Wireless network up and running

V

vorlon24

Nori Brick
Tackler
I was quoted about £258 for a router and 2 pc cards to set up a wireless network, which included £45+VAT for labour to set it up.

I had a look on the internet and found a great deal; I paid £123 for the hardware, set it up, configured and locked it down myself.

I am feeling very smug at the moment!!!
 
give me a clue ,got the router got the software , got the laptop, the usb and ethernet cables the lot?????????????????????????????????????????
 
Well done Vorlon, but are you SURE its locked down? Tell me what you did to secure it and I'll say whether you are secure or not.

Ian
 
First of all I changed the password from password to something different, then I set the security encryption to WEP 64bit encryption.

I entered a passphrase (combination of letters and numbers), which generated 4 keys, selected one of them, hit apply then got immediately kicked off the network. I checked the connection status but I couldn't access the internet or pick up my emails, so I had to enter the passphrase and key number within the wireless assistant. As soon as I hit apply it connected me immediately.
 
You do know WPA is considered a far better option than WEP?

What about external access to your network. Have you checked for open ports etc? A lot of routers leave uPnP openby default(BAD idea). Have a mosey on over to www.grc.com, do the Shields up and probe my ports tests as a minimum.

Ian
 
Just remembered this link that is a good guide to setting up security properly. Pay particular notice to the bit about the WEP encryption algorythm being flawed.

Ian
 
Changed to WPA-PSK encryption.

I nearly strangled something a minute ago when I couldn't reconnect.

I have a question - how do the computers talk to each other, and how do I send a print job? The printers are wired to the desktop and I want to send a print job from the laptop
 
vorlon24 said:
I nearly strangled something a minute ago when I couldn't reconnect.
Click to expand...
That wouldn't have been me by any chance would it? :)

What do you mean about talk to each other? If you are talking about file sharing then you need to enable sharing on teh folder concerned. Then go into Network Connections or My Network places(I think its called this now, used to be Network Neighbourhood) and do an explore. Each computer should present their shares. There are some Windows Wizards that can help or hinder depending on your POV.


Printer sharing is just a case of going into the printers properties and select share this printer. Then on the laptop choose set up network printer and it should look for all shared printers.

Ian
 
entwisi said:
That wouldn't have been me by any chance would it? :)
Click to expand...

Well, it might have been, but in the absence of a computer literate penguin I would have had to find an inanimate object instead!!!
 
I can understand that feeling vorlon. Doesn't it make you chuffed when you manage to do something like that?

I liked the reassurance that entwisi was only a phone call away though in case I needed him.

(We got our router free when we went over to Bulldog, which was nice).
 
It sounds it but to be honest if you can follow simple instructions it is very simple. In fact 90 % of people who aren't PC savy will get it working faster than a lot of those who think they are because they will follow the instructions rather than thinking 'Oh, I know what I'm doing!' and then proceed to make a pigs ear of it. The hard part is knowing what instructions to follow. That is where weirdos like me who know what is required come in.

In my work, my job is to do the hard work in designing systems and doing initial builds , fixing problems etc and then documenting it so almost anyone could do it. The build guides I write are pretty much step by step, click this, type that. In truth, there are a heck of a lot of IT jobs that are actually just smoke and mirrors. If you can follow instructions then you could do the job.


Ian
 
I went with Netgear equipment as I heard that they make it very simple, and it was. You stick the cd in the drive and it takes you through step by step in setting up the network. You follow the instructions to the letter and click 'next' when you have done what it tells you.

I am glad that I did it myself - at least if something goes wrong I know what to check and may have a better idea of how to solve the problem than if I had someone else set it up for me.

Plus of course the smug factor!!!

Now I have been asked by a few colleagues if I can install their wireless networks!
 
Vorlon, don't forget that IT contract rates start at £35 an hour!

We have our mistique to uphold you know. :)
 
I dont have a problem i do two things 1 if 1 will not work the i go to 2
 
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