O.T. DSL W/ 3 computers

[Mr.Thomas Aaron Hero]

I am sick of dial up and I have DSL being installed friday. I have three computers in the house,one in the shop,my main computer and my daughters computer.

What is the easiest way to get them all hooked up? should I let the ISP do it or is there a cheaper way to do it my self?

Thanks for helping a computarded guy like me! A.H.

[jasonzielinski]

To run wire, or not to run wire. That’s the first question that you have to answer. Basically what you have to do is hook the DSL modem up to a router, which "splits" the internet up to the separate computers. you can then get it to the other computers either via wireless (must buy wireless cards for each computer) or with Ethernet cables (fat phone cords) the exception is that you can put the DSL modem and the router next to one computer and use an Ethernet cord to hook that one up, meaning that you would have to run cords, or do wireless to each of the others.

And as far as DIY vs. them doing it. A lot of times they don’t do it. They hook it up to one computer and then leave. That way they don’t have to support anything. If they do installation it, they will probably sell you overpriced hardware and charge a lot of labor.

Solution DIY! If you can read a manual, and follow directions, you’re good to go for wireless Best Buy is horribly expensive. if you don't want to open up the cases on the computers you can buy USB wireless devices. all in all id estimate $50 for router and $20-30 for each wireless computer.(make sure it’s secured, don’t want your neighbors looking up stuff that could get you in trouble)

[Mr.Thomas Aaron Hero]

Thanks alot! you answered all my questions!

A.H.

[dancarroll]

I agree re wireless. You can get a good deal at NewEgg.com. I like my linksys router a lot. I use a cheap TrendNet wireless card which works great. Biggest trick: you MUST MUST MUST MUST MUST AND DID I SAY MUST!!!!!!!!!! encrypt the wireless signal. When you figure out how to do that, then you have to write down your umpteen figure number-and-letter password, and put that into the software for your wireless card to connect. But once you figure that out, you are connected and good to go.

50-75 for router, 40 total for two cards, shipping, and if you are in Cali, tax for NewEgg.

Good luck.

Dan

[aduncan]

All the advice given thus far is great. I just wanted to add that the WPA type of encryption lets you paraphase the complicated code, thus making the key a whole lot easier to remember and type in. It will still have a mimimum length, but its reasonably short and you can use regular letters instead of hexidecimal.

And since a lot of people do forget their encrpytion key or router password, I recommend to write down all the relevent settings and either file them away where you'll remember, or just tape them to the bottom of the router. I figure that if an intruder is inside your house and able to read stuff off the bottom of the router, you have far greater things to worry at that point than your wireless network.

And many people get a little nervous hearing about wireless encryption for the first time. But once you get the setup going, it's really simple and self-explanitory and doesn't complicate your internet setup other than adding a few extra minutes to the initial install.

> I agree re wireless. You can get a good deal
> at NewEgg.com. I like my linksys router a
> lot. I use a cheap TrendNet wireless card
> which works great. Biggest trick: you MUST
> MUST MUST MUST MUST AND DID I SAY
> MUST!!!!!!!!!! encrypt the wireless signal.
> When you figure out how to do that, then you
> have to write down your umpteen figure
> number-and-letter password, and put that
> into the software for your wireless card to
> connect. But once you figure that out, you
> are connected and good to go.

> 50-75 for router, 40 total for two cards,
> shipping, and if you are in Cali, tax for
> NewEgg.

> Good luck.

> Dan

[unknownuser]

You may want to hold off a week for the router and wait until "Black Friday" for a sale. I picked up my Netgear wireless G router for $6 after an in-store rebate and mail-in rebate.

And I can't say it enough...change the login and password for your router when you get it, and then set up encryption.


