I have not been much of a security guy in the past, but with new dangers around every corner I have been spending more time in the category. I was reading an article recently and I had one of those why didn’t I think of that? moments. Well to sum it up I had to update my wireless security because the long funky password that I knew was strong enough to sentry anyone who would care to access my network doesn’t matter. Apparently the passcode is transmitted attached to data when the wireless network is in use and there are a few fairly easy to learn methods of extracting the code from the transmission. Once you have the code you can access the network at any time. So the solution for now is not to use good ‘ol WEP shared key security anymore. The newest one on my router is WPA-2 and it has a nice big space for a secure code. Since you only have to enter this when you are connecting a wireless device for the first time you can make it long and complex. I used a phrase with some punctuation and capitalization play.
In addition to an increased level of wireless security WPA is also ready for the wireless N standard. I am guessing it is not that obvious in the setup instructions that N does not support WEP because I have heard from a couple people who had to spend some time finding out the hard way.
So it’s time to move on. Sorry WEP, it’s not you, it’s me.
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Wouldn’t it be awesome if wireless routers had enough power to provide coverage to an entire home regardless of interference, distance, or building material. Don’t trust the pictures on the box people. Try it out yourself. The best way to get the most coverage in your home is to setup your router in a central location on top of a shelf or desk where it is elevated above the furniture/appliance level. Wireless technology is a line of sight transmission. The signal will not change direction to go through a doorway or open area seeking the path of least resistance. It will try to go directly from point A to B attempting to penetrate any material in its path. Many consumers that I speak to have either the problem where the router can not be conveniently located in a central area or they have building materials in their home that attenuate the transmission. There are many solutions available at the retail level as this problem is growing more popular. There are replacement routers that boast a larger range. There is the new ‘N’ wireless technology that has a wider range of coverage. Yes, they do have a larger range, but yes they are still affected by the same physical obstructions that you may have. There are signal repeaters called range expanders where you place the new box within your area of decent coverage and plug it into a wall outlet and it will forward the signal further. This actually works in many cases, but there is no real way to tell if it is working or monitor its quality of signal so there is a question of reliability. There are even devices that will send the signal over your power lines from one room to another which I haven’t really seen a good working model. There are so many variables as far as age of household wiring, interference, junction boxes that degrade signal, even separate breaker panels within one home. You could either continue to make trips to the electronics store making exchanges or just face the fact that a wire needs to be run. Look to commercial installations for an example. If they need to cover an indoor area they do not use a wireless router with a huge antenna on it. They use what is called an access point. An access point simply has one connection for a wire that connects to your router. You can configure it to have the same name and security information as your router and it expands your coverage. It is similar to a range expander as it needs to be plugged into power, but it is more reliable because there is a physical connection to the network. Also, you can place this new bubble of connectivity as far as you can run a wire. An out building for example. Get help on this one, but you can bury a outdoor rated network wire out to your workshop, shed, gazebo, boat house, whatever as long as it has a power source. So my recommendation would be to get a good Linksys router maybe with expanded range or the new ‘N’ technology and try it out. If the signal does not reach where you want it to go and you can’t move the router then skip right to the access point. It usually costs the same as the hoaky alternatives, but run a wire instead of the labor of traveling to and from the store.
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Many still believe that each computer system needs every attachment and accessory for that workstation to complete the tasks it has been purchased to do. There are ways to save time, space, and money that are now much more affordable. Networks are not just for office buildings anymore.
With the drastic increase in broadband coverage and the drop in technology prices, networking equipment for the home is mass produced and more affordable than ever. Powerful home networks already exist in broadband connected homes everywhere. These networks can be used for more than just sharing the plentiful internet connection.
In this article I am going to touch on some of the advantages of networking the different kinds of retail printers. There are basic printers with just a USB connection, wired network capable, wireless capable, and bluetooth printers. A common misconception is that you need to purchase a wireless printer (more expensive) to print wirelessly from a laptop. As long as the printer is connected to the network there are options to print wirelessly even if it is not a wireless printer. In fact if you would like to have your printer in the same area as your broadband connection and router I recommend to use the wired network connection for a faster, interference free link. It is the computer you are printing from that needs to be wireless to print over the network from the couch, not the printer. Granted there are some situations where the wireless printer would be preferred as if you need to put the printer on the opposite wall from the router and would like to eliminate running wires around the room or if you would like to put the printer in a more centrally located area because your new found ability to share this printer has family members coming from all reaches of the house to gather their prints. If you have an older printer that just has the usb connection you still can print wirelessly, but it requires some configuration to share the printer across the network from the computer to which it is attached. Aside from the extra configuration, another negative would be that the attached computer or host would have to be powered on and functioning for the wireless clients to print. Bluetooth connected printers can be shared in a similar manner where the host would have to be on and within the bluetooth pairing range to the printer for others to print.
The overall advantages to networking your existing or purchasing a network capable printer in my opinion are costs. In the past consumers would attempt to purchase all the same printers to only have to buy one type of ink cartridge. Networking solves this by all users sharing one set of ink. With the rise of ink prices and the lowering of printer prices a household can wait untill all of the ink is depleted in the various printers around the house (may only be one or two). Calculate the cost of replacing all that ink and use that amount to purchase a new networkable printer that comes with some ink. Also, it seems as though there is a trend that the higher price the printer is the lower the cost per page on ink it runs. Sharing one slightly more expensive multifunction printer will save on overall ink purchases in this way. Even the amount of household clutter can be reduced by having that many less printers and desks to put them on. Some laptop users may remove the desk from the picture all together.
There is a good chance you can do more with the technology you already have…
RSL Tech may be the place you finally learn how.
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