wireless network newbie - basic questions!

[spurty]

Just replaced my network cable with a Wireless G Router and Desktop Network Card (both made by Belkin) and miraculously my new wireless network WORKS, speed as fast as before. But can anybody help at all with a few basics...?

Is the router supposed to run 24/7 or can you make it power down when your pc switches off.?

Running in domestic home, very much doubt any near-neighbours have wireless network, do I need to use security / encryption.? And if so does it affect speed at all.?

Signal strength generally says 'low' but downloads fast and stable, so should I worry about signal strength.?

Router has own firewall which is enabled by default (although some more secure features aren't at the mo)...can I now do away with trusty zonealarm (free basic version).?

Finally I have 2 icons in my system tray, suggesting windows xp AND belkin's own utility are managing my connection. Belkin manual says right-click winxp icon and choose 'View Available Wireless Networks / Advanced' to switch off winxp management, but there are no available networks listed and the advanced button is greyed-out...?

Any help with the above, or a site / forum which caters for total newbies like myself appreciated...thanks...

[glockjs]

yes, router is fine being on all the time...

i would encrypt the signal, you never know..anybody can walk or drive by if they wanted to as well. it effects the speeds a little....


as long as you get signal your fine...


i would keep zonealarm....


dont bother with the icons if everything is up and running fine...

[gummyAvenger]

Like glockjs said, you definitely need to use encryption. If someone did gain access to your network, they could lock you out of it or even delete your files. They might even use it to download/view illegal stuff, and since it's your internet connection, you would get blamed for it if there was ever any legal action taken.

If it were my computer running XP with Service Pack 2, I would ditch ZoneAlarm as long as XP's built in firewall is running and XP is set up to do automatic updates.

If it were mine I would also uninstall the Belkin software and just use Windows XP's built in wireless capabilities (might still need to have the Belkin drivers though). Then again, if it ain't broke, don't fix it (if you aren't comfortable fixing it if it gets broken further )

[glockjs]

If it were my computer running XP with Service Pack 2, I would ditch ZoneAlarm as long as XP's built in firewall is running and XP is set up to do automatic updates.

eh, whens the last time u trusted microsoft to be 100%? i would have at least sort of firewall. router works but it doesnt get regular updates like software

[gummyAvenger]

If it were my computer running XP with Service Pack 2, I would ditch ZoneAlarm as long as XP's built in firewall is running and XP is set up to do automatic updates.

eh, whens the last time u trusted microsoft to be 100%? i would have at least sort of firewall. router works but it doesnt get regular updates like software

The built in firewall with SP2 does pretty much the same thing as ZoneAlarm
Anyway, I don't think MS is as bad as everyone makes them to be. Still, for the average internet user some extra software may be necessary. I ran for at least a couple years without any antivirus software and never had a virus or spyware. I occasionally had to install antivirus and adaware before connecting to the company network, and they never found anything. I always got rid of them though because they annoy me. :P I'm very cautious though about what gets on my computer and I know what to look for, so I suppose I have an advantage over the average user.

[p_l]

Finally I have 2 icons in my system tray, suggesting windows xp AND belkin's own utility are managing my connection. Belkin manual says right-click winxp icon and choose 'View Available Wireless Networks / Advanced' to switch off winxp management, but there are no available networks listed and the advanced button is greyed-out...?

I have the same Belkin setup. The advantage to letting the Windows XP utility manage your connection is that if you lose your connection, you can simply right-click on its system tray icon, select Repair, and voilà, you're reconnected. With the Belkin utility I often found that I had to reboot to reconnect.

[spurty]

thanks for all the replies...i'm going to

happily let my router run 24/7

enable one form of encryption and see if it slows my transfers down

not worry about connection, downloads are super stable and fast

try that "shields up" site to see if i can lose trusty zonealarm, any doubts i'll keep it

try disabling / uninstalling the belkin app and use win xp

what's the betting i will be sans connection / pulling my remaining hair out in about 45 mins???