(Originally posted by: A/V Dude)

[kec]

While we're on this topic. What wireless do you guys recommend? I've used D-Link stuff before (604 wired and 624 wireless) with mixed results. The 604 worked great, but with the 624 I've had problems. Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Ken

[unknownuser]

Provided Link: dd-wrt


Go with something that works with open source firmware. A linksys WRT54G(x) or buffalo WHR-G54S. You'll want to flash it with DD-WRT or OpenWRT (maybe even HyperWRT). These firmware give you many more options the hardware is capable of but the standard firmware does not incorporate. Options that are usually standard on MUCH more expensive enterprise routers.


(Originally posted by: DaveD)

[unknownuser]

> While we're on this topic. What wireless do
> you guys recommend? I've used D-Link stuff
> before (604 wired and 624 wireless) with
> mixed results. The 604 worked great, but
> with the 624 I've had problems. Any
> recommendations?

> Thanks,
> Ken

I have found Netgear and Linksys to be solid routers, I've used D-Link and sometimes they work sometimes they don't...but I think that Netgear, Linksys, D-Link, and Buffalo are some of the better ones out on the market.


(Originally posted by: A/V Dude)

[kec]

Thanks Dave,

I had no idea that there was open souce firmware for routers.

-Ken

> Go with something that works with open
> source firmware. A linksys WRT54G(x) or
> buffalo WHR-G54S. You'll want to flash it
> with DD-WRT or OpenWRT (maybe even
> HyperWRT). These firmware give you many more
> options the hardware is capable of but the
> standard firmware does not incorporate.
> Options that are usually standard on MUCH
> more expensive enterprise routers.

[thylantyr]

Wireless is for trendy geeks.

Wires still rule the homestead - hehehe

.. lol ...

[Mr.Thomas Aaron Hero]

My wife just handed me a box that her boss gave her a few months ago and low and behold it contains a D-Link 4-Port Ethernet Broadband Router #DI-604, It's brand new and was free.Is this something you guys would recomend?

Thanks! A.H.

[unknownuser]

Hello, I have the same model. It worked with both a cable modem, and a year later when the cost of that service shot up, telephone dsl. It was much more stable with cable, but works almost as well with TDSL.

I'm not sure how much computer knowledge that you have, and I'm no expert, but here are a couple of tips that might save you some time.

1. Security for the wired D-link 604.
With Cable, they installed their modem directly to the pc and when it worked, they left. They didn't install it to the D-link router. With TDSL, they ship the goods and you install it yourself. The problems with either of these initial setups (missing the middleman router) is the following. It is only good for one pc, and it lacks security, or a firewall.

The D-link is a hardware firewall. And/or you can also install a software firewall. But one of these should be installed asap, to prevent hacking, etc. Or course the modem output plugs into the router input, and then up to 4 pc's can be plugged into the router. The D-Link install guide does an excellent job describing the setup process.

2. Stability.
Cable: After putting the router between the modem and the pc, I couldn't browse the internet. Then I tried reading the directions, still no IP. The pc wasn't getting an IP address from the router. You can see this by typing in "ipconfig" or "ipconfig /all" at a start, run, cmd prompt. So, I had to make a tech call to the cable company. The fix was to perform the following while leaving the cat5 connections intact between the modem, router, and pc. Power the modem and router off (unplug), wait a minute or so, plug in the modem, wait a couple minutes, plug in the router, wait a minute, and the pc should get an IP.

Telephone DSL: The above seems to happen once every few weeks. Only with TDSL, I have to due the following. Power off the modem and router. Eliminate the router connections so that the pc's cat5 cable plugs directly into the modem. Power on the modem, wait a minute (and hope I don't get hacked, which is where a software firewall comes in handy). At the pc, I may have to type "ipconfig /release" and then "ipconfig /renew" to get an ip address. Once the pc has an address and I can browse the internet and/or get a succes response after typing "ping <A HREF="http://www.partsexpress.com">www.partsexpress.com</A>", then the modem is left alone. Unplug the pc's cat5 cable from the modem, and rehook the router up as the middleman between the modem and pc. Power on the router. Again, you may have to type "ipconfig /release" and "ipconfig /renew" to get a working address. So far, this procedure has solved the problem.

