PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Broadband, Networking, PC Security, Internet & ISPs => Topic started by: Tony on April 02, 2007, 17:50

Title: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 02, 2007, 17:50
Right Playmates,

not into this networking thing, but I think I'm right in thinking a wired set up is the cheapest way to go.

My latest build PC has an Ethernet connection on the MOB, my old PC like Simon's has not, so a Ethernet PCI card and 5 meters [the further way she is the better  ;) ] of Ethernet J45 crossover cable will cost £10.88 in total.

Other option I take it is going the wireless route with a ADSL/ Router, I'm tempted.

I take it, you hard wire PC with the Ethernet connector into the ADSL Router and use a USB, or wireless PCI card in the other PC.  £42.20 in total

Please put me right if I have got any of the above wrong.

How about security, I'm I right in thinking the Ethernet crossover cable set up will be more secure?

Thanks

What's with all this blacklisted urls  rubbish, does that mean you cannot use the Tiny Url thingimebob.


Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Simon on April 03, 2007, 00:08
What's with all this blacklisted urls  rubbish, does that mean you cannot use the Tiny Url thingimebob.

Who, what, where?  On here, do you mean?  :dunno:  We do have an anti-spam thingy installed, which works off a blacklist, so I guess TinyUrl may have been added to it, so as to prevent spam being disguised.  Not sure if we can do anything about it, but I'll have a poke about when I get a minute.  I dunno, some people don't show their face for months on end, then when they do appear, all they do is complain!   ;) :o:

I think what you have said is right, and the other advantage of a router is that Mrs T could be further away!  :devil:
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Sandra on April 03, 2007, 00:41
Get an ADSL modem router Tony, either wi fi enabled or just wires.

That way you can be online from either pc independantly of the other pc.
If you use a crossed wire then the main pc has to be all the time the second pc is online.
No real difference in security, if anything the router will add an extra bit as most have a NAT firewall inbuilt these days and you can block or allow which ports are available for each individual pc connected to it.
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 03, 2007, 08:42
Cheers Simon,

loved your ADSL USB modem v Router thread, only you could buy a new one to speed up your connection, and it be actually slower than the one you had   ;) The Tiny Url thingy, I can use ordinary links, just I had do four links using the tiny option, and thought boulders...when they did not work. 

Sandra,

I know your right, I was just trying to out do Simon for tightness  ;) I know the wireless router is the way to go really. Just I hear of stories of them dropping the signal, I guess that is on the wireless side. That would be an issue for me when I'm trading. But as I will have my PC hard wired via the ethernet cable I guess that line will not be dropped like the wireless connection could be .

So I have decided to go the wireless route with the ADSL router Cammy linked to, that was £100 in 2004. And if it goes tits up, I have my trust ADSL USB modem as a back up.

Cheers, gang.
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 03, 2007, 09:31
Ordered it, along with a USB wireless adapter from the same manufacture £39.63 delivered. So A guess I can now transfer data from one PC to the other using the wireless network, like back up files.

It pays to shop around, the same USB wireless adapter on Ebuyer  (http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/75552) costs £26.51.

The one I Ordered (http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/Shop/Search/SearchResults.asp?SearchColumn=&QSearch=USB%20wireless%20adapter) was a snip at £9.99, mind you I have just noticed it is "used"


All told  the wireless set up looks a bargain for just under £40,  we shall see.

Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 03, 2007, 13:14
a handy "How To" guide on setting up a home network

Home networking options and configuring instructions. (http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/hmnetwk1.html)
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Simon on April 03, 2007, 14:04
I think I'm still on top on the 'economy' front, Tony.  My 'old' build is still going strong, and with just a couple of small upgrades, will be V**ta ready!  ;)
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 04, 2007, 10:55
Yes you are Simon, I'm having intermittent problems with my newest build AMD3700+, I get the occasional blue  dumping memory screen, followed by a system crash, and loss of hard drive recognition. Take this morning, fails to boot, no boot record "insert system disk".  Where as my first build AMD2000+ is as steady as a rock. In fact I just attempted a reboot, and as I have my OS for the AMD2000+ configured for that PC's MOB, on my second hard drive  in the AMD3700+[both drives jumpers set to "Cable Select"] It boot up to that set up, anyway I'll put that teaser up on a new thread for Sandra to get her teeth into  :o:

So back to the thread header title, ordered router and USB adapter from Broadbandbuyer. And some other bits for the AMD2000+ rig, a multi plug surge protector, and some speakers as I had nicked them for the new build. And treated my self to a 2G USB memory stick, and couple of  CD-RW's, DVD+ RW's cakes, from CCL. Both ordered 11.00am ish yesterday. Both came on the same City Link Van at 8.44am this morning.

As luck would have it they caught me in, as I was just setting off on the school run. Pregnant Daughter six weeks to go fell and broke a bone in her ankle in Skipton yesterday, so he stayed  the night with us. Just heard from Linda, that his mum is back in hospital in labour. But they are trying to keep the baby from coming, via drugs, as babies lungs are not formed properly if born six weeks premature. I reckon the fall has brought it on, so I looks like the PC job will be on the back burner some what, back and forth to hospital.  Mind you maybe it will keep my mind occupied, as other wise I will just dwell on the what iff's. I certainly cannot concentrate on trading  the market, I managed a quick 20 minute trade this morning before I took Charles to school, but to much going on right now to concentrate on the markets, it will take your bloody hand off if your not focused 100%.

