Netgear DG834G Should i encrypt ?

Magic_x_uk · 21 Mar 2006 at 09:44

Just got a Netgear DG834G yesterday and set it up. Also it connects to my Squeezebox 3 wirelessly and should be getting a Netgear WG311 for another PC in the home today to connect up.

I am not using any encryption. I let the router wizard do everything automatically. Is that ok ?

My Security Options in the router are

1) Disable
2) WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy)
3) WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key)
4) WPA-802.1x

at the moment it is on 1 (disabled)

I live in a newly built 3 bed semi. Neighbours dont have any computers. Should i leave as it is or should i be looking at other things. Like i said, im new to routers and wireless stuff, The main pc is connected to the router/modem via the LAN cable (RJ45), dont know what you call it, ethernet perhaps ?

Anyhow, let me know if i should be looking at anything else to change etc

Thanks

aaazza · 21 Mar 2006 at 09:55

You should always encrypt your wireless network, you never know when someone might be around to use it. I think without WPA2 you will be looking at using 3) WPA-PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) with a long pre-shared key and perhaps disabling SSID broadcast. You might even go as far as MAC-filtering with WPA (only certain computers can connect to your network).

Don't use wireless myself but I think this is considered the best thing to do without WPA2 (new stronger encryption). Bear in mind you might have to play around a bit with getting computers connected with the key. I have had some problems in the past with dropped connections and things because of encryption.

hth,

aaazza

vanandjuanunited · 21 Mar 2006 at 10:00

Have the same equipment. Definately encrypt, disable broadcast of ssid (also change it to something more unique) and implement mac filtering as above.

Magic_x_uk · 21 Mar 2006 at 10:05

thank for the replies so far, im not sure by what you mean re: SSID ?

fluiduk · 21 Mar 2006 at 10:22

The SSID is the name of the access point. It will by default broadcast this name to any machines locally, if you disable broadcast then people will need to know the ID to connect.

I would use WPA-PSK for your encryption

Aaron

Magic_x_uk · 21 Mar 2006 at 10:30

Cheers, just done that. Set it up and so far my Wireless music player has found it and connected up fine with it.

Thanks for your help

FrankJH · 21 Mar 2006 at 10:40

This is how I set up my identical equipemtn ( router and wireless card) so let me know what your performance is like

My broadband line seems to be frustratingly slow - i initially thought it was the encryption but now I am not so sure. I am on 1mb and even a BBC text site takes a minute or two to d/l , and I had heard eclipse where a good isp!!

tolien · 21 Mar 2006 at 11:00

FrankJH said:
I had heard eclipse where a good isp!!

Er, they mostly are. If you haven't tried any troubleshooting steps (BT Speedtest, different modem, no encryption) then it's kinda hard to say it's Eclipse's fault...
But that's for another thread.