Wireless modems and Aces High

[IronDog]

I was wondering what the skinny on wireless routers and the problems if they exist,consist of.the reason for my need of knowledge about the wireless setup,is that I can save a few bucks,by dropping my cable company,and going with my phone company for all my tv,phone,internet etc. needs.I believe if I read it correctley,that wireless uses a usb plug in for one of the computer hookups.I have two puters that I will be using,and if its' going to be a hassle,then I won't do it.If anyone can make any sense out of what I was trying to communicate,and helps me,thanks in advance.
IronDog

[Tigger29]

Back when I had DSL I had a choice of two different modems.. the USB model and the network version.  The USB plugs directly into the USB port in your computer, and into the phone line.  The network version had a network plug and also plugged into the phone line.

I would strongly go with the network version.  It will plug into your network card on your computer... -OR- you can easily plug it into a router, and "splice" that internet connection into however many computers you want by running network cable from the computers to the router.

My father-in-law recently signed up for DSL and they provided him a modem/router combination kind of thing that also had wireless capabilities.  I hooked him up with a $20 wireless adapter that plugs into a PCI slot and he was delighted that he didn't have to run a network cable across his trailor-home.  It worked out perfect for him.

I have cable personally... which is connected to a D-link router (in the basement)... plugged into the router is my VOIP modem (Vonage) and a second network cable that is running to my computer workbench.  My good computer is upstairs and I have it connected wirelessly with an el-cheapo PCI wireless card.  I understand wireless networking isn't ideal for gaming, but I rarely experience any stutters or drops from AH.. maybe once or twice a month, which immediately corrects itself.

Just keep in mind if they try to give you a USB modem, it's likely only going to work with one computer.  You'll have to enable internet connection sharing to get the other computer on the net and the first will have to be powered on any time you want to connect with the second.  Routers are cheap enough, so don't go this USB route if you can avoid it.

Good luck

[DREDIOCK]

From a security standpoint Wired is more secure then wireless as most people dont secure their wireless systems.
Grab a laptop and walk through almost any neighborhood and you will commonly find several network connections you can steal from to prove my point.

Was talking to a guy at a computer shop recently who was telling me he had one customer who had his system broken into and they had actually managed to get into the house camera surveillance system he had run through the house and hooked up to his PC.
the hackers managed to control the cameras from outside the house probably getting some interesting footage inasmuch as he had cameras hooked up in ever room of the house.

I have my house wired with wall mounted jacks.(like phone jacks) If you have access to your attic it really isnt hard to do. You can get the line any length you want and Home Depot or Lowes sells the kits to hook up the jacks.
Pretty easy if you ask me

[Tigger29]

Basic wireless security isn't that hard to set.. just turn off broadcasting and setup WEP.. and that will keep out 99.99% of people.  If someone wants to get into your system specifically, they're going to find a way to do it, but chances are no one is going to target you personally.