On a more positive note, I can say Charles, the seven year old Grandson came six weeks early, went in an incubater but he is fine, knows it bloody all he does, apart from sewing that is  ;D
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Simon on April 04, 2007, 11:41
Did you check that someone else was at Charles's school before you left him?  I thought they'd all broken up for Easter!  :laugh:
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 04, 2007, 13:07
Did you check that someone else was at Charles's school before you left him?  I thought they'd all broken up for Easter!  :laugh:


I thought it was quite  :blush:

Nar there were loads of em. As I was jumping up and down waving my arms above my head as I caught the last glimpse of him disappearing into school, I turned to a group of young mothers and said.......can you tell I'm new to this job ?   ;D

Right, I'm waiting for Linda to come home, then we are off to the hospital. So I thought, I'll open up my goodies, well all present and correct. Jeez I love the 2G Dane-Elec USB memory stick (http://www.cclonline.com/product-info.asp?product_id=12536&category_id=147&manufacturer_id=0) it's ever so tiny but it looks very robust with it's rubberised design.


Now regards the USB Wireless Adapter, I said it was used in a recent post, only because after I hit the "buy button" a little box come up saying "used" I'm new to that site, maybe it was just me, or maybe it was just a page error? But whatever, the wireless adapter is brand spanking new, box cellophane sealed, dongle and shielded USB lead, both sealed independently with their quality seal intact. So they look good value at that price.
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 04, 2007, 13:33
Right I'm off to feck up my internet connection......................I may be gone some time  ;D
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 04, 2007, 18:56
Well that was quite painless, just need to read up about making the wireless network bit secure............like how do you do that ?
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Sandra on April 04, 2007, 19:03
Access the router through its IP address and log on with the correct username and password.
Enable the WEP or WPA and select the strength you want, lower bits less numbers to type in, I dont think you need to go overboard unless you are a bank or something similar  :)

It will generate the code for you then use that code in the wi fi connected pc and that should be it  :)
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 05, 2007, 10:15
Access the router through its IP address and log on with the correct username and password.
Enable the WEP or WPA and select the strength you want, lower bits less numbers to type in, I dont think you need to go overboard unless you are a bank or something similar  :)

It will generate the code for you then use that code in the wi fi connected pc and that should be it  :)

Cheers, Sandra, I managed to get it sorted, but I could not get back onto PC Pals at all last night for some reason? So I did not see your last post until now, so don't think I'm ignoring you....as if I would.  o:)

I disabled SSID Broadcasting, and assigned the wireless network another SSID instead of the default one. And only allowed 11g connection as that is what my USB adapter is. Yes I've enabled WAP-PSK[no server] with TKIP Encryption, so without the key, and the assigned SSID , on the correct channel no buggers getting a look in on my network.
 
So we are all sorted now, I've even disabled my software firewall Simon, I'm so confident in the router firewall, well I did test it on SheildsUp  :o:

Now I must recommend the service I received from BroadbandBuyer (http://www.broadbandbuyer.co.uk/)

Like I said earlier, ADSL Wireless router arrived first thing next day, now on reading the blurb I noticed four rubber feet that had to be attached to the base of the router were not in the box. I emailed Wendy at Customer Support, she informed me that 3com are a bit sloppy regards to always including them in the box. But she had  spoke to Broadband Buyer tech support, who had a spare set. And she had them dispatched first class recorded delivery, and arrive as I was posting this post. Now that's what I call SERVICE, well done BroadbandBuyer, and well done Wendy
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Simon on April 05, 2007, 10:54
I don't think it hurts to have the extra level of security of a software firewall as well, Tony.  I still use one, and find I feel more secure with it.  Obviously each to his own.  :)

By the way, we did have an outage last night, which was due to the Pipex server going down, not anything within our control.
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 05, 2007, 20:50
Bugger I thought it went to easy, I have now uncovered a niggling glitch:

On the PC using the USB wireless adapter, if I boot up using the Administrator log in

it connects to the internet with no problems.

If I then log off as Administrator,and log back in as a Power User, it will again connect

to the internet OK.However if the PC has been switched off, and first logging in as a

Power User, it will not connect to the internet.

Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Sandra on April 06, 2007, 00:51
Install it again when logged in as the user thats going to be using it  :)
Title: Re: The Wife is being a pain, she wants internet access when I want it.
Post by: Tony on April 08, 2007, 12:00
Install it again when logged in as the user thats going to be using it  :)

I tried that Sandra,I gave the user Administrator rights, so as to install hardware and software. Fine until I took Admin rights away.

For newbies that maybe don't know this, you do not by default surf the web in Administrator log in mode. Because if you are hacked into while logged in as Administrator, you have just given the hacker Administrator rights  :bawl:]

I got this from 3Com support,

Dear Tony,

thank you for the email. I have reviewed your case and solution for the issue you described is:
- uninstall 3com wireless card utility
- make sure you still have drivers installed for the WNIC
- use only WZC wireless windows utility for connecting to wireless networks

These steps should solve your issue.

Thank you for your interest in 3com.




WZC what the flip is that, finds out it is part of Win XP, I'm using W2K Pro, as I can put it on as many PC's as I like without having to cross Bill's palm with silver AGAIN  :o:


I'll email them back and ask for a fix for the W2K OS, my fault really I should have said I was using W2K OS. They just assumed I would be on XP. Seems like what they are saying in a roundabout way is, the "Utility" on the supplied CD has a glitch in it. It has drivers on it for Win 98, ME, W2K and XP, the W2K and XP drivers are one and the same, and they are the latest ones because I checked.



So for now I'm resigned to using the log in, log out as Admin on the first boot up of the day, after that you can log in and out using the other three users profiles, and be connected to the Web.