Wifi Help Needed (broadband)

[NormanB]

If you are going for a new system WEP is pants, you can crack it with a pringles can

with WEP although the encryption is secure, I believe the password is broadcast in plain text, so it's easy to grab the key and decrypt communications

SO WPA is the way forward.

You are of course absolutely 100% correct WPA is far superior. I should have mentioned that (but I was in a hurry 'yer honour')

 

[fuzzer]

@fuzzer ... you need more than 256bit encryption given the people you work for, surely!

S.

lol all that stuff is done over wires

 

[R2D2]

I use a Belkin router, my computer which is wired works flat out but my daughters computer which is wireless is much slower. Trouble is I didnt think it was encrpted so what could cause hers to go slow? (Simple answers only please)

 

[uumode]

slow wireless connections can be caused by a USB wireless card mated to particular Asus motherboards, and other motherboards that work particulary bad with USB devices/modems.

This was the case with my PC, swoped the PC (with different motherboard) and it's fine.

Caused by the motherboard not supplying enough power to the self powered USB device, which draws more power than the motherboard can give. Often on heavy downloads it would hang the connection.

 

[R2D2]

My daughters one is a plug in usb job

 

[NormanB]

A pci plug in jobby ain't expensive and they are tidier too (if you have a free slot).

 

[peterchurch]

I recommend using the linksys 54g cards they are much more stable than DLINK ones but they can be a total PITA to set up though (waisted 2 hours this morning convincing my existing card that it wanted to work after I rebuilt my laptop working now though and giving me 54G through to stone walls !!!)

channel dropping can be caused by a number of factors but I don't think the encryption level will be one of them.

The main types of things that will cause problems are
microwaves, cordless phones, automatic doors, and in short anything that uses the 2.4g radio frequency. The best thing to do is to force the routers / cards to use each band in turn and then stick with one that gives least problems

I heard a very scarey story from my mate who I was working with on the roll out for a major 3g network a few months back.

"a network cell was consistently giving up bad data so they sent a team down to look at it. When they got there they did some background interference tests, and found a nearby house was giving out enough frequency interference to cook a small chicken !!! no arials or masts on its roof just a normal house. It got refered to the RSA and they raided the place and took away whatever it was that was causing the problems. But it just shows you how prevalent leaked & crappy radio signals are in built up areas!!"

ping !!

 

[Flyer]

So, Ian, what did you decide in the end?

 

[rirhill]

Andrew
I am going to go with your suggestion Linksys WAG54G . Next month paycheck. I need to work out how to connect the network next. I am just getting used to broadband which has just gone live. :bannana:

How sad am I. Thanks for your advise.

Cheers everyone

Ian

 

[joe]

To find "hot spots" there are devices which will indicate them...or drive/walk around with lap top open. ....or you can use this Link

Just put the city you require.....There are many other sites if you search.

Good Luck
Joe

 

[jimmy]

Just to back up what others have said, I have the Linksys WAG54G, it works very well, I found the install instructions a bit complicated but did mangage to get it all working. Something went wrong with the settings but Sym sorted it for me.

Incidentally I got mine from a local computer fair, less than £90 for the router and 2 wireless laptop thingies.

 

[Flyer]

I am going to go with your suggestion Linksys WAG54G . Next month paycheck. I need to work out how to connect the network next. I am just getting used to broadband which has just gone live.

Nice one. Let us know if you encounter any problems.

(My broadband went down yesterday for an hour or so; God, I was lost without it )