Internet Tips & Tricks
By MARK DAVIS
General Manager, CommSpeed Internet Service
Vice
President, Prescott Computer Society
Visit the Computer Society Website
www.prescottcomputersociety.org
Wireless Home Networks
Every home network is different. I can't describe
precisely how to install yours; that's what setup discs
and manuals are for. There are, however, some tips that
can point you in the right direction.
Go With G. Wi-Fi comes in 3 flavors. 802.11b
has a
nominal speed (meaning roughly twice as much as you'll
ever get) of 11
megabits per second, and the compatible 802.11g, 54
megabits. Both use the
2.4-gigahertz unlicensed frequency band shared with
microwaves and cordless phones. The outsider, 802.11a,
delivers a nominal 54
megabits in the currently less-crowded 5-gigahertz band,
at the expense of range and compatibility, but you can
get dual-band products that accommodate all three
standards.
For most people, B works fine, but I recommend springing
a few extra bucks for G. It won't make the Net seem any
faster over a broadband connection, but it can come in
handy if you share files or stream media.
Wall Yourself Off.
Don't set up a home network without a router or access
point. The firewall built into most routers helps keep
your data safe from hackers, provided it's turned on.
Sharing your connection without a router is courting
trouble.
Network First, Encrypt
Next. Setting
up a network can be infuriating. Until you've got
everything talking, don't make it more complicated by
encrypting it.
But, you do need encryption to
keep invaders from getting behind your firewall. Learn
to enter WEP key codes in hexadecimal characters (where
0 through 9 and A through F are the digits) and write
them down in a safe but unforgettable place; some
products let you enter easy-to-remember pass phrases,
but the way they generate keys isn't standardized, and
you'll need the hex codes to get other devices working.
Change the network's
name in the SSID
(Service Set ID). Every hacker knows the default
names. And don't use your name--that will allow someone
to identify the network. If possible, turn off the
broadcast function. With this disabled, the individual
computers' SSIDs must match that in the base station.
That will make it harder for strangers to get in.
Check For Updates. Wireless products often
develop glitches that get fixed only via Web downloads.
Few products actually know how to get the updated
software automatically. But updates are the rule,
not the exception.
NEXT -- Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP)
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