Wireless Router Advice

[Plane Sailing]

As for security, the brand doesn't really matter, but some might be easier to set up properly. Use WPA2 encryption (make sure the cards and router support this, degrade in order to WPA, then WEP). Don't broadcast. Use MAC address filtering (each card will have a MAC address, tell your router to only accept the two MAC addresses of your cards and nothing else). Don't put anything in DMZ. Only do port forwarding (sometimes called applications or gaming in router configs) if you understand why you are doing it. Always ensure you are using an SSL encrypted site when sending sensitive info across the internet.

Quoted for emphasis.

It never fails to surprise me the number of people who have unsecured wireless networks broadcasting their existence in residential areas. Surprising because it is pretty straightforward to configure in most cases.

I've had a netgear 8xxx wireless router for a couple of years and it has performed perfectly.

Modern wireless networks should easily handle the bandwidth from your cable modem.

 

[Jeremy]

I recommend a netgear wireless router. Comparable to a linksys, but you won't have to power cycle it as often.

 

[BlueBlackRed]

I've only owned two wireless routers, both of them Belkin.
The first one died after 3 months, they replaced it with a second one...which died after another 3 months.

After that I just broke out the drill and tossed the wireless.

 

[ssampier]

I've only owned two wireless routers, both of them Belkin.
The first one died after 3 months, they replaced it with a second one...which died after another 3 months.

After that I just broke out the drill and tossed the wireless.

Fast Ethernet in the home.

Now we just need Internet speeds to match

 

[Fenris]

Thanks all for your help. After some research I picked up a linksys WRT54G. Set it up and after a few glitches (like trying to put in the network key for the password ) It seems to be working just great. I had it set to WPA2 and couldn't get my laptop to connet. Once I set it to WPA I had no problems.

I did as instructed and turned off broadcasting, although I found I had to turn it on to add my wife's laptop. I have it set to only recognize the MAC addresses of our two computers as well.

Now one piece of advice from reanjr said not to put anything in DMZ. That I haven't figured out if I am doing or not. The DMZ light on my router id not on though. Otherwise it has been great thanks again for the help!

Fenris

 

[Thanee]

One piece of advice... once you have everything set up, SAVE the settings (there's an option, that lets you do that)!

Bye
Thanee

 

[Redrobes]

reanjr said not to put anything in DMZ. That I haven't figured out if I am doing or not.

It takes a small amount of effort to put stuff into DMZ. If you havent tried to do it then its not in it.

You should know that by doing what you have listed, you are in the tiny minority of people with a reasonably secure WiFi !

 

[Thanee]

Did you also enter a WPA Shared Key (which should be some cryptic phrase with letters, numbers, and special characters instead of a simple word; you do not really need to remember it, anyways, you can look it up in the admin panel of the router, if necessary, and you only need to enter it once when you set up your computer's or laptop's wireless connection)?

Bye
Thanee

 

[Fenris]

Did you also enter a WPA Shared Key (which should be some cryptic phrase with letters, numbers, and special characters instead of a simple word; you do not really need to remember it, anyways, you can look it up in the admin panel of the router, if necessary, and you only need to enter it once when you set up your computer's or laptop's wireless connection)?

Bye
Thanee

Yeap, sure did. Although they refered to it as a network key. But yes, I had to provide it when I set up the two laptops.