w00t! WiFi! Finally!

[phoenixx]

Finally! My budget and eBay converged!

Won the Airport Base Station a few weeks ago, won the Apple original Airport Card for my iBook G3e last week.


I am finally able to write and research from anywhere!

This post delivered to you from The Living Room.

[brian_igo]

Woo hoo!!! :dance:

[Helen_B[$]]

Congratulations!

[poseidon]

Congrats. Now go travel and discover how expensive airport wifi networks are.

Seriously, I hope that, unless you live out in the country, you've secured your network and router.

[phoenixx]

I live out in the country. Just us and some farms and the pink flamingo lady. The flamingos all have bunny ears and are hunting easter eggs this week, btw.

[poseidon]

Then you don't have much to worry about, although you can still find morons who will jump on your network for the sake of jumping on the network. You might be surprised to discover just how far your network broadcasts if you're out in the middle of nowhere.

We did a little experiment last week in WI at my FIL's house. They put in a wireless network and I took my laptop. Their house sits in almost the exact middle of 40 acres of land, with their closest neighbor a much, much longer way off. We got down their driveway and a bit down the street before I lost the signal.

Now, it is a country road, so no biggie, but the Interstate is only a bit further in another direction. I realize that the chances are slim that someone would want to hijack the network, but it could, in theory, happen.

Even in suburbia, your signal goes further than you'd want. I can, right as I'm typing this, receive broadcasts from not fewer than six of my neighbors. I've seen it higher and lower at different times of day. I'm amazed at the number of unsecured networks considering the proximity of neighbors.

[pippadaisy[$]]

Yep. G used to be able to work online at my parents long before they got WiFi in their house.

[phoenixx]

At the moment the network is unsecured because I am still setting it up. I have to make it secure enough to prevent hijackers and hitchhikers, yet simple enough to access that honey can use it without having to learn any new computer skills (he is a gamer, sends a few emails, and that is all he'll do - lol).

We've tried a few password/login set ups that he has compained about, so I'm taking the take a step back and figure out some other sollutions approach for now.

Suggestions welcome though.

We do have our firewall system up and running, it is securing the network past that that I want to do.

For the curious - iMac, eMAc and iBook, Cable Internet, Vonage phone, Apple Airport Base Station.

[phoenixx]

And Jeff, you just inspired me to put the iBook in the car and see where it will take me this afternoon. Good excuse for a drive on this lovely, sunny day!

[poseidon]

Drive through a residential neighborhood and you'll be shocked to see how many people will let you surf the 'Net at their expense.