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#191281 12/23/09 03:49 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 301
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JValdes Offline OP
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I just received a wireless router for a new laptop I got my wife for Christmas. It is a Lyksys 'N' Ultra Range plus. 300 mbps. Model WRT160N.

My house is about 2500 square ft and she will have at minimum, 1 block wall and one studded wall between the router and the laptop point of use. There are doors leading to all areas, and attic space above. I am counting on this routers range to be effective anywhere in the house? Comments, suggestions appreciated.....Thanks John

JValdes #191288 12/23/09 05:42 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 745
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Member
You should be OK. My house is 3,000 SF and I get good signal from the second floor to the basement, even with a wireless IP phone. The signal does degrade when I get more than about 50 feet outside the house, but then I'd want it to be that way.


---Ed---

"But the guy at Home Depot said it would work."
EV607797 #191290 12/23/09 06:05 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
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I can see my neighbor's router and he is 3 houses away but I do have LOS.


Greg Fretwell
JValdes #191291 12/23/09 06:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 8,443
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John,
Sounds OK to me.
I have my router out in my workshop in behind the house and it covers pretty much all of my property.
When I first installed it, I had the opposite problem to you, in that I ended up turning it's transmit power down to about 70%, the less people that know you've got a wireless network, the better.

One thing I have learned with routers over the last few years, is to protect both the phone line and the mains input with surge diverter units, I'm on my fourth router in about 3 years due to voltage spikes and other such things.

One thing I cannot stress enough, is to use some sort of security on your network, WPA2 is the hardest to hack, so I'm told, but even just hiding your SSID can help make your network a bit more invisible to those outside your network.

Trumpy #191301 12/23/09 08:59 PM
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Mike, be sure you have the phone, TV cable and Telco surge protected at the service entrance and be sure you are all on the same ground electrode system with as short an GEC as you can get between surge protectors.

I still put ferrite beads on the cables past there and use aux surge protection at the machines that bonds all inputs together.

As for WiFi, I won't turn it on. I like wire.


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #191333 12/24/09 03:03 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 301
J
JValdes Offline OP
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Originally Posted by gfretwell


As for WiFi, I won't turn it on. I like wire.


Greg, Do you mean data wires physically run to the devices? I was going to run cat5e over to her work station and then changed my mind and went wireless. So she could use it anywhere in the house. I already had a 4 port router.
I live out in the country and the closest neighbor is about 75 yards from me and they have no network, I think.
If someone were to park in front of my house on the road, they would be at minimum 100' away.

Should I be concerned? And what steps should I take to prevent intrusion? I know nothing about this stuff. I use my PC for financial transactions.
The router itself has a firewall and "Wi-Fi Protected Setup". I have no idea what that means. It also says it has "Trend Micro" security software. I am familiar with Trend Micro. I also have protection on the main PC and the laptop.
I really do appreciate your responses.....John

JValdes #191338 12/24/09 03:38 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 745
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Quote
As for WiFi, I won't turn it on. I like wire.


Amen, Greg. Wired is the safest way to go.

John:

I have most of my devices wired to the router (and switch), but I do have one wireless IP phone so I kept the wireless transmitter turned on in my router. I also like for guests to be able to use their laptops when visiting, although I have wired outlets in most rooms for this purpose.

There's no doubt that the network should be set up with a unique SSID and password at a minimum. That alone will weed out the amateur hackers. John, remember that most of them are just neighbors who are too cheap to pay for their own Internet service. In those cases, your biggest risk is likely to be their surfing porn sites on your account. Still, you can never be too careful with secure account information.

If you are comfortable with a fixed set of devices on your network, try to go wired. If that isn't practical, then next level of security is to disable the DHCP function of your router and give each of your devices (computers, printers, etc.) their own unique IP address. Without an IP address that YOU assign in the router, it won't talk to a stranger's computer.

If this is all more than you feel you can handle, it wouldn't cost much to have a local "techie" come out and set up the security for you. That would probably be money well-spent.


---Ed---

"But the guy at Home Depot said it would work."
EV607797 #191342 12/24/09 05:35 PM
Joined: Jul 2004
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I just like wired devices. I suppose I could make a secure wireless network but since we don't have any portable PCs there is no real need for it. I do have a mile or two of wire strung around here that my wife hates but the cat 5 is just a small part of the problem.
We are about to switch from cable to satellite so I will probably end up with more wire.
I am going to clean it up SOME day ... but not today. wink


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #191343 12/24/09 06:06 PM
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As for range, My neighbor has a Linksys router at "X" and I can see it at "Y" but I don't know how well it would actually transmit and significant amount of data.
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/pinetree%20riverside.jpg


Greg Fretwell
gfretwell #191372 12/25/09 03:57 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 301
J
JValdes Offline OP
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Thanks everyone. Yes, I know about the el-cheapos that use others wireless networks for their Internet use. My sisters kids use their neighbors. They say the neighbor has allowed this.
My nephew also told me all I needed was a password? That he can pull up a list of all the wireless networks available to him in the neighborhood. He can also see if it is password protected? He then picks the one thats not password protected and uses it, as his own. His house is his free Wi-Fi spot.
He also told me he was able to get into one account that was password protect, by guessing the password. He also told me not to worry as someone could only use my connection, not see what I am doing or access any of my accounts? Is this true?

Greg. That shot of you're neighborhood makes me feel somewhat better. My house would be the only one visible in that shot.


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