Peter C. Cronas
How do you connect to the Internet (WWW)? Internet connection alternatives: Dial Up Modem 56Kb (a joke right?) Satellite (HughesNet) Modem 10-15 Mbps?? Cable (Cablevision) Cable Modem 1.5-20 Mbps DSL (CenturyLink) DSL Modem 1.5-10 Mbps Air Card (Various) Wireless cellular modem 3.1-7.2 Mbps Focus on Cable & DSL - So how do you connect to one of these services? An Ethernet cable from the modem to the PC (This is a one to one hardwired relationship) 2
How do you connect more than one device to your modem? Use a router attached to the modem with networking software installed on your base computer system. Consumer oriented routers have four ports for hardwired connections. Want to stroll around the house with your laptop and surf the net or get/send email? You need a wireless router Ok, What is a wireless router? 3
An electronic device that passes packets of data between networks of computers. Acts as a Hardware Firewall Controlled by software loaded on a PC Protects the host network Provides security for users on the network Allows for the multiple wireless nodes on the network (This definition and most of the features also apples to non-wireless routers) 4
I.E.E.E, 802.11 Wireless Router Standards: (I.E.E.E. = Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers) IEEE Committee 802 created & maintains the wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols. The original standard was released in 1997 with 802.11b becoming the first widely accepted standard in 1999. Still very popular today is 802.11g which was introduced in 2003. This protocol has a maximum transmission rate of 54 Mb/s, and uses a single band. In 2009 the n protocol was announced. It allows for dual bands or channels and transmission rates of up to 600Mb/s. 5
The 802.11 ac standard will be released some time in 2013. This platform provides technological improvements in hardware & software that will push the theoretical max. transmission rates up to 1.3Gb per second+. 802.11ad, is due in later part of 2014 and this platform will allow for theoretical speeds of up 7Gb per second+. 6
If you are in the market for a new router now, make sure it is a dual band N wireless router. Do not wait for the 802.11ac or a buy an ac unit built to the draft standard now!! Buy the most powerful N router you can possibly afford. Top brands include: Cisco/Linksys (my personal favorite) Belkin D-Link NetGear (my least favorite) Costs can range from $50.00 to $200.00+ depending on features and sophistication. Do not buy refurbished or used!! 7
Tell Centurylink or Comcast that you want to use your own router rather than theirs. The only thing you want from them is their service & their modem. If you expect to get a strong wireless signal throughout the house, do not place the router under the sofa in your office. Do not cram the router and modem inside the narrow little cabinet that houses the desktop computer you are trying to cook ever so slowly by denying it any ventilation. Ideally the router should be located in the center of the house, as high up as possible. If it must be located on one side of the house height above floor level is critical for obtaining the strongest possible signal and greatest range. 8
The Installation: Need a power strip or an extension cord(s)? Connect the Ethernet cable that came with the unit to the router port marked Internet Disconnect the Ethernet cable from the modem and plug in into one of available ports on the router Connect the router Internet cable to the modem Connect the router power supply. Load the software disk into the drive & follow the screen prompts to setup your network. Make sure you choose a strong router SSID & password. Write down these codes & keep them safe. 9
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Internet Connection Failure: Modem Check the indicator lights: (Power, Ethernet, DSL/Cable and Internet) Power off the Modem, if device has a battery backup remove it. Wait two minutes reinstall battery & then power back up. Are all the modem lights back on? Yes start surfing No call your ISP 11
Lights are all on but still can t surf? 1. Hard Wire connection: Disconnect Ethernet cable from router to the modem & connect it directly to desktop PC so as to bypass the router. Internet now? Router is the problem. Shutdown & restart Modem. Still no Internet? Call your ISP. 2. Wireless: Power-down (don t reset) the router. Connect an Ethernet cable directly from the router to the PC and restart. Internet? No Try to connect directly to the modem. No Internet? Call your ISP. 12
Windows 7 & Windows 8 PCs: A joy to network Windows Vista & Windows XP PCs: Not so much joy Vista does not easily support the most current security protocols, and just forget about XP. XP End of Life 4/8/2014 13
Change the default settings for the router s Administrator password because the bad guys know all the default settings for every brand. I found all of them after a simple Google search! Change the default settings for the SSID (public name of the network). Don t set the SSID to something like your name, i.e. Joe.Jones or the ever popular Linksys. Use a name that can t be easily associated with you or your home. Make it very strong: at least 8 characters in length. Use both alpha & numerics and upper/lower case. In this instance more is really better. Why??? 14
If it is an option during router setup, TURN on WPA or better yet WPA2 (Wireless Protected Access) with PSK Pre-Shared Key for a home office. Newer routers will do it automatically. Create a Network security key that is also very strong!!!!!! Don t use your dog s name, particularly if it is displayed below your name on the lamp post in front of your house. By default your router s internal Firewall is enabled. There is NO conflict with the Windows OS firewall, so leave it enabled. For more security suggestions see this link to the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team web site: http://www.us-cert.gov/reading_room/homeroutersecurity2011.pdf 15
How to connect to the web in public places, securely: i.e., Airport, hotel, a café or to your neighbor s unsecured wireless network. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service such as Hotspot Shield: http://www.hotspotshield.com/ from Anchor Software But remember the expression: There is no such thing as a free lunch! Concerns with the use of a VPN 16
Safe browsing tips: Do not allow alien tool bars to be added to your browser Why? You, not Firefox, Chrome, Opera or any other browser should decide what will be your default browser. Always have at least two fully functional browsers installed & up to date: I.E. & pick one you like. Web of Trust www.mywot.com Legitimately secure websites will always contain the following in the URL: https:// Not present? Get out! 17
Windows 7 & Windows 8: Home-Group How it works: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/homegroup http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/homegroup Wireless Possibilities: Printers Smart phones, Tablets, TV, Roku boxes, etc., etc. Wireless is becoming more & more ever-present. 18