how to use WPA wireless protection?

[Rudyard]

I want to secure 2 different wireless networks currently floating around unprotected (to my knowledge)

I just dont quite understand what im doing so if someone could tkae me through the steps that would be great.

NETWORK 1 - A vista machine connected by ethernet cable to cable net connection via WL-520GC ASUS wireless router and a WIN XP SP2 laptop with wireless network card (plugs into the credit card looking sloton laptop), connects to net via wireless connection.

Now they dont really share files, just a net connection but if enabling file sharing is part of the process I guess I would set that up, but if its a whole new deal dont worry.

NETWORK 2 - My home PC is getting a cable connection, the ISP is giving me a wireless modem and the VOIP company is giving me a wireless router/phone adapter to use VOIP with my normal phones.

Is there any trickyness with setting up protection and not affecting VOIP?

I heard you need WPA protection as a MAC address is easy to bypass but I dont know how to do it and dont want to block out things I want to be able to connect (laptop on NW1 and VOIP on NW2).

I would really appreciate it if someone could help me understand how all this works.

Thanks in advance.

[paulw]

+1

[redwudz]

Depends on the router. With my Netgear router, I just went to the 'Wireless Settings' page and choose WPA encryption. It asked for a password. I created the password and saved it and then went to my Vista laptop and it saw the router and asked for the password. I put the same one in and it was connected. About as simple as that.

If you can access your router from your wireless PC already, you have the connection. You just have to enable WPA encryption. I chose 'WPA2-PSK [AES]'. With a Netgear router you access it with your PC web browser by using 192.168.1.1 for a address and then the login and password. (You want to change that password from the default one.) D-link routers use 192.168.0.1. Most routers use one or the other.

Make up any WPA password you want. My router has these limitations: (8-63 characters or 64 hexdigits) You can also turn off the SSID broadcast and you will be mostly invisible. And you can add MAC address filtering for even more security.

Other than that, all the info you need is in your router manual. If you have a problem, start over.

[Nelson37]

VOIP is totally unaffected by encryption.

Many new Comcast routers with phone are using different default IP addresses.

Simple method that ALWAYS works to find router's IP - Start, RUN, CMD, IPCONFIG /all, the Gateway address is the router. Do this from a PC connected by wire.

Changing the router's default password is at least as important as setting encryption. Not doing this is like putting a lock on the front door and leaving the window wide open.

There are several types of encryption. Some may interfere with certain combinations of router/wireless card, and particularly with some "hi-performance" features. Be prepared to try different options.

[Rudyard]

Thanks both for the advice, I also have a netgear router and I managed to set it and connect successfully!

[Rudyard]

With a Netgear router you access it with your PC web browser by using 192.168.1.1 for a address and then the login and password. (You want to change that password from the default one.)

Actually this is the one part I failed at.......where do I find the setting to change the password? Using a netgear like yours so it is prob similar.

[redwudz]

At least on my Netgear router, it's listed on the main menu:



The default PW is 'password' and the login is 'admin'. Very easy for anyone to guess both. Make sure you write down the new PW, or you will have to reset the router and redo all your settings if you lose or forget it.

[Rudyard]

many many thanks its all working!