wireless networking at home

[ryancw]

I'm running Libranet 3.0 on a desktop computer hardwired via Ethernet cable to a cable modem, which of course is wired into the wall with a coaxial cable. Also in the back of the cable modem is a single USB port. There is only one Ethernet port, and that is being used by the desktop computer. The Linux desktop computer does not have a wireless card.

My daughter wants to buy a used Apple iBook laptop. It has an Airport wireless card in it already.

What would be the simplest and cheapest way for me to set things up so that she can access internet at home, wirelessly? I don't want to mess up the internet connection that the Linux desktop has now.

Is there a wireless router that also has Ethernet ports, so I could plug in the desktop and let the new Mac laptop use wireless?

And is there any configuration or setup software involved in any of this? Or is it just a hardware matter?

Appreciate any advice.

Thanks.

[fos]

I purchased a Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router/Switch from Walmart for $49. Just plug the ethernet cable from your modem into the router. Your desk computer can then be plugged into one of the 4 ehternet ports on the router. You can then set up your daughter's laptop via the wireless signal. It is not too difficult. The setup information is included with the router.

I have never set up an apple laptop but the included instructions cover them.

I currently have all four available ethernet port in use and have had as many as three laptops running concurrently when Missy has had "homework sessions" here at the house with friends.

fos....

[ryancw]

Thanks.

I don't plan on sharing any files or printers, so not really a wireless network, I guess. Just a shared internet connection. Yours sounds like the solution I was looking for.

[fos]

Chris,

It is easy to set up as a home network if you ever choose to do so.

BTW, make sure you get an un-opened box if you go to Walmart or Radio Shack. I have found that in things electronic, re-taped boxes are a sure sign of trouble.

fos....

[ryancw]

Went to my local electronic store today and bought the WRT54G that you recommended, and had some pretty good results.

We don't currently have a wireless laptop, but my brother-in-law is visiting and he brought his, so I figured it would be a good time to set it up and at least see if it works.

Since the box said that some form of Windows is required (don't they all . . . sigh?) I decided to boot into Win98 first to set it up. I followed the instruction screens from the included CDROM and hit a dead end. Once it was all connected, my desktop (plugged into the back of the new router) was unable to access the internet.

So I powered off the computer and rebooted into LN, and the thing worked fine. Covers the house top to bottom, and all the yard.

There is a web-based administration tool, where supposedly I can change settings like security, DNS numbers, limit the number of wireless connections it will accept, even limit the time of day that the internet is available.

The security settings are where I ran into a bit of trouble. I enabled WEP and created keys. With WEP enabled, B-I-L's laptop identified the wireless network as "secure" or "encrypted" or something like that, and he was unable to connect. When I gave him the WEP key, he was able to connect, after a fashion. His WinXP said he was connected, with good signal strength, but his browser would not load any web pages. Will still have to look into that some. His laptop has some sort of firewall provided by his ISP, and that may have been the source of the trouble.

Wish I knew what all the alphabet soup on the adminstration page meant--MAC, WPA, NAT, so on and so forth. Will have to do some reading.

But the important things are OK: the thing seems to work, and it did not screw up internet access from my desktop PC. I took some satisfaction in the fact that a Windows-based device failed to work in Windows but worked instantly in Linux.

I was also amazed at the number of my neighbors who have wireless networks. We saw 3 of them on B-I-L's laptop as we strolled around our yard.

[mdevour]

Glad you are getting some results, Ryan.

My son succeeded in getting his new Nintendo Wii into our wireless network. It took a little more fiddling than it ought to, but I was able to glean answers to all his setup questions from the web interface of the access point.

It's common in most neighborhoods to see at least a couple of networks just about anywhere. Too often you'll even find one that's not secured.

The kids have a friend, a very bright young lad, who made up some handheld antennas and spent time cruising neighborhoods looking at the networks he could pick up on his laptop. He considered making a business out of home wireless network security by offering to help people set up their security. I think somebody suggested to him that there was no way to inform the network owners of their error without either remaining anonymous, which turned it into a charitable venture, or being vulnerable to accusations of trespass.

Definitely set up your encryption! <grin>

Be well,

Mike D.

[fos]

My daughter has a Belkin USB wireless unit. (It was $10 cheaper than the equivalent with Linksys.) It took some fiddling but it works fine on my network. I have also set up her homework friends laptops when they come over for study session.

I use WEP-128. Once you figure out how to set one up, the others will be easy.

The web setup page is located at: 192.168.1.1 via your browser. Make sure you set the admin user and password to something other than the default or anyone that makes it into your network and take control.

BTW, if you purchase a Linksys all you have to do is push a button on both the router and the receiver to "automatically" set up each unit. I have never tried it but that's what they advertise.

fos....

[ryancw]

So for now, I have the wireless access turned off (found the switch to do that in the web interface. I also have WPA2 encryption turned on (the router manual says that is stronger than WEP.)

Won't know until Christmas, when daughter gets the iBook, whether/how that security protocol is workable.

One neighbor's network is listed as unsecure in B-I-L's laptop. We could access it right from our kitchen table! Of course, we didn't, and I'll mention it to my neighbor, so he can address it.

I certainly can't be accused of doing things the easy way--trying to connect an Apple laptop via a Window's based wireless router, that accesses the internet via a Linux desktop!

But thanks to the help on this Forum, it's happening!

--Chris

[bluesdog]

My el-cheapo DL-624 has a 'mac-filter' setup whereby one can disallow or allow access to the system using each machine's mac number.
I find this is very handy, and I believe is quite secure, although I'm not too worried about anyone 'hacking' my network, since the nearest neighbour is well out of range -- about 1/2 mile away!:)
But I keep the filter active, just in case someone sneaks down the driveway some night...

[danieldk]

MAC addresses can easily be faked (ifconfig hw ether <address>).

Some time ago I had to take the train accross NL a few times per week. Once I thought it would be a fun exercise to continuously scan for wireless networks. You'd be amazed how many networks are not encrypted at all. Of course, in a train it isn't of much use, because you're out of range of a network in mere seconds :).

[bluesdog]

I also have WPA2 encryption active. The MAC filter is just another layer

(ok, call me paranoid!)

[stafio]

If you have an unencrypted network running, you could always have some fun (http://www.ex-parrot.com/~pete/upside-down-ternet.html) with anyone who is using your network to get online.

[deanlinkous]

no encryption for me!
usually use mac filtering - unless I am changing stuff around and forget to set it
dhcp handing out incorrect information, so if anyone manages to hop on they aren't hopping very far

Of course I also live in the back wood boonies of Virginia!

Oh, and yes PLENTY of open networks out there. Personal and business! One company in this area (rhymes with horizon) provided wireless devices to their new DSL subscribers and they were all setup to be wide open. Much like the other post I had considered offering a service to secure networks but was concerned about the same *hacking* issue.

[bhobjj]

If you have an unencrypted network running, you could always have some fun (http://www.ex-parrot.com/~pete/upside-down-ternet.html) with anyone who is using your network to get online.

Copyright violation! :)

[Red*Fox]

Id Go For what greer has, i also have the wrt54g wireless g-b router. IT works perfectly for me and my sony vaio mini laptop, Unfortnately broke last week :/ but never had any wireless problems running mepis on it.

Yes it is fun messing with the people that try to hack your network when their on, They help me increase my security as i watch what they do :P sometimes i manage to delete some of their files.:)