Going wireless questions

[Archangel]

If you want to run a secure home wireless network you'll need to set it with at least WPA-PSK TKIP and enable MAC Address filtering in your router's options. If your laptop is new you don't need to set up different profiles to use different wireless networks. Linksys is ok, but I prefer DLink in the generic network equipment arena. I've had trouble with a WAP54G dropping connections on a fairly regular basis. Don't think that because Cisco owns them they're close to Cisco grade equipment.

[CoventryCat86]

If you want to run a secure home wireless network you'll need to set it with at least WPA-PSK TKIP and enable MAC Address filtering in your router's options. If your laptop is new you don't need to set up different profiles to use different wireless networks. Linksys is ok, but I prefer DLink in the generic network equipment arena. I've had trouble with a WAP54G dropping connections on a fairly regular basis. Don't think that because Cisco owns them they're close to Cisco grade equipment.

LMAO!! I barely understand 3/4 of what Archangel said I'm glad to see we have someone here with a clue because I sure don't

I have a wireless router (I think it's a linksys) but after that, he lost me. My wireless seemed to drop connections on a regualr basis to my laptop so I just said to hell with it and now run it with a "hard connection."

I heard about "wardriving" but how I'm not smart enough to know how to use my laptop with my wireless "card" to find open "hot spots" (Now mind you, everything I have in quotes is me probably using the wrong words to please correct me as necessary )

[Archangel]

LMAO!! I barely understand 3/4 of what Archangel said I'm glad to see we have someone here with a clue because I sure don't

I have a wireless router (I think it's a linksys) but after that, he lost me. My wireless seemed to drop connections on a regualr basis to my laptop so I just said to hell with it and now run it with a "hard connection."

I heard about "wardriving" but how I'm not smart enough to know how to use my laptop with my wireless "card" to find open "hot spots" (Now mind you, everything I have in quotes is me probably using the wrong words to please correct me as necessary )

Your use of the vocabulary is perfect. All you need to do is install a sniffer for wireless networks. I use Netstumbler or AirSnort. AirSnort is more for cracking a network, though. AirSnort needs to capture about 5 million or so packets to crack a WEP key. Once it has enough packets it can crack your key in about a second. There are a few other people in my neighborhood that run WEP "secured" networks. I always make sure to use their connection when I don't want to be caught.

If you have a Linksys WRT54G there are alternate firmware upgrades available. You actually get a ton more control over certain features, like you can boost the transmission output 900%, but it comes at a risk of burning out your router or getting a bad flash.