Wireless router

Pjsmith

Pjsmith

Line Up and Wait
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pjsmith
My brother in law wants wireless capability at home. I did this for myself 2 years ago, and have had a good result, and offered to help him set his up, get it secured, etc.

I've seen prices for wireless routers as low as $39, but I hesitate to buy a piece of crap. Can anyone recommend a good home router that has good basics and a decent web-based interface?
 
LinkSys, NetGear, Cisco (pricey). I'd avoid DLink, personally. Bad luck with them.

I'm using all LinkSys equipment except for a Gateway router which is, I think, NetGear core.
 
I have Linksys, as do my girlfriend's parents - I really like it.
 
I had some trouble with a Netgear locking up randomly, so I bought a Linksys 54 Mbs wireless router. It's worked fine. About $50 from various vendors including OfficeDepot, MicroCenter, and CompUSA.
 
I'll throw a vote in for Linksys. Durable, powerful, easy to use, reasonably priced for the quality.
 
When I had wireless-B I used a DLink router with Linksys or DLink adapters on the computers. When I went to wireless-G I bought some supercheap stuff with the CompUSA labels on them (they're working fine, btw). My parents and my massage therapist have Linksys routers that I set-up. No complaints from them.
 
No votes for Trendnet, yet, so I'll chime in. I've installed 3 of them now, and all have worked great (it's the TEW-432BRP). I've bought all three for $10 each after rebate.
 
And the Linksys apparently has printed a support telephone number that rings to a sex chat line.... according to today's WSJ.
 
wsuffa said:
And the Linksys apparently has printed a support telephone number that rings to a sex chat line.... according to today's WSJ.
Click to expand...

See - they're always looking to better their customer service! Added benefit!
 
wsuffa said:
And the Linksys apparently has printed a support telephone number that rings to a sex chat line.... according to today's WSJ.
Click to expand...

Well, when calling customer service, you're getting screwed anyway, so why not?

Kidding aside, if you're looking for a bit of a technical adventure to gain some nice web interface, take a look at DD-WRT. I've heard people say good things about it. List of supported routers here.

There's one other called Tomato too.


-Rich
 
Have used Belkin and LinkSys with good results. Linksys I currently have (after giving my Belkin away thinking I no longer need it and then realizing later I did) seems to have a bit more range.

Higher concern is how he configures it, not so much the hardware. Don't let him be one of those people I see with "linksys," "default," "Wireless," "NETGEAR," "belkin54g" on my search screen!
 
Linksys at home. And it was a snap to set up. They even have a way to automatically configure the wireless settings on your laptop if you can connected it with an Ethernet cable first. Dirt simple.
 
I usually use one of the Netgear ProSafe models because last I checked, they were ICSA-certified, which pleases my attorney. They're also pretty durable. I don't think I've had one come back yet.

That having been said, I don't think there's much difference between consumer-level, major brand routers. The most important thing is to make sure that any "special" speed-enhancing protocols are compatible on both the router and the adaptor(s). They all should be compatible for basic b/g, but you won't get the benefits of Super-G MiMo, Draft N, or whatever new protocol they think up this week to allegedly boost speed/range unless the adapters and the router use the same standards.

Rich
 
I have four Linksys boxes. The first one is a router from 2002 I converted to an extra switch last year with their help. Go figure! I still get 24/7 customer support on a box I bought almost five years ago. Try doing that with HP!

Linksys rocks!
 
I've tried a couple wireless routers but they just bog down when plunging into the wood. They do o.k for rounding edges but that's about it. :D
 
WRT55G/GS/ other models

Install DD-WRT. Rock the *nix and enjoy.

Just a point, none of the Wireless Protocols are really "secure". If you are a security nut (like me!) then either use a VPN or just don't exchange sensitive data over the wireless.

~ Christopher
 
jwriteclub said:
WRT55G/GS/ other models

Install DD-WRT. Rock the *nix and enjoy.

Just a point, none of the Wireless Protocols are really "secure". If you are a security nut (like me!) then either use a VPN or just don't exchange sensitive data over the wireless.

~ Christopher
Click to expand...

That's not necessarily true WPA/WPA2 with a really long randomly generated PSK is, for all intents and purposes, secure. The only feasible way to crack the key is through brute force. If you use a good key, it's not worth trying.
 
