Hello. I have a wireless router question

Question

Hello folks. I'm going to buy a router in a couple of days. My building has wireless connection and access points all over.

The building has a main router for all of the access points but it doesn't have security nor will it be a topic for discussion.

I was thinking if I buy my own router and put in my own WEP or WPA key, I should be able to have quality security.

I have an Network Adaptor USB and when I tried it out, the signal didn't work but for a second at a time before it went out again.

I was working on a PC for a neighbor and he uses the wireless connection and his signal was much stronger around 54 MPS. At bit faster than DSL and Cable. He also has an internal Belkin wireless PCI.

I'm hoping by getting the router, my USB adaptor will just connect at a high MPS and not discontinue and continue every second.

My question is.... If I buy my own router, will my packets travel toward the buildings router or mine given I will have the security key? Or both?

I'm concerned my packets will become un-secure if they travel thru the buildings router after coming from mine... Thanks

mcullet · Answer

@Chosenbkr wrote:
Hello folks. I'm going to buy a router in a couple of days. My building has wireless connection and access points all over.

The building has a main router for all of the access points but it doesn't have security nor will it be a topic for discussion.

I was thinking if I buy my own router and put in my own WEP or WPA key, I should be able to have quality security.

I have an Network Adaptor USB and when I tried it out, the signal didn't work but for a second at a time before it went out again.

I was working on a PC for a neighbor and he uses the wireless connection and his signal was much stronger around 54 MPS. At bit faster than DSL and Cable. He also has an internal Belkin wireless PCI.

I'm hoping by getting the router, my USB adaptor will just connect at a high MPS and not discontinue and continue every second.

My question is.... If I buy my own router, will my packets travel toward the buildings router or mine given I will have the security key? Or both?

I'm concerned my packets will become un-secure if they travel thru the buildings router after coming from mine... Thanks

Hi,

Since you are getting your own wireless router you can set it up to ensure it is secure using a variety of security protocols. I am in a complex which has heaps of wireless networks and have actually locked these out as well as implemented a good encrytion system for the firewall / router. Just as an aside I oicked up a pretty usefull program called Network Magic (http://www.networkmagic.com) that really helped setting this up a snap. In addition it alerts you to any interuder into your system ... I love it. There are others around but I just like this one because it works and is easy to use.

BTW ... to add an additional layer of security your router may combine encryption and then specify who can connect to your system using a passkey and the device MAC address.

Let me know if you need any additional help.

Kindest regards,

Mike

NemesisDB · Answer

chose, i'm a bit confused.  when you buy your router, how will it get its internet connection?  are you going to plug it into a wall ethernet port or are you hoping to make it use the wireless network already in existance?

Chosenbkr · Answer

Thanks Mcullet for the sound feedback and I will seek that program.

My building has Access Points on each floor Nemesis (BTW, great song from Arch Enemy \\m//). Of course the building has a main router for all of the Access Points signals (BTW, are the AP's wired toward the router or does the router just pick up the AP's singal?)

Then their is a main modem where the router is inter-connected.

I'm going to order a router later tonight with 54MPS speed and see if it works with my very inexpensive USB adaptor that also has up to 54MPS but doesn't have a strong signal at all. I rather keep this inexperience USB and just buy my own router with WPA, etc

I still don't know if my information will go thru the buildings main router and get un-secured from my personal router with security. Understand?

NemesisDB · Answer

again, how are you planning on connecting your personal router that you are buying to the building's internet?   generally most routers require a direct cable link to the internet connection.

Chosenbkr · Answer

Dude, my building has a free wireless connection. If I had an DSL/ LAN/ CABLE connection I wouldn't have mentioned the access points, the buildings modem, and the buildings router.

This is a standard setup example.... get a network adaptor... let that singal hit the Acesss Point..... let that singal travel toward the router..... router travels that singal toward the modem.... goes some where that houses the wireless connection and then just like a bus... it travels back to me hopefulling within the 54MPS speed.

I want to get a router so I don't have to send my packets un-secure. I don't want to use the buildings router because it's un-secure.

I'm not sure if I could use an ethernet connection to the router and have the NIC by-pass the network adaptor because the NIC should be faster and more stable. Remember the building I'm living in has the wireless singal within the area and Access Points along with modem. Maybe that is what you were thinking or maybe not.

But the above example is what works. Thanks for your concerns.

Chosenbkr · Answer

Thanks again. Hey, I'm only going by what is within this building. This buildings AP's and Routers don't have security period. In fact, the under tone is just be happy it's free and fast.

It's a basic setup dude as I explained. I could do it and maintain it aside from getting my hands dirty with the drilling and wiring.

One of the purposes of having a router or AP that can provide wireless security given radio waves is what travels the packets is, it ecrypts information thru out its travels

Now you are saying, it doesnt ecrypt pass the AP and router? It has to ecrypt pass the infrostructure within the building and upto the public radio waves securely.

I havent read what you are assuming. Sorry I havent.

NemesisDB · Answer

if you buy a router it will only secure the packets between your client and the router's access point.  Anytime the packet goes anywhere else (be it a wired computer on your network or to any part of the building's primary network) there will be no encryption.   this, said, I think your idea as other flaws.  I know of only a single router that can use a wireless network as its internet connection (read WAN connection) and a the same time maintain an internal encrypted network on a different SSID.

NemesisDB · Answer

i'm apparently just not understanding what you're trying to describe or what you're asking.

Networking, Internet, & Bluetooth

Hello. I have a wireless router question

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