Wireless - Should I take the plunge?

[Smirnoff]

BT Broadband 2MB
Took advantage of a BT offer of a Voyager 2091 wireless router for a tenner.
Also purchased a Belkin G wireless desktop PCI card (although not yet
installed).
Discarded my Speedtouch 330 modem and set up via an ethernet connection. No
problem.
Although I have no laptop or other device to wi-fi to, just my desktop, I
thought I would go wireless anyway .
However, reading various posts it appears that a lot of people regard going
from ethernet to wireless (with just one PC) as a backward step.
It appears that ethernet is more reliable and there could be signal problems
with wireless (although my PC is right next to my router).
1. As my PC is six inches away from my router, should I try wireless anyway?
2. If not, is there a way to (temporarily) turn off the wireless capability
of the router? Seems pointless otherwise.
Thanks

 

[Manny Borges]

There is no reason here to go wireless.

However, you can certainly get a wireless router, use a hard line to the
router and be ready and rearing to go with wireless support for a future
expansion. Like a wireless adapter for a game console for online play. Or a
wireless media streamer for you home entertainment system. Or another laptop
or palmtop. The actual cost between a wireless router and wired only router
is negligible.

Of course you could buy one and find out that in 7 months some super crazy
new wireless standard makes yours look like tinker toys and here you sit
without one wireless device and a piece of soon to be obsolete hardware. To
make matters worse you turned the router off for a week while you were on
vacation and when you got back you had four angry notes from your neighbors
complaining about how they lost their internet access while you were out of
town because you shut down your "free" access point. And to make matters
even worse you got a horrible sunburn on the first day and had a terrible
time. But I may be reaching on that one.

I guess what I am saying is that only you can decide if it makes sense, and
be aware of potential security issues such as leachers or sniffers.

--
Manny Borges
MCSE NT4-2003 (+ Security)
MCT, Certified Cheese Master

There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who understand binary and
those who don't.

 

[Smirnoff]

Should have read the posts before I bought the Belkin wireless PCI.
Having got it, I suppose I should try it though.
With such close proximity I hope I will not notice any difference.
Thanks.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Try it, see if you like it.

Generally, it is recommended that at least one machine be "hardwired" to the
router for maintenance, but otherwise try it and see if it works for you.
It's handy if you don't like running cabling, and from own experience there
is no significant noticable difference in access rate between wireless and
wired.

Note too that if you plan on upgrading the firmware for a router (something
that should be done only if the machine is having issues that will be
resolved by doing so), the machine used for this purpose must be hardwired
to it. Loss of connectivity during the upgrade can result in a dead router.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Smirnoff]

I haven't installed my PCI card yet.
Would I have to disconnect my ethernet connection to configure it?
I notice that wireless can be disabled in the Router Manager.
In other words, could I have both connected but choose whether I connect via
ethernet or wireless?

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" <[email protected]>

| Try it, see if you like it.
|
| Generally, it is recommended that at least one machine be "hardwired" to the
| router for maintenance, but otherwise try it and see if it works for you.
| It's handy if you don't like running cabling, and from own experience there
| is no significant noticable difference in access rate between wireless and
| wired.
|
| Note too that if you plan on upgrading the firmware for a router (something
| that should be done only if the machine is having issues that will be
| resolved by doing so), the machine used for this purpose must be hardwired
| to it. Loss of connectivity during the upgrade can result in a dead router.
|

Rick:

How can you make such a recommendation without expressing the security concerns and
ramification of "War Driving" and taking advantage of an unsecured WAP ?

 

[Mike Fields]

From: "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" <[email protected]>

| Try it, see if you like it.
|
| Generally, it is recommended that at least one machine be "hardwired" to the
| router for maintenance, but otherwise try it and see if it works for you.
| It's handy if you don't like running cabling, and from own experience there
| is no significant noticable difference in access rate between wireless and
| wired.
|
| Note too that if you plan on upgrading the firmware for a router (something
| that should be done only if the machine is having issues that will be
| resolved by doing so), the machine used for this purpose must be hardwired
| to it. Loss of connectivity during the upgrade can result in a dead router.
|

Rick:

How can you make such a recommendation without expressing the security concerns and
ramification of "War Driving" and taking advantage of an unsecured WAP ?

What Dave says. Do some serious looking at wifi security since
without any encryption (the default) you have put an ethernet
"jack" outside your house for anyone who wants to to simply
connect. This typically also allows them access to your side
of the network (as in it bypasses the firewall and allows them
to snoop/hack your computer). As a start, check out the
microsoft.public.windows.networking.wireless newsgroup
and the following links ...
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/index.php?p=43
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/bowman_05february10.mspx?pf=true
(watch for a wrap on the above link)
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_03july28.mspx
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/networking/wifi/default.mspx
http://www.ozcableguy.com/wireless.html

mikey

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

I didn't say he shouldn't, I was only responding to the query as to whether
or not to try it. Certainly securing the network with WPA or at least WEP is
important. Personally I like securing by mac addressing as well.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Rick "Nutcase" Rogers" <[email protected]>

| I didn't say he shouldn't, I was only responding to the query as to whether
| or not to try it. Certainly securing the network with WPA or at least WEP is
| important. Personally I like securing by mac addressing as well.
|

All the security applicable is best since WEP was hacked.

However, when someone posts a query about wireless, I think a security disclaimer is
warranted. Otherwise they'll be back hee asking how they got hacked.