Securing my wireless network

sunny2004

EDIT
The old problem is sorted ! now just this ..


Now I need to make the connection secure.. any ideas what to watch out for?



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Just got broadband this week from eircom..
Works when hardwired but I have been trying for a few days to get my Laptop to connect by Wirless.

The laptop is running Vista Premium and is a inspiron 1720 with wirless card installed.

The Modem from Eircom is a Netopia 2247NGW I am assuming its the bog standard one.. all lights seem to be operatinal on the Modem and have gone to the site to configure the wireless and its enabled and showing on the modem (green Constant light)

As I said I am surfing by using the yellow network cable supplied....
Online the modem is showing among other information the following.
Netword Discovery on
File sharing on
public folder sharing off
Password protection On
media sharing off

Also I just noticed on the laptop that its not showing any wireless networks ? the card is showing as working its a Intel wifi 4965AGN

Now, not sure what I am doing wrong or what to try, so will ask some possible dumb questions !

In Vista, how do I confirm what is going on with my internal wirless card and if its operational...
Secondly.... apart from screaming, do you have any ideas what I should do next ?

As always, cheers for the help in advance !

Sunny

jd83

When you search for wireless networks is it detecting your network?
If it does are you able to connect to it and does it say limited connectivety when you do or is the laptop not picking up any signals at all

sunny2004

Its offical... I am an idiot..
There is a switch on the side of the inspiron that switches off the wirless !!

Now I need to make the connection secure.. any ideas what to watch out for?

jd83

lol i was going to ask that but i thought no it couldnt.

I not sure about eircom routers. You will have an option for wep encryption but i hear thats pretty easy to crack you want. You should use WPA if you have the option and pick a nice long passcode with letters and numbers.

dub45

Go into the eircom router: http://192.168.1.254 change the security to wpa pick a password change the default Eircom network name to one of your own choosing save your settings. The laptop should now pick up your newly named network - click to connect and you will be asked for your new password and that should be it.

watty

A password is something like but not hty7UF54jcp9FmAz6jhNx
short or real words, or words spelt with numbers etc will be cracked quickly.

Use WPA PSK AES mode.

WRITE it down somewhere safe 1st.

It goes in the WiFi base and in every device. Note Nintendo DS is WEP only, no WPA so won't work.

Moriarty

Moved to wireless.

sunny2004

Cheers all, sorry for it been in the wrong section