I've gone and done it (DSL)

[Zeke]

I've been living in the Dark Ages since I've logged on the Net some years ago. I've ordered Verizon DSL. This is about the only game in town, I don't have cable and satelite is way too expensive, AFIC.

My old Compuserve has taken good care of me as far as viruses, worms, spam and pop ups. Now, I need to address these problems I've never had.

Before, you guys have advised me to get a router and install a firewall. With the router, I'll be able to use multiple computers, right? We have four including the laptop. Will I be able to be online on one computer and my wife on another simultaneously?

Any firewall or other recommendations to get me started in the modern world? TIA.

[MotoSook]

Go wireless. Get a router that has wired and wireless routing. Great to hook up the desktops and wireless for the laptops.

All four puters can be online at the same time...

I think 802.11G is the fastest nowadays, but I've been busy tinkering with outer stuff...not enough time to play with the electrons stuff to know for sure...damn I hate those pesky electrons, but I can't live w/o them!

[trj911]

Be careful if you go wireless or you might find your neighbors using your system also. I've cat5 wired my house with a router and hub so it's almost like wireless (connections everywhere) but I don't have to worry about pirates or dead spots.

[bell]

i've been looking into wireless.once you have your computers set up you can lock it to only those so no one can "steal" access off of you.....
mindows xp-pro has a built in firewall, i've had no problems

[rcecale]

A Wireless network really isn't all that difficult to lock down. A few key things to do are:
1.) Don't broadcast your SSID (The name of your network). This is easily configured in the software that comes with your router.

2.) Also included in your router would be the ability to setup a list of MAC addresses that have access to your network. Every network card manufactured has a unique MAC address, there is never a duplicate. Each of your PC's will have it's own MAC and allowing only those to have access proviedes security.

There are other features that work as well, but these are probably the easiest to configure. And for a simple home network, these should provide adequate security.

Randy

[Zeke]

Great so far. How 'bout them popups and spammers?

[SpeedracerIndy]

Webcrawler has a free toolbar that you can install to block popups. I have been using it for about 3 weeks and it works great. No adds either.

[rcecale]

The Google Toolbar does a great job of blocking pop-ups as well.

As far as Spy-Ware....using a program like Ad-Aware or Spy-Bot Search & Destroy really makes a difference. Both are free and both are very effective.

For spam, try using Mail Washer, which, IMO, is one of the best e-mail filters around.

Randy

[jyl]

What they said. Buy a Linksys 4-port router + wireless access point (AP) using 802.11b. Not g. Appx $120. Run a cable from your DSL jack, place the Linksys AP in a central place in the house. Buy a Linksys 802.11b card for each computer - a PCMCIA card for notebooks, a PCI card for desktops. Appx $50 each. Configure to use WEP (security) if you care, if you are reasonably far from your neighbors then I wouldn't bother. Will allow you to go online wirelessly from anywhere within appx a 100 foot radius (depending on obstructions).

The reason I say b not g is that b is already faster than your DSL connection. So unless you plan to transfer large files and stream video between your home computers, g doesn't get you much. And the b equipment is cheap. If you can't find it then g is fine.

You can also use a Linksys wireless print server to be able to print from any computer to any printer, but it is a bit fiddly.

Nothing special about Linksys but the stuff is widely available, cheap, and easy to set up so I like it.

I would spend the money for a good firewall on each computer (ZoneAlarm is good) and good (and frequently updated) antivirus and anti-spyware software. Alternatively, get a Mac.

(Written from a Mac . . .)

[Porsche-O-Phile]

When they send you the kit it'll have a router with built-in hardware firewall (the only kind that's worth anything). It's basic, but it'll help keep most of the ports locked down for you. Google toolbar is good, I run pop-up stopper pro also - I haven't had a SINGLE pop-up since I installed it. Run SpyBot once in a while too to make sure there aren't any back door trackers or anything like that that you've picked up anywhere. It really isn't that bad.

Welcome to the DSL age! Trust me, once you fire it up, you'll BBQ your old modem.

I think we must be neighbors. . . I'm from LGB too. I run Verizon DSL here too, it works well.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

BTW don't buy Linksys ANYTHING - it's crap. I know, I used to do computer network admin. for a 30 person office - Linksys might work at first, but it WILL fail on you. Guaranteed junk.

[jyl]

I guess my Linksys WLAN stuff, plugging away nicely for >2 years now, doesn't know that. :-)

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
BTW don't buy Linksys ANYTHING - it's crap. I know, I used to do computer network admin. for a 30 person office - Linksys might work at first, but it WILL fail on you. Guaranteed junk.

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally posted by jyl
I guess my Linksys WLAN stuff, plugging away nicely for >2 years now, doesn't know that. :-)

Ditto.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Well, if it works for you. . .

I've had nothing but headaches / problems with their stuff. Maybe it's better now, but I'd still never put Linksys ANYTHING on one of my networks.

[RickM]

I have a wireless access point/router set-up at home and I'm not very pleased with it. I'm resorting to wiring w/ Cat 5 as my house is easy to work. I have access from attic and basement.

Also, the possibility of wireless phone interference exists if on the same frequency. Transmitting straight through a wall is MUCH better than on an angle.

[layzee]

Unless you walk around your home with a laptop personally I can't see a major advantage to wireless-ing desktops. It's slow (compared to fast ethernet), you have security worries and the PCI WLAN cards are about 5x as much as a ethernet card.

Desktops need wires anyway, so what's a bit of cat5?

[Zeke]

Well, this has turned into a debate about brands of routers and whether to go wireless of not. True, the laptop could use wirless because it's self contained, but as implied, I don't walk around with it chained to my neck like a bling Mercedes emblem. I'll see what comes in the box and run some wires thru the attic. What type of wall jack is used? Same RJ-11 the phone co uses?

[RickM]

I go to Home Depot and buy the Leviton "Quick Port" system components along with the Cat 5e cable. I believe the jacks are RJ-45.

The beuaty is that they're local and you can mix 'n match data, tele and cable jacks in the same plate.

http://www.mjsales.net/quickport.htm

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally posted by layzee
Unless you walk around your home with a laptop personally I can't see a major advantage to wireless-ing desktops. It's slow (compared to fast ethernet), you have security worries and the PCI WLAN cards are about 5x as much as a ethernet card.

Desktops need wires anyway, so what's a bit of cat5?

Ahh, but you can't take your desktop with you to the throne and surf the net while you get your business done! I have one of each, a desktop wired with cat 5, and a wireless laptop. I wouldn't want to do without either of them, but I use my desktop more. The speed of the network doesn't matter when they are both faster than what's comming into the house via the modem. Wireless is minimum 5-10Mbps, and a cable modem is MAX 0.5-1Mbps. My wireless laptop is only used for convienence and lazyness, but I love having it! I also use it to hook up to my stereo when I'm playing hours of music for guests consuming beverages and playing pool! For DIRT CHEEP cable go to www.cablemaster.com. I got a 50' of Cat-5e cable for $9.99! No relation, I just don't like paying CompUSA over $80 for the same cable.

What was the original question??????