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Wireless internet connection?

Eli M.

Eli M.

Life's like a movie, write your own ending
Jul 24, 2004
616
2
New York, NY
elimaniscalco.com
#1
I just moved into a new apartment and I am trying to obtain internet access. My roommate is able to pick it up from the place next door (as was the case in her last apartment) but I can't get it in my room. She tells me wireless is what we need, but neither of us knows anything about it.

So how does this work? What needs to be set up? Who needs to be paid? I am completely clueless about this stuff. If it makes any difference, my roommate has a laptop and I have a desktop computer. Thanks in advance for any help!
 
#2
For your own access, you will need a modem, a wireless router, and a wireless network adapter in your PC. You'll need to find out who your local ISP that offers broadband internet access, and pay them.

-Mike
 
#5
As old school as it sounds, I much prefer a wired network. It's faster, more reliable and less succeptible to theft. Nevertheless it's cheaper. Especially you with a desktop, that's not going anywhere really. On the other hand, your roommate's laptop, if he likes to roam around the apartment with it, wireless is a good idea.
 
#6
tplyons said:
As old school as it sounds, I much prefer a wired network. It's faster, more reliable and less succeptible to theft.
Click to expand...

I agree. Everything mission critical where I work is wired. We provide wireless access in the building, but no one does anything critical while on it.

-Mike
 
#7
baba said:
If you want to steal bandwidth like your roommate from the person next door you just need a wireless network card for your computer. Otherwise, do what MJ5150 said.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice, everyone. Looks like I'm going to do what MJ5150 said. I bought a wireless card and tried to steal bandwidth but I couldn't get it in my room.
 
#9
Trevorus said:
Does anyone know the legal standpoint on using open wireless networks that you may find?
Click to expand...

It is considered to be illegal, but each state seems to be dealing with it differently. You can be prosecuted for snooping around files on someones network, which is most often what people get caught doing.

-Mike
 
#10
MJ5150 said:
It is considered to be illegal, but each state seems to be dealing with it differently. You can be prosecuted for snooping around files on someones network, which is most often what people get caught doing.

-Mike
Click to expand...

I didn't really figure that browsing some sites would arouse all that much suspicion anyways. The way I look at it is radio signals are public property. Just like police radio, even. I can listen, but I cannot transmit lest I interfere with police operations. CB is open for aynone with a radio, and frs and such are as well. If you don't secure it, then you are leaving an open door for anyone with a wireless card.
 
#11
Trevorus said:
I didn't really figure that browsing some sites would arouse all that much suspicion anyways. The way I look at it is radio signals are public property. Just like police radio, even. I can listen, but I cannot transmit lest I interfere with police operations. CB is open for aynone with a radio, and frs and such are as well. If you don't secure it, then you are leaving an open door for anyone with a wireless card.
Click to expand...
I guess it would be easy to see it that way when you're not paying for it :rolleyes: If I was paying for bandwidth and some person next door was using it I'd be pretty pissed. Thankfully my network is secure!
 
#12
Even if you don't have any sensitive information on your PC I guess it is always a good idea to have security as high as possible in your wireless network.

Once you have your wireless network going you should fiddle with the user interface of the modem/router (here in Germany you always get those combined in one device; don't know about the states).

If possible set the security protocol/encryption to WPA, or better yet WPA2.
Use a long password for network access. The longer the better. Numbers, letters, capitals and... what do you call "small" letters?

Also set a password for access to the router/modem settings, otherwise someone could shut you out of your own network, and you'd have to reset the router/modem to factory settings and start over again.

Some routers also have the option of saying "don't allow new wireless connections". That's a good thing too, unless you often have friends with laptops over, who want to use your network.

Hope this helps.
 
#13
Some ISP's here offer straight wireless connection, but it's a tad more expensive and perhaps little less reliable - standard way is to get a normal broadband connection and use a second box called wireless router after that. After that what you need is a wireless card on your computer to pick up the signal.

Setting up a wireless router is not that difficult, if you buy a brand product they usually have quite good setup programs installed.
 
#15
Eli Maniscalco said:
My roommate's computer is a Mac and mine is a PC. Will that make any difference?
Click to expand...


Nope. I use both mac and PC. I have a wireless router that the mac is 'wired' to, and the PC is a laptop that is wireless. No compatability issues at all. In fact, I have it set up so that I can log onto the mac from my PC and transfer files. I also have a print server on the router, so I can print from the laptop and the mac to the same place.
 

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