wireless networking encryption

[graemek]

Hi there hope someone can help, I have got my wireless network setup up great no problems only its not secured. Is there anyone who knows about encryption and how to set it up, what do I enter for network keys. Or do you know off any good tutorials about this subject. Any help would be much appreciated

Many thanks
Graeme Keatley

[PrntRhd]

We need to know what make/model of wireless router/access point you have, and also the make/model of the devices you wish to connect for us to know what choices you have open to you for securing the resulting network. Of course if you know the choices and can list them from the documentation included with the devices it would save some time...
:)

[graemek]

Hi there as yet i'm not using a wireless router yet, i've just set up a wireless network with PCI card for computer, PCMCIA card for the laptop and usb wireless adapter for the second computer, i connect to the internet via DSL modem and internet connection sharing, hope this helps and appreciate the reply

Thanks
Graeme

[Celeride]

Your access point (wireless transmitter) should have settings available to you. You need to review your documentation to know how to get to your settings page. This is normally a number like xxx.xxx.x.x

From there you should be able to set your encryption.

[pop pop]

It's the IP address of the router and will be something very like 192.168.0.1. If you're using XP of any flavor or W2K, you can verify what it is like this:

Start/Run type "cmd" (without quotes)
In the DOS window, type "ipconfig" (without quotes)

Your router's IP address will be the one labeled "Default Gateway".

Open your browser (hopefully FireFox). Type that IP into the address bar, hit enter and the main page of your router software will open. Soemwhere in the menu structure you'll find encryption settings. After this, things will vary by make and model. One general rule of thumb, if you use 10 hex characters as your key (10 is required), remember they can only be 0 through 9 and A through F (the standard hex equivalenets of 0-15 decimal).

[PrntRhd]

Hi there as yet i'm not using a wireless router yet, i've just set up a wireless network with PCI card for computer, PCMCIA card for the laptop and usb wireless adapter for the second computer, i connect to the internet via DSL modem and internet connection sharing, hope this helps and appreciate the reply
It looks like you have client-side equipment, but I personally have never done security without a router/wireless access point interface.

[Celeride]

Thanks PopPop for clarifying what I was trying to say... I really shouldn't try to think before morning coffee.

[PrntRhd]

PopPop,
he says he has no router.??

[pop pop]

Whoops :o Silly me. I went right past that and assumed if one was setting encryption, one had a router.

Never mind....

[FastLearner]

You don't need a router to configure and use WEP encryption (although it seems much easier). If you're using Windows XP, you should be able to set up the computer running ICS with a WEP key and then just configure each of you clients as described in the article:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/bowman_02april08.mspx

[pop pop]

I have this philosophy...if I learned something today, it's been a good day. Well, it's been a good day. I honestly did not know you could do that. I'm definitely no networking guru.

[PrntRhd]

FastLearner,
That is a really good post.
:)

[FastLearner]

FastLearner,
That is a really good post.
:)

Thank you sir!!.... :) :)

[graemek]

Hi there many thanks for all your replys, you have been most helpful. I have the network all setup already, just the encryption to set. Thanks for the info on the hex keys, wasen't sure what to enter. Thanks again for your time

Graeme