Router
 

I have a microsoft router (wireless) that continues to drop signal to my laptops. The router works well for a while, maybe a couple of days, then it will need to be reset. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I don't know if it is just my laptop, it could be.

what happens with mine is it gets too hot because of bad ventilation, it does a lot better in a cool dry area, or an a rea with a fan.

do you have any 2.4g cordless phones? they can cause this.

Do you have WEP enabled, and is SSID broadcast off? Both of these can cause this depending on the nics you have in your laptops.

How on Earth do you figure this one out?

Enabling WEP and turning off SSID broadcast are almost essential steps in securing your WLAN.

It should also be noted that the phone will only interfere if it's one of the older analog cordless models.

Believe it or not, badly shielded microwave ovens can also create deadspots. They use the same 2.4Ghz range as WLANs (but at a much higher power!).

One thing you could do is try to change the channel you are using. 802.11b has 11 channels, 3 of which are considered "non-overlapping".

Pick one from 1, 6 or 11, or if you already are using one of these, try changing it; ie, move from 6 to 11, or 1 to 6 etc.


Mr Mephisto

I second Mephisto's advice.

I'd add to make sure you are running current firmware.

OK, this seems to be a continually hot topic. As such, here's my summarized Six Steps to Security Success for your WLAN.


1) Change the default SSID
This is like your "network name" and is what people "sniff" for when war-driving. CHANGE the default! Make it something that's relevant to you.

2) Change the default Admin password on the AP
This is also very important but many people forget.

3) Disable SSID Broadcast
Just changing the SSID is not enough alone. There's no need for you to broadcast your SSID around the neighbourhood. You're not running a public hotspot are you? Besides, you will know your own SSID and can therefore configure your own clients (ie your PC/laptop).

4) Enable WPA
WPA (WiFi Protected Access) is the latest security standard. It adds the security provided by WEP by introducing a key management framework. WPA comes in two modes. For a home user you need to implement WPA-PSK mode (WPA - Pre Shared Key). This means you choose a "secret key" that you enter into both your client and your AP. This is used to automatically regenerate WEP keys on the fly. Use at least a 20 digit key if possible; the longer the better.

5) - Enable MAC Address Filtering
Every network card has a MAC address. It's a unique 12 digit hex number that identifies that card. Configure your AP so it only allows the MAC addresses you enter to associate with your AP. This stops strangers from using your WLAN.

6) - Turn down the transmit power
Many people use the highest transmit power possible. Why would you want to broadcast your wireless LAN across the street if you only want to cover your home or dorm? Use the lowest transmit power that covers the area required. This is just common sense when you think about it.


Note that not all APs support WPA, but they should all support basic WEP at least. In this case, you should use WEP as an absolute minimum. Choose 128bit key encryption and change your key regularly. A minor inconvenience, but it safeguards your WLAN.



None of the above steps will secure your WLAN securely on their own. But taken in combination they will protect you from 99.99% of most hacking attempts. Remember, the vast majority of wireless hacking is "opportunistic." If you follow the standard security recommendations, it will make your WLAN very secure and protected against all but the most professional and sustained attacks. And who's going to do this to snoop on your web-browsing or Counter Strike games? :-)


Any more questions, please feel free to ask.


Mr Mephisto

I know that, but some cards won't interface with some routers properly if you have the broadcast turned off. For example, some Dlink PCMCIA cards won't talk to some Netgear routers if broadcast is off. They also don't get along with WEP very well. These setups require MAC filtering, but many routers don't allow it, requiring replacement if you want a secure AND reliable network.



I agree with you, though, that in general SSID broadcast disabling and WEP are required if you want a secure network. What I'm suggesting is that he turn SSID on and WEP off just to see if he can get the card to talk to the router reliably. If so, he needs to replace either the card or the router.

Right. I understand you now.

Mr Mephisto