Ok, I thought I understood a little about wireless networking. But, I don't.

The first of the year we got a Belkin Pre-N router. It worked great but we never tried to configure any security. Meanwhile, I gave that router to my sister along with my eMac.

As we are getting a iMacintel in a few days, my mom purchased an AirLink 101 MIMO XR model AR 525W wireless router from Fry's for $29.95. The box says it works with Macs and with all the latest & greatest WPA, etc.

We hooked it up today through our DSL service. My mom's ibook is connected via ethernet routing and I via wireless with my old iBook 500 Airport card (not clamshell).

My iBook recognized the signal as a "default" network. The signal is very strong. No matter where I go in the house (including downstairs and garage), the signal strength meter is pegged at max... and our house is all brick. Same when I go out into the yard.

My iBook down and uploads just as quickly as before and I match her speeds via wireless.

Now the problem, there is NO Mac software on the install CD, no Mac instructions, and no Mac info on AirLinks web site about this modem and how to configure security; ie, WPA, etc.

Q: Is there anyway to do security and if so, how?

Q: Is there any reason to keep this wireless router?

Q: If I can't do security, what wireless routers should we look at? We can't afford a new Apple Extreme base station.

Q: I thought that the download and upload speeds of all machines connected via the same wireless router would not affect one another. But, as I was doing a software upgrade from Apple today on my iBook, my mom's speed was reduced by 75%.

What's going on and what can be done to fix it?

Thanks,

cassie

I'm not sure about the details of setting up WPA but it certainly doesn't need any software. Any time a router comes with software its only a configuration wizard.

---

How does the wireless router know to restrict outside/unauthorised connections?

When on the internet, how can I secure the info I enter on my wirless iBook, so someone can't intercept that info as it is transmitted to our wireless router?

All the configuration of the router is down via a web browser, no software to install. Open a web browser and type in 192.168.1.1 and hit enter. All the instructions for configuring the different router options (WPA, MAC filtering, etc) thru the web browser interface are in the user manual that should have came with the router, or you can find the info on Airlink's web site. The manual is here [www.airlink101.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2006 12:15PM by Golfer.

PDF User Manual, and Quick Start Guide.:
[www.airlink101.com]
Page 8 in the User Guide, Page 5 in the Quick Start.

Just what Golfer was talking about.

BGnR

---

"Good heavens, Miss Sakamoto! You're beautiful!"
"If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster."
"Near the day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky."
"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky, which could burn the land and boil the oceans."