Wireless networking is a pain
 

I have just bought myself that router from Maplin, the USR 54mbps one.
My problem seems to be when I try to share an internet connection using ics, ain't got adsl yet but planning on it, and turning on any kind of encrption. Windows complains about number of characters while the router couldn't give a hoot and continues to work happily, I do have sp2 for xp so is there another update or tip that could help, as I want to have a secure connection even though I know that no one in my area has pc that could connect. My connection drops sometimes when I tried to use the encryption when trying to login in.

Re: Wireless networking is a pain
 

Wireless networking isn't a pain, Windows networking is a pain.

Re: Wireless networking is a pain
 

I gave up wifi when I discovered that even 20cm of concrete between my room and the upper floor would suffice to break the signal.

Now I use PLN and it rocks. The only slight problem is that my woodputer's power supply makes parasites on the line from time to time. I must have a bad grounding in there.

Re: Wireless networking is a pain
 

I also have problems here with encryption. currently i'm just restricting MAC adresses, but that's as insecure as WEP. on some clients, the encryption works, on others, it doesnt, and if you switch them, the one not working aint working then. dunno if those driver coding ppl intended that the end user uses encryption.

and often, WPA isnt supported. it's just a mess. funnily it runs fine on the university campus, dunno what they did :) ... well, maybe it's the nice cisco access points, and other expensive stuff :D

Re: Wireless networking is a pain
 

I just managed to get it working with wep 128bit, is that safe?, and setup ics on the dial up pc while turning off the dchp on the router since I haven't got broadband yet.

Should I switch to wpa, does my usb adaptor that came with the kit support it?
I got the wireless kit including the router : USR5462. 54mbps.
I don't have any of my pcs set up to use any linux os yet, worried about lack of drivers.

Re: Wireless networking is a pain
 

just try using WPA - if it doesnt work, well, then it doesnt work :D

WEP has been proven to be unsafe, it can be cracked by listening to the data sent. but dunno how easy it is, if there are any programs for it on the web.

Re: Wireless networking is a pain
 

Right now I am trying to get ics working correctly. All my pcs but the pc directly connected to the internet time out. Not a firewall problem, I hope not anyway, since it worked before with the cables so why not when wireless.

Or maybe windows is always to blame?

Re: Wireless networking is a pain
 

oh great its my firewall preventing internet access for the other pc's, just switched to sp2 firewall on xp, I hope its safe.
I think 128bit encrytion should do fine since no one in range knows anything about computing so I should be safe, and don't worry I shall keep an eye out for any suspicous white vans.