3. Firmware
The D-link install guide is easy to follow. Once you logon to the router, via a browser, there will be several options that you can setup, or you can upgrade the firmware. To update the firmware, go to <A HREF="http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=62">http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=62</A>. On the right side is a Firmware link to the instructions. After the firmware is updated, the browser will display a message that the router is rebooting and to wait. One time, I managed to mess with the router before this process was done, and it no work. So, I had to go to the library to use the internet for a few days. After unplugging it a few times and pressing the reset button until I saw a whiff of smoke, it started to work, but with all of its default settings! Next time I'll wait a few minutes and avoid the problem.

4. Settings
As-is, the default settings will protect your pc. Most of the changes are for extra stuff, like a particular game mode setting. But there are two changes I'd make.

First, change the admin password and write it in the install guide.

Second, click the Tools tab at the top of the screen, then the Misc. button on the left side of the screen, and Enable the Block WAN ping.

From the manual, "Block WAN Ping - When you “Block WAN Ping”, you are causing the public WAN IP address on the Broadband Router to not respond to ping commands. Pinging public WAN IP addresses is a common method used by hackers to test whether your WAN IP address is valid.
Discard PING from WAN side: By enabling this option, the DI-604 will not reply to ping (ICMP) request packets from the Internet."

Well, I guess I had this set right, after all.

5. Manual
If I remember right, the router only comes with a quick installation guide. When looking for the setting described in 4, above, I found a manual on the website. Dooohhhh! Very informative and explains the different settings.

Now to answer your question - recommended. Have fun!

> My wife just handed me a box that her boss
> gave her a few months ago and low and behold
> it contains a D-Link 4-Port Ethernet
> Broadband Router #DI-604, It's brand new and
> was free.Is this something you guys would
> recomend?

> Thanks! A.H.



(Originally posted by: Bob Roberts)

[AJ]

I just got hooked up last month and i love it! I got the at&t 3Wire modem/router. It's all in one little gray box. I hooked it up myself and ran wiring to one computer on the other side of the house. Personally, i don't notice a differance from the comp thats 2ft from the box, the comp 50ft from the box or the wireless laptop. They all get the same down/upload speeds. Although we got the wireless card for the laptop from dell when we got it so i can't recommend a reciever.

Running cables may be cheaper depending on the price of it (i don't remember what i payed), and most desktops 'puters come with network cards now-a-days anyway.

[daveh]

Provided Link: WPA crack


> I am sick of dial up and I have DSL being
> installed friday. I have three computers in
> the house,one in the shop,my main computer
> and my daughters computer.

> What is the easiest way to get them all
> hooked up? should I let the ISP do it or is
> there a cheaper way to do it my self?

> Thanks for helping a computarded guy like
> me! A.H.

There have been a number of posts which explain exactly how to get your home network up and going and some good recommendations for hardware. It is important to remember that there is not 100% secure wireless network. If someone can get close enough to your network to get a signal they can ultimately gain access.

If you do not store a lot of sensitive information on your home computers, like tax documents, legal correspondence, home finances, etc. You can use wireless with WPA encryption with the recommended 20 character passphrase and have nothing to worry about.

The best security would come from a good wired ethernet network. Use the router you have and run cat5 to each PC from the router and follow Bob Roberts suggestions.

The constant "ON" DSL connections are a good target for script kiddies out there. Make sure you have your router firmware up to date, run firewalls on your PCs, and use a good anti-virus program.

My .02

[Mr.Thomas Aaron Hero]

Thanks guys! I'll have to reread all this stuff in a couple days when it gets hooked up. Im gonna try and con the phone guy out of all the cables I need when he shows up!

I'm getting the DSL through the phone company,It's the only option in my area.I do wonder if it will always be online or will I have to "get online" when I need it?

A.H.

[AJ]

Mine is always connected, and comes in via phone line. Just double-click on IE and you're there.