Please Help - Can I do wireless with NTL ??

[kippax]

Hi all I currently have NTL Broadband (looking to change soon) & I have just ordered a new Laptop with wireless connection. I have been reading Shady's post but as I am a complete computer numpty some is over my head. Can I run wireless from my broadband connection? & If so how & what do I need ?
I know I need a wireless router but which one do you recommend? & how much should I pay for one? What do I do when i've got one ?
I want one that I will be able to transfer to a different rovider if I do change.
Sorry for all the questions but I really am a novice with computers & would appreciate any help given.

Thanks
Howard.

[Plotloss]

Yes, you need a Wireless Broadband Router

D-Link, Netgear

They all sell 'em

[boiler]

You can do wireless with NTL - it depends whether you have cable or adsl connection. I had a cable connection, and my cable modem had an ethernet connection rather than a USB connection, which simply plugged into the WAN connection on the wireless router.
I have a linksys box, and it was very easy to setup, and very reliable.

If you have an ADSL connection, then you can buy a combined ADSL modem/wireless router which can be configured to match your providers settings. I am sure linksys do this sort of kit as well, but I have not used it.

If you have a cable connection, drop me a mail. My wireless router is doing nothing at the moment, so you may be able to have that for the cost of postage...

Andy.

[pmanson]

Yes you can. I'm currently posting via wireless using an NTL connection.

I use a Linksys WRT54g router which I would recommend.

Simply plug the CAT5 cable from the NTL modem into the Wireless Router and away you go.

Remember to set up the Wireless security though.

Easy peasy! If you need any help let me know.

Phill

[puggit]

pmanson said:

Yes you can. I'm currently posting via wireless using an NTL connection. I use a Linksys WRT54g router which I would recommend. Simply plug the CAT5 cable from the NTL modem into the Wireless Router and away you go. Remember to set up the Wireless security though. Easy peasy! If you need any help let me know. Phill

Ditto here - with linksys wireless card in the laptop.

Try to avoid Belkin

[pdV6]

puggit said:

Try to avoid Belkin

Any particular reason? I find their kit pretty ok usually.

[kippax]

pmanson said:

Yes you can. I'm currently posting via wireless using an NTL connection. I use a Linksys WRT54g router which I would recommend. Simply plug the CAT5 cable from the NTL modem into the Wireless Router and away you go. Remember to set up the Wireless security though. Easy peasy! If you need any help let me know. Phill

I presume the cat 5 cable that you talk about is the one coming from set top box? (Told you I was a numpty!) if so does that mean my home pc will be wireless too or can i keep that as is ? Only really interested in Laptop being wireless.
Do you still get same download speed on wireless(3meg) ?

Thanks for offer of help i'm sure i'll end up taking you up on that!

Howard.

[pdV6]

kippax said:

I presume the cat 5 cable that you talk about is the one coming from set top box?

If by "set top box" you mean the cable modem that's attached to your PC via a network card, then yes.

[puggit]

pdV6 said:

puggit said: Try to avoid Belkin Any particular reason? I find their kit pretty ok usually.

To be honest, I found their software abominable! Sometimes I could see a wizard to set security, sometimes it wasn't there!

Mind you, with linksys I had to ignore the proprietry software entirely to avoid lock ups and BSOD. Just installed the drivers and used Windows wireless tools. With XP sp2 it's a doddle

[pmanson]

kippax said:

pmanson said: Yes you can. I'm currently posting via wireless using an NTL connection. I use a Linksys WRT54g router which I would recommend. Simply plug the CAT5 cable from the NTL modem into the Wireless Router and away you go. Remember to set up the Wireless security though. Easy peasy! If you need any help let me know. Phill I presume the cat 5 cable that you talk about is the one coming from set top box? (Told you I was a numpty!) if so does that mean my home pc will be wireless too or can i keep that as is ? Only really interested in Laptop being wireless. Do you still get same download speed on wireless(3meg) ? Thanks for offer of help i'm sure i'll end up taking you up on that! Howard.

Yes it is. On the back of the router I recommended is a hub. You have one CAT5 cable going to connect to your set top box. (Normally labelled WAN). Then 4 other ports which you can plug in your home PC into. You may have to plug your PC into this first to set up the Wireless LAN. Very simple to do!

[puggit]

pmanson said:

Very simple to do!

The tricky part for IT numpties is securing the network, as the people at number 22 haven't found yet

[CommanderJameson]

puggit said:

pmanson said: Very simple to do! The tricky part for IT numpties is securing the network, as the people at number 22 haven't found yet

Not if you have a Buffalo router and a Windows computer; you install the magic software on the PC, press a button on the router, and it automagically sets up a secure connection.

Dead good, that is.

[aldi]

ot: I thought you'd be too busy shipping precious metals from Formalunt to Alfa-Centuri to worry about these earthly matters

[CommanderJameson]

aldi said:

ot: I thought you'd be too busy shipping precious metals from Formalunt to Alfa-Centuri to worry about these earthly matters

That's computers from Leesti to Diso, I'll have you know.

[shadytree]

I just sorted my wireless security out last night. As recomended by Rich, I used Zone Alarm. looks a decent program

[rsvmilly]

shadytree said:

I just sorted my wireless security out last night. As recomended by Rich, I used Zone Alarm. looks a decent program

ZA is a software firewall.

Wireless security involves using a unique key to limit access to your wireless router. Without this, neighbours can piggy-back on your connection.

[shadytree]

rsvmilly said:

shadytree said: I just sorted my wireless security out last night. As recomended by Rich, I used Zone Alarm. looks a decent program ZA is a software firewall. Wireless security involves using a unique key to limit access to your wireless router. Without this, neighbours can piggy-back on your connection.

SO am I using the correct application to limit access to my network ?

[puggit]

rsvmilly said:

shadytree said: I just sorted my wireless security out last night. As recomended by Rich, I used Zone Alarm. looks a decent program ZA is a software firewall. Wireless security involves using a unique key to limit access to your wireless router. Without this, neighbours can piggy-back on your connection.

The things you need to do are:

1) Set up MAC address filtering - each network card (in this case wireless network card) has a unique serial number. By entering these into the router you limit access to the router to only your cards.
MAC addresses can be 'spoofed' by professional hackers, but it will stop your neighbours piggy backing

2) Remove the Wireless SSID broadcast. This is essentially the name of your wireless network and is broadcast from the router, allowing PCs to see it and connect to it. Change the name from the default (normally 'linksys', 'belkin' etc.) to something you know, and then configure that on your PC also.

3) Enable encryption - too much to go in to here, but I'd be happy to help anyone who needs advice. Essentially this scrambles your information through the airwaves.

4) Change the password for accessing your router. Otherwise anyone can get in and lock you out (although a hard reset on the box will fix this!

A good habit is to periodically check the dhcp clients table on your router to make sure you don't have any uninvited PCs on your network

[CommanderJameson]

rsvmilly said:

shadytree said: I just sorted my wireless security out last night. As recomended by Rich, I used Zone Alarm. looks a decent program ZA is a software firewall. Wireless security involves using a unique key to limit access to your wireless router. Without this, neighbours can piggy-back on your connection.

There's another approach to wireless security; MAC filtering.

Every network device has a unique MAC address. You can configure your router to only allow certain MAC addresses to use it.

If your MAC address isn't on the list, you cannot access the router.

Keeps the neighbours off.

[rsvmilly]

puggit & Comanderjameson said:

...much more detail than me

shadytree said:

SO am I using the correct application to limit access to my network ?

ZA would limit other PCs, who have gained access to your network, from accessing your individual PC.

To stop them getting into the network - wirelessly - you need to follow the steps above.