Setting Up a Laptop to be Wireless at Home

I will be happy to help you.

It isn't hard, please list what you have..type of laptop and OS on it mainly.
Do you already have all the gear you need or do you need to buy some of it still?

 

I looked up your accesspoint, looks fine. Do you have a wireless card in or for your laptop already?

 

Connect from your cable modem to the wirelss AP. that should be all that you need. No need to connect anything to the laptop. You will still need to plug into your desktop unless you geta wireless card for it.

 

May I ask why? A router allows you to connect several computers to your internet connection. You can hardwire your desktop with the ethernet cable... it won't slow down your wireless unless your desktop is downloading.

 

A wired connection is faster than a wireless connection. Two people can be online at the same time.

Basically all wireless routers have a built-in firewall, so you'll have protection. By hooking your desktop up, you can update it much easier (broadband is fast).

I've tried using my daughter's laptop (which is huge... 17"). but it isn't the same as using a desktop (ergonomically).

 

I hate to be the one to rain on the parade...BUT...

Number one, DON'T FORGET TO ENABLE ENCRYPTION! Otherwise, someone could sit in front of your house and use your internet connection and steal your bandwidth...

Number two, I would never use a wireless connection, even with encryption, because with the tools hackers have nowadays, if they really wanted to, they could find out what you are using for encryption, and get in and steal your important personal info...(Credit Cards, SSI Number, ect...) I believe it has something to do with a number that is used for the encryption process. I've read a little on it. But I use wired Network here with the router. It's alot safer. Until they make the Wireless stuff hacker proof and theft proof, I'd never use the wireless stuff. Too dangereous.

Wires may be more of a pain... But it's alot safer in the end.

-WTD

 

WinDork, it's not that bad.

The most recent wireless routers come with three different levels of encryption: WEP, WPA, and WPA2.

WEP is older, and the least secure of the three.

WPA is stronger security, and WPA2 (only on newer equipment and computers) is even better. When 802.11n comes out, that will have even stronger security.

The "poor security" with wireless stems a LOT from weak "keys." When you set up the security on your wireless router, don't choose a key like "mywireless" or the name of your favorite cartoon character. For example, I'm using WPA with a 16-digit key; however, you'd be amazed how many people leave their routers with the default password (which, by the way, on most LinkSys routers is the same word....)

Is wireless still less secure than wired? Yes; but all I really have to do is jack into the cable junction box in your neighborhood, and use the same type hacking programs you mentioned people are using with wireless.

Not trying to minimize the danger, but how often are you hearing about people hacking wireless as opposed to people taking their work computers home and getting them stolen, or mis-placing their work files?

Be careful about where you're leaving your flash drives, your CDs with your back-up files, and if you're writing down you r passwords, where you're leaving those.