re:
"I just want to keep those who are looking to abuse my bandwidth
from just jumping on."
Use MAC filtering.
bs
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Bob Spidell San Jose, CA bspidell@comcast.net
'67 Austin-Healey 3000 '56 Austin-Healey 100M
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Subject: Re: home networking
>
> Hooray - I have something to add!
>
> With regards to home networking, I ran into the same issues. Wireless is
> convenient and quite affordable, but lacks the bandwidth that 100Mbit
> ethernet provides (let alone gigabit!). 802.11g is pretty good - but
> with protocol and security overhead, you'll be lucky to ever see 18Mbit
> throughput with it. That said, it's perfectly good for making full use
> of most home internet connections. It is not as good for fast LAN
> transfer (such as from the TiVo to the desktop workstation). As far as
> security concerns goes, I like to keep it simple (I use only 64-bit WEP
> at home) because any of the traffic I'm concerned about keeping safe is
> encrypted other ways. The WEP is only there to keep the casual observer
> out. Those who want to get onto my network will do so. I just want to
> keep those who are looking to abuse my bandwidth from just jumping on.
>
> I live in a rented 3-story townhouse, so hacking holes in the walls is
> not an option. I had initially just installed my wireless-capable
> DSL/cable router and used its wireless 802.11b to service the house (and
> long wires under the carpet to serve the lower level, where the
> cablemodem was located). This was not satisfactory, because signal
> strength from the single access point (which wasn't as centrally located
> as I would have liked) was inadequate at the further reaches of the
> house. That, and the limited throughput of 802.11b was frustrating when
> transferring files across the LAN.
>
> Without the option of running my own wiring, I tried HPNA. I found that
> for under $100, you can acquire a couple of HPNA bridges that allow you
> to make use of up to 1000' of whatever two-conductor media you have in
> (and out of) the house. (One note - make sure the HPNA is 2.0 or better
> - anything less is slower than 802.11b.) In my townhouse, I'm using old
> 300 ohm twinlead to get an additional telephone outlet in an
> inconvenient location) over which I'm running HPNA with no trouble. In
> fact one of my HPNA units bridges has a built-in 802.11b access point
> and a 4-port 10/100 switch, all of which are on the same network - I use
> that upstairs in my office. I have had good luck with the 2Wire
> HomePortal series - they come in a variety of flavors - some with
> built-in 4-port switches, some with access-points, etc.
>
> Adding an additional access point is not difficult - there are just a
> few rules to follow. Use the same security credentials (same SSID,
> WAP/WPA settings) and set the channels so they don't overlap (1, 6, 11
> are the only full-throughput non-overlapping channels on 802.11b/g). One
> can cover a lot of area with careful placement of the unit and attention
> to antenna selection (and orientation). Remember that the maximum signal
> from the antennae on the access points is not from the tip, but 90
> degrees from the antenna's long axis...
>
> -Peter
>
> Peter Murray (N3IXY)
> Vienna, VA
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