I was under the impression that there was a procedural hack for WPA based on sniffing out a couple of different system connect.

~ Christopher
 
jwriteclub said:
I was under the impression that there was a procedural hack for WPA based on sniffing out a couple of different system connect.

~ Christopher
Click to expand...

You have to be able to force the client off of the wireless network (causing them to reconnect). Once you have that encrypted handshake you have to brute force it. In order to do that you'd need one of these.

cray.jpg
 
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What algorithem does WPA use? Particularly for the handshake?

I am almost sure that I saw a slashdot article about using a man in the middle on WPA (which does not crack the actual "code", per se).

~ Christopher
 
jwriteclub said:
What algorithem does WPA use? Particularly for the handshake?
Click to expand...

Most that I've implemented have either used TKIP or AES.

jwriteclub said:
I am almost sure that I saw a slashdot article about using a man in the middle on WPA (which does not crack the actual "code", per se).

~ Christopher
Click to expand...

I'd love to see it if you did. It would invalidate much of what I've learned about wireless security. That's not necessarily a bad thing, though. I'd rather know about it than to think I know something and be wrong.:yes:
 
WEP can be cracked very easily using a variety of programs that can be found on "wardriving" boards. WPA is theoretically much tougher (some would say practically impossible) to crack if a sufficiently complex PSK is used, but there has been a lot of chatter on wardriving boards about programs that claim to be able to crack WPA. I frankly have my doubts and attribute most of these claims to geekling bravado, but nonetheless, the chatter gives cause for concern.

There really are two separate risks inherent in wireless. One is data security, and the other is Internet leeching.

Practically any encryption at all will stop most casual leeching because in most cases (at least in urban and moderately dense suburban areas), it's easier for someone to find an unsecured network to leech from than it is to crack a secured one.

Data security, however, is another story; so it's wise to use every possible means to protect your network, and hope that a miscreant will give up and look for an easier mark.

Also, although you may not particularly care if someone steals your connection (some people actually welcome it because they hate their Internet providers), remember that if someone parks out in front of your home at 3:00 a.m. and downloads kiddie porn or bomb-making plans using your connection, it will trace to you.

Here are some things you can do to make your wireless network safer:
  1. Many routers have the ability to only accept connections from certain adapters, identified by their MAC numbers. This is by no means foolproof, but it does enhance security a bit.
  2. Disabling remote administration and setting a strong admin password for the router also help, but are not foolproof.
  3. Turning off SSID broadcast will keep out casual Internet leechers, but not crackers or wardrivers. Still, it's a good idea unless you will be adding clients frequently.
  4. Use WPA and set a complex PSK. The longer and more complex, the better.
  5. Of course, check for firmware updates.
  6. Don't allow leechers. Let your tightwad neighbor pay for his own Internet.
  7. If your data is not only confidential but also of a nature that would be particularly attractive to an identity thief, etc., then go with a secure VPN.
Rich
 
I am going to try and track this down.

Network security is a real interest of mine, and cryptography is something in which I have take taken a number of classes over the years, both undergrad and grad.

Obviously, I'm not claiming to be able to crack WPA, but if I can find a reference I'll cite it.

On the other hand I could be wrong, and there may not be a decent hack in the wild.

~ Christopher
 
RJM62 said:
WEP can be cracked very easily using a variety of programs that can be found on "wardriving" boards. WPA is theoretically much tougher (some would say practically impossible) to crack if a sufficiently complex PSK is used, but there has been a lot of chatter on wardriving boards about programs that claim to be able to crack WPA. I frankly have my doubts and attribute most of these claims to geekling bravado, but nonetheless, the chatter gives cause for concern.
...
Click to expand...

Random thought: I wonder how much of an exposure it is that "everybody" has the AT&T 2wire DSL gateways, and "all" of those have the hex key on the label. If somebody cracks the MAC to WPA key system (if any) there will be a lot of vulnerable home networks.

I'm surte if this did turn into a crack the word would get and long and loud.

Yes, the key can be changed. I haven't changed mine (yet.)
 
Vote for linksys. A few years ago, they were snatched up by cisco. A better product emerged and that's saying something.
 
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