Having just being loaned a laptop by the company, I've decided that wireless access would be useful (the lappy's got it built-in). My home network is via a wired ASDL router, so I want to get a wireless access point going.

I'm not looking for the biggest or fastest, as my 'data heavy' work will be done on my main 'wired' desktop. I'm looking for cheap, reliable and easy-to-keep-secure.

Any recommendations/suggestions? What specifications should I be looking for as far as security is concerned?

[Edited on 9/3/08 by David Jenkins]

all the budget ones have security built in, you just need to enable WEP and off you go.

I like the netgear routers, As i like there interface, but i setup Belkin, Dlink and Linksys in the past with no issues.

You should be paying between £30 and £50

you just need a 54G standard wireless router

WEP is easily cracked these days - WPA2 is the standard you should be looking for. Enabling it in Windows does require the download of a patch. Another good (and effective) way to secure it is to limit connection to MAC address.

HTH


Vince

I can certainly limit it to one MAC address for now. I will be adding another elderly laptop later, but there's no hurry for that.

All security advice gratefully received!

The new laptop has Vista (spit!), if that makes any difference...



[Edited on 9/3/08 by David Jenkins]

quote:

---

Originally posted by vinny1275
WEP is easily cracked these days - WPA2 is the standard you should be looking for. Enabling it in Windows does require the download of a patch. Another good (and effective) way to secure it is to limit connection to MAC address.

HTH


Vince

---

I don't need a router - just the WAP add-on bit.

opps, I never used one of these but looks the buisness for £15

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132431

I looked at buying a bolt on AP a year ago, once you start powering it up etc then you are jsut better getting an ADSL/WIFI router in one lump.

I purchased Orange broadband last year which came with the WIFI router and free phone calls etc, although the 8meg service does cost.... which means I have my old box in the loft, its a Belkin box yours for £20 posted if interested.

4 hard ports and WIFI

Its one of these belkin

Regards Mark

[Edited on 9/3/08 by mark chandler]

[Edited on 9/3/08 by mark chandler]

Pick up a Linksys WRT54GL for about £35. It's a complete ethernet/wireless router (no ADSL modem) that will happily work as "just" an access point if that's all you want. The advantage is that it's as cheap as most access points, but can also be made to act as a wireless bridge, wireless extender, full router, etc etc later if your needs change. It's a cracking bit of (cheap) kit.

Avoid Belkin --- in my experience over priced with poor signal.

Linksys or D Link
However it might be worth switching ISPs as most now provided Thompson Speedtouch wireless routers --- a seriously good bit of kit only fault is the aerial is a permanent fixture so can't be swapped for a high gain antenna.

Maplin were doing D Link wireless access points for 20 quid last month but they have put the price back up to £39.

Just enable WEP or WEPA, MAC address filtering and limit the DCHP pool to 2 address (one wired one wireless).
Don't worry too much about wireless intruders, many wireless networks around you won't be secured anyway so the freeloaders will go there instead .



If you have filles you really want to protect don't put them in shared directories.

If you are really really worried about any files that have to be kept 100% secure (well 99.9999999999%) I can't point you towards freeware folder and file encryption programs.



[Edited on 10/3/08 by britishtrident]

Linksys = Cisco...

In my experience very good routers... the 'geeks' choice!

Use wpa2 encryption..
Mac address filtering, so only known mac addresses can connect..
Disable broadcast of youw network SSID
Change default admin password on wireless router..
Change rules on firewall on router and allow only known ports..

I've spent some money! (about time too...)


I've ordered a Linksys router with WiFi + 4 wired ports. I thought £35 was a fair price, although it is a 2 or 3-year-old model (my current router's 4 years old, so it's an improvement!). At that price it was barely more money that a stand-alone access point (as several people have pointed out to me already).

Thanks to all,
David

(I may be back with more security questions when I come to set it up... )