Setting up Laptop and wireless.

[BaZa®]

Hi yer I have already a netgear wireless router but at the monment it is used plugged straight into the pc. I have now got a laptop and would like any helpfull hints about setting it up.

Helen's pc man at her work has told her to tell me this: He says when you go wireless you must be sure to be VERY SECURE. There are three methods of security, but if poss you should use all three when setting up

1.Highest possible BIT RATE ENCRYPTION
2.Restricted MAC addresses
3.Hide SSID

but WTF does that all mean?

Originally Posted by BaZa ®

Hi yer I have already a netgear wireless router but at the monment it is used plugged straight into the pc. I have now got a laptop and would like any helpfull hints about setting it up.

Helen's pc man at her work has told her to tell me this: He says when you go wireless you must be sure to be VERY SECURE. There are three methods of security, but if poss you should use all three when setting up

1.Highest possible BIT RATE ENCRYPTION
2.Restricted MAC addresses
3.Hide SSID

but WTF does that all mean?

BaZa,

You will first need to work out how to connect to the netgear router (probably by typing the ip address of the router into your browser). Once on, you will find options for setting the encryption etc.

If you are struggling, pm me your number and I will try and help.

Cheers

BW

[girlyglide]

Originally Posted by BaZa ®

Hi yer I have already a netgear wireless router but at the monment it is used plugged straight into the pc. I have now got a laptop and would like any helpfull hints about setting it up.

Helen's pc man at her work has told her to tell me this: He says when you go wireless you must be sure to be VERY SECURE. There are three methods of security, but if poss you should use all three when setting up

1.Highest possible BIT RATE ENCRYPTION
2.Restricted MAC addresses
3.Hide SSID

but WTF does that all mean?

It means you should leave it to someone who knows what they are doing

1. the higher the encryption bit rate the hard it is to crack the passphrase if you use one (although about two minutes with the right software will crack WEP encryption)

2. Every network card in the world has a unique MAC address. If you limit the access to the wireless router to the MAC addresses of machines you want to use it will stop other machines connecting to it. To get the MAC address of a machine running Windows type the command ipconfig /all in a dos window.

3. Every router has an SSID (a name). Scanners look for the SSID of a router and then try to gain access to the resource. If you set the router not to broadcast the SSID then scanners will not be able to see your router.

Everything clear then? Good!

I'll be asking questions later.

[robbiemac]

Hi Baza, check out this site. All you need to know about just what you asked. Probably got your model on it as well. Go to "Reviews" and see if you netgear is in there.

thinkbroadband :: The UK's largest independent Broadband / ADSL review site - Your guide to UK broadband Internet.


Used to be called adslguide.org then they rebranded, useful site.

[Gary_M]

Originally Posted by BaZa ®

Hi yer I have already a netgear wireless router but at the monment it is used plugged straight into the pc. I have now got a laptop and would like any helpfull hints about setting it up.

Helen's pc man at her work has told her to tell me this: He says when you go wireless you must be sure to be VERY SECURE. There are three methods of security, but if poss you should use all three when setting up

1.Highest possible BIT RATE ENCRYPTION
2.Restricted MAC addresses
3.Hide SSID

but WTF does that all mean?

It's as well you're having to sort this out now because your router will have been offering your broadband wirelessly since you plugged it in. Ask your next door neighbour if he can help you with wireless security. If he can he's probably been stealing your bandwidth for months

Sorry..all the useful advice had already been given before I saw this

[BaZa®]

Thanks for all the replies.

I am now using the laptop with 100% connectivity. All sorted from your advice, and secure and hidden SSID.