Wireless Router Opinions Needed

[Fairhope]

I'm about to delve into the world of wireless internet for the first time. My wife got tired of me hogging up the computer with all of my encoding and decided to purchase a laptop with a wireless card.

I was going to purchase the Linksys wireless router WRT 54G for $50US when I came across the "new and improved" signal booster model WRT 54GS for $70US.

My question, is it worth it? The main computer will be in the basement and her laptop will be used two floors up. Does anyone have any experience with these two models?

Thanks, Ty

[BJ_M]

WRT 54GS (many firmware versions) are pretty good - if 2 floors apart, i'd go with this model --

[Fairhope]

Good enough for me. I'm headed to the store now.

Thanks, Ty

[dun4cheap]

I agree the wrt54gs is a great router. Don't skimp and buy the wrt54g, it has less memory.

[Fairhope]

Thanks again.

Just hope it's easy to set up. If not, I'll be back here asking for more advice.

[TooLFooL]

great router, but can't you find a better price?!

also, BE SURE to turn on wireless security. it will be OFF by default, and you want to turn it on and set a password!

[dun4cheap]

The new versions have the new security button on them. Fry's usually runs it on sale every other week for $69.99

[kschang]

You don't really need the Speedbooster. Get the regular version for like $40 after rebates when it's on sale.

[rkr1958]

great router, but can't you find a better price?!

also, BE SURE to turn on wireless security. it will be OFF by default, and you want to turn it on and set a password!

I used to run my wireless router (different brand) with 128-bit WEP. However, I kept suffering from dropouts and we have a 1-story house. I switched that off to no encryption, however, I configured my router to filter on MAC addressed and I only allow those devices (desktops connected via LAN, wireless laptop via WAN and TIVO via WAN) to connect. Though my wireless signal is unencrypted you can only connect if your network card has one of the MAC addresses that I've included. So this keeps unwanted people from connecting to my network. In reality only that my next door neighbors.

The only susceptibility to this setup is if someone was intercepting my wireless transmissions to and from my laptop and were "decoding them". I'm not sure what kind of sophisication that requires (I assume it's fairly sophisicated) but given my neighborhood, the low-frequency we use our laptop to connect and when we do what data we transfer I'd rate that susceptibility as extremely low risk.

[BJ_M]

it is very easy to spoof a MAC address - and most wireless routers will even send the spoofer the required MAC address

[rkr1958]

it is very easy to spoof a MAC address - and most wireless routers will even send the spoofer the required MAC address

I didn't know that. Is it really that easy to get a router to give up one of the valid MAC addresses?

[BJ_M]

yes

[ROF]

It sure is. I recommend never operating a wireless network without encryption enabled. If you are experiencing drop outs it might be time to consider, moving the router to a better transmission/reception location, adding a range extender, adding a bigger gain external antenna, or perhaps replacing your router with something more suited to your environment.

In my experience, all wireless routers in the same class are not created equal. Some are better than others in certain environments.

[Fairhope]

Thanks for everyone's input. I purchased the router last night and installed it. Of course, I went by the guidelines Linksys had recommended by viewing the CD-Rom prior to hooking up the router. Unfortunately, once the router was hooked up, Linksys couldn't connect to the internet. So I was on the phone with tech help for about 30 minutes, but they did get it working.

I was also able to connect using my wife's new laptop and am getting full signal two stories up from the router.

However, as everyone has said, I apparently have no security systems enabled. Windows on the laptop found the "unsecured" router and connected without any help from me.

I'll now need to do some research on enabling the various security features of the Linksys as well as reading up on the Wi-Fi security features of Trend Micro PC-cillin which is my virus protection.

Any suggestions on particular areas to focus on would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[ROF]

Areas to focus on would depend on the router you bought. Most include some form of WEP encryption. The settings would be in the software.

[Fairhope]

The router is a Linksys WRT54GS with PowerBoost. No software came with the router.

When speaking with the Linksys helpdesk, it appears I change the settings by inputting the default IP address in Internet Explorer and then providing a default password.

In looking at their website, it appears I should be able to activate some WEP and WPA, etc. encryption device. It looks like one is static and the other is dynamic. They recommend the dynamic. I'll have to play around with it tonight.

[TooLFooL]

yes exactly, type in that ip address (192.168.0.1 or something?) and click the 'wireless' tab and you see all the security tabs beneath. change the network name to something other than 'linksys', anything you like. also, if you click 'disable' SSID broadcast, your wireless connection will not appear to others. under 'security' tab, set a WPA key that all your other computers must use to connect. and mac filtering doesn't hurt.

i too did not realize it was so easy to fool mac filtering. another good reason to turn off the SSID broadcast...

true using all the security can slow you down a bit, but DO IT!!

[rkr1958]

I'm glad I read and posted in this thread. After reading BJ_M and ROF responses to how easy it is to get and spoof a MAC address I reenabled 128-bit WEP encryption. After reading your posts I had this vision of some teenager in my neighborhood hooking into my network, downloading music and me getting a letter from the RIAA saying I'm being sued for $X. Or worse, someone going to some illegal site ... It was late last night and maybe I was just parnoid but I'm now running with encryption ... Thanks guys.

[TooLFooL]

EXACTLY! i never understand why people say, "so what if someone else uses it? i don't notice...."

...never under-estimate your neighbors!