Going Wireless~Need help

[Jsme]

I have a few questions about going wireless. I also want to know what is the best pricing around.

Our internet service is Road Runner and our phone is Vonage. In order to get a DVR and to hook up our other computer we were told we had to go Wireless. We have been looking around at prices. I normally do most of my business with Best Buy but they said they do not sale wireless unless you buy their installation package ($159) because of the security issues with wireless, total package is right at $400. While I totally understand the security issues, is it true that the only way to secure your wireless is by paying a professonal to install your system? Can you not do it yourself? Can you only buy wireless with installation at most places? I do want my wireless secure. I fear what will happen if someone is about to hack into my computer, but that seems rather experience.

 

[go cowboys]

you can go to best buy and purchase a wireless router for around 60.00. That hooks right in to your modem and if your dvr and laptop/desktop have a wireless card/adapter you can start. If not a card is not much more than 35.00 and easy to install. Some even plug into a usb port. That what we did to outr Tivo and it is great.

Security is and issue but with proper firewalls, etc the only thing you would have to worry about is someone stealing your signal and using your internet. They should not be able to actually access your files.

I called my internet service, sbc dsl, and they told me my moden was also a wireless router so I did not have to buy anything else. You might check with RR first.

 

[Jsme]

you can go to best buy and purchase a wireless router for around 60.00. That hooks right in to your modem and if your dvr and laptop/desktop have a wireless card/adapter you can start. If not a card is not much more than 35.00 and easy to install. Some even plug into a usb port. That what we did to outr Tivo and it is great.

Security is and issue but with proper firewalls, etc the only thing you would have to worry about is someone stealing your signal and using your internet. They should not be able to actually access your files.

I called my internet service, sbc dsl, and they told me my moden was also a wireless router so I did not have to buy anything else. You might check with RR first.

OH thanks for the reply. I just called DH in to read this. He so wants a DVR and this might convince him that we do not need to pay BB that much money for installation.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I have Comcast and I set up my wireless system myself. I am not the most computer-literate person in the world and I was able to do it. I chose Lynksys modem, router and wireless adapters because I could use software on their website to set up a secured wireless system. I was even able to burn CDs that have the WEP key code and password to my system on them so that when our network goes down, I can reset each computer without having to lookup and retype all the codes in.

I even set up DS13's XBox to connect to XBox LIVE thru the wireless router. It was a bugger to set up (kept taking the whole network down) but now that I got the bugs worked out, it works fine. I'm not sure if setting up a DVR would be a similar challenge but expect it to take several attempts before you get it right if you do it yourself.

I don't think that my system is any less secure than the one that CompUSA would have installed for me for a fee. And since I did the work myself, I understand how to fix it when there's a problem. I do have each computer firewalled but the router itself also has a built-in firewall for added protection. The only firewall breaches I ever see on my computer are when I have a new program running that needs to download an update and I have not already changed the firewall settings to allow the program to access the internet.

I used the Networking for Dummies book and the Linksys website to guide me thru all the steps. I admit that I was intimidated at first but being able to access the internet from any computer in the house and for DS to be able to do his XBox LIVE has been worth it. There's no way I would have paid someone $160 to do it.

 

[go cowboys]

Also if your cable company doesn't supply a DVR I strongly recommend Tivo. I have had them through Dish network, cox cable and my own Tivo system and the Tivo is way more user friendly. We have one with a DVD burner so we can actually burn to DVD what we record. Great for long trips in the car or for those shows that your kids love but miss. At our house it was Little Bear.

Let me know if you want more opinions.

 

[Jsme]

We just have Road Runner for our internet. I do not have cable. We have Directv. Geez if you could see my DTV bill each month.... You name it we have it. Have about 5 tv's hooked up to the package that has everything, plus HDTV.

I am going to show DH all of this again....thanks guys....the both of you have really made me feel much better.

 

[DMRick]

Ours was very easy to hook up. We went to circuit city and they told us what to do. We got a router (and they sold us a wire to hook it up, but there was one in the router box, so we took it back). Ours is Netgear 54 Mbps, WCR614v5. It was soooo easy. Wires are a mess upstaies (and hubby is asleep), so I can't tell if we plugged the router into the RR modem or vice versa (hubby did..I was just the encouragement) but I remember him saying the instructions were very clear and easy. The main desktop computer is what is considered hardwired, since we don't intend to move it. I then went to the laptop, turned it on (had built in card) and vioal! we were connected. Then hubby set up the security (again, he said it was easy), put on our firewall and we were good to go. I love it! I think it was about $40 after rebate.

 

[poohj80]

One tip once you get your wireless network set-up - make sure you put a password on it so it's secure. Otherwise, anyone in your neighborhood could start surfing on your network.