Wireless connection--am I bad?

[JB]

How far out of my house with a G ROUTER WILL THE signal be able to be picked up and does the router (linsky) have a built in firewall. My friend just hooked this up for me. As you can tell, I don't have a clue, however this is working great and I look foward to having use of this on our motorhome trips. If anyone can tell me for security reasons what I should have, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If it's the typical WR54G type linksys router it will have a good built-in firewall. FOr secuirity you should change the administration password to something that's a reasonably good password (no dictionary words, numbers, and characters), then enable WPA encryption. You should be able to access the configuration settings for the router by entering the IP address 192.168.1.0 in the address bar of your web browser. You might need to ask your friend for the password. I thinkl the default password is blank. If you need help w/ setting up WPA check the manual first.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

You're such an uber-geek, CFB

Yes I am, with or without my pants on.

Jerry...about 100-1500 feet, depending on the router, how you've placed it, and the construction of the homes and other obstructions. If you mounted it on top of the peak of your roof, flat area, no trees, etc and have a very good router, maybe you get into the vicinity of 'seeing' it from 1500 feet away. On a desk or a shelf with a few walls, thick home construction, lots of trees, hilly area...you might have trouble picking it up from the street.

Take your laptop and start walking away with it. See where you lose the signal. Thats how far it can be picked up with your laptop. Some machines can be equipped with extra sensitive cards and a big "stick" antenna, and can pick up a signal from further.

Martha...to find out "who" owns the AP, either your laptops included software or freebie downloadable software you can detect signal strength and frequently distance. My new toshiba shows a radar/sonar type screen that shows how far away any available AP's are. Basically walk out the door and keep going until you're standing in front of someones house with the strongest signal level.

Fireme, Kramer: using someone elses AP without their permission may be morally gray, but its legally red. In many states this is considered illegally accessing a computer network. While the user has not taken actions to secure it, one also can leave their front door unlocked and have a reasonable expectation that someone wont come in and use their stuff. In some states you have to have made an attempt to secure the AP and the hacker has to have used extraordinary methods to gain access. In others, there is no hard law or precedent. In some states, it might land you in jail.

The other end of this is that if you do something illegal (say viewing kiddie porn) using the guys open AP (or if someone does it using YOUR open AP), its all you baby. The cops will come to your door and unless you can make a pretty good case for proof on it being some 'mystery' outside user you cant identify or name, buh bye.

 

[kramer]

Fuzzy, that is a good point about sharing w/o permission -- I actually did not know there was such a law for a wireless unsecured network emanating outside of the property. I was thinking of the fireme share it with your neighbor scenario, which is technically a contract violation. Also, liability issues for sharing even when you and neighbor agree to everything are something to consider.

Kramer

 

[CRABBY JERRY]

Thanks guys ,Sorry to take so long to reply. Kids have been home all week and people have been coming and going all day. I have another problem with main computer that I'm sure one of you guys would be able to fix in no time but I'll wait for my cousin to look at it. Thanks again for the reply. P.s. CFB what happened to your pic. :

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Sorry dude...hot babes were replaced by an adorable bulldog picture.

Dont worry...I have something in the works, along with another name change...

I do miss the Grand Banks name though...that was my favorite so far.

 

[dory36]

I'd go back to Grand Banks if I were you. Since Grand Banks boats are made by American Marine, there's a patriotic flavor.

Of course, "Grand Banks" refers to a geological formation and fishing waters off the coast of Newfoundland Canada, and American Marine is based in Singapore, but so what?

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I just liked the part where they made Dory's

Plus its a cool name...

 

[BigMoneyJim]

So now I check every other day to make sure my pants aren't down.

Okay, I'm way late to this party, but if you'll set up a webcam the rest of us can check for you on the between days.

Oh, nevermind, I just hacked into your router again and can set it up for you...

(you know I'm kidding, right?)