, but it's painless after that. If you go with a Linksys box, give it good ventilation. They run hot, and will cook themselves to death in an annoyingly slow way. I'm happier with the Netgear, which to my eye has a better web admin interface (and it plays nicely with dyndns.org, though Linksys may have caught up by now). I have a Netgear 801.11b/g router upstairs, and get decent coverage throughout our house on a pair of b-only laptops. You might need to fiddle with channels if you can your neighbors's APs. I can see 6 from my study; one of them was stomping on the default channel.
Post #201,403 by jb4 3/31/05 10:31:29 AM Reply	Thanks for the feedback WPA-PSK (Pre Selected Key); that's where I get to hard-wire my own key? (I thought that was what WEP was...hoo-boy!). OK, so then I should be able to pick my own key...and probably change it every so often. Thanks about the warning about Linksys stuff heating up. I chose linksys because it 1) was cheaper than similar devices when compared on CDW's website (although I did notice that Netgear did not show up on their comparison guide...Hmmmm) and 2) Was the brand Comcast themselves used. I'll go back to the website (and eBay) to do a price and feature comparison with netgear. What's a "b-only laptop"? And yes, I can get to my next door neighbor's AP if I put my wireless-enabled laptop in the right place. They are not particularly tech-savvy, and have the setup that was installed when their cable modem was put in a year or two ago. I have actually connected to IWETHEY using it. I'm usre they are using the default setup. Appreciate the pointers, dws. jb4 shrub\ufffdbish (Am., from shrub* + rubbish, after the derisive name for America's 43 president; 2003) n. 1. a form of nonsensical political doubletalk wherein the speaker attempts to defend the indefensible by lying, obfuscation, or otherwise misstating the facts; GIBBERISH. 2. any of a collection of utterances from America's putative 43rd president. cf.* BULLSHIT
Post #201,440 by dws 3/31/05 12:25:17 PM Reply	Re: Thanks for the feedback With WEP you pre-share the key and it doesn't change during a session. With WPA-PSK, you pre-share a starting key, but it gets recomputed as the session progresses, making it harder for wiley h4x0rz to reverse-engineer the starting key. "b-only" means that my laptop won't talk to the g (higher frequency) radio on a 802.11g WAP, but that's not a problem, since 'g' WAPs also have a 'b' radio ('g' really means 'b/g', though it is possible to configure the WAP to disable the lower b frequencies (as opposed to 802.11a, which plays in its own sandbox). Unless you have older gear, you have to go our of your way to buy b-only now.
Post #201,463 by jb4 3/31/05 3:03:08 PM Reply	Got it...thanx BTW, CDW is showing both router and adapter gear by Linksys that is "b-only" jb4 shrub\ufffdbish (Am., from shrub* + rubbish, after the derisive name for America's 43 president; 2003) n. 1. a form of nonsensical political doubletalk wherein the speaker attempts to defend the indefensible by lying, obfuscation, or otherwise misstating the facts; GIBBERISH. 2. any of a collection of utterances from America's putative 43rd president. cf.* BULLSHIT
Post #201,464 by dws 3/31/05 3:24:01 PM Reply	Old Linksys gear That'd be the WAP11, which is several years old. I cooked one. Folks on my team avoid 'em. If you really want to go with Linksys, spring for the WAP54G. I'm having good luck with the Netgear WGR614, which is a bit less expensive and takes up less desk space (it'll sit upright instead of flat, giving it even better airflow), but YMMV.
Post #201,468 by pwhysall 3/31/05 3:29:57 PM Reply	My experiences with Netgear [link\|http://z.iwethey.org/forums/render/content/show?contentid=186782\|http://z.iwethey.org...?contentid=186782] If it's blue'n'square, it's probably good; if it's round'n'silver, it's probably crap. Peter [link\|http://www.ubuntulinux.org\|Ubuntu Linux] [link\|http://www.kuro5hin.org\|There is no K5 Cabal] [link\|http://guildenstern.dyndns.org\|Home] Use P2P for legitimate purposes!
Post #201,467 by Steven A S 3/31/05 3:28:14 PM Reply	don't bother with 802.11b only, It's limited to 11 Mbps. You want a 802.11b/g or an 802.11a (or a/g). 802.11a and 802.11g have basically the same throughput (basic set-up is 54 Mbps, some setups are faster by reducing packet headers). The advantage of 802.11a is there are few phones and routers using that frequency (5GHz) so you have less interferance. The disadvantages are shorter range (25-75 feet versus 100-150 feet) and higher cost. ~~~)-Steven---- "I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country..." General George S. Patton
Post #201,539 by jb4 4/1/05 10:42:33 AM Reply	Understood... Wasn't planning on going with "b-only". The difference in proce between the B and the G is not worth quibbling over...and, besides, if my wife is going to use it (and she is), she will want the extra speed. jb4 shrub\ufffdbish (Am., from shrub* + rubbish, after the derisive name for America's 43 president; 2003) n. 1. a form of nonsensical political doubletalk wherein the speaker attempts to defend the indefensible by lying, obfuscation, or otherwise misstating the facts; GIBBERISH. 2. any of a collection of utterances from America's putative 43rd president. cf.* BULLSHIT

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