Going wireless @home

[HejiraHenry]

I guess we're late adopters, but when my wife wanted a new computer this fall I suggested she get a laptop ... and then get the house – which is on Comcast broadband – set up for wireless.

We had a local vendor handle the install for us, just for convenience. My wife is tickled with the results, especially the fact she can print to our desktop printer from her new laptop. I'm tickled mainly because she's tickled - and now, there's no waiting to use the computer.

I realize we're several years behind the curve, probably, compared to all you crazy kids with your Googles and everything.

 

[imjustagirl2]

I just went wireless at home like a month ago. I like it OK, lets me use my Mac on my couch instead of being tethered to the wall with my desktop halfway back in my apartment. But I can't get my Tivo to use the wireless. :(

 

[PopeDirkBenedict]

This guy wants to know where you put the tubes to be filled if you have wireless

 

[sportschick]

I went wireless about 2 1/2 months ago. It mostly means that I can sit on my ass in front of the TV while IMing my buddies. Not sure it's the best thing in the world, for that reason.

 

[BYH]

I guess we're late adopters, but when my wife wanted a new computer this fall I suggested she get a laptop ... and then get the house – which is on Comcast broadband – set up for wireless.

We had a local vendor handle the install for us, just for convenience. My wife is tickled with the results, especially the fact she can print to our desktop printer from her new laptop. I'm tickled mainly because she's tickled - and now, there's no waiting to use the computer.

I realize we're several years behind the curve, probably, compared to all you crazy kids with your Googles and everything.

Bet you like Al Gore now, huh? :D

 

[Idaho]

I went wireless about 2 1/2 months ago. It mostly means that I can sit on my ass in front of the TV while IMing my buddies. Not sure it's the best thing in the world, for that reason.

Noooooooo. Say it isn't so.

You have buddies? ;) :D

 

[Clever username]

Is it still $80 a month? That's the only reason I don't have it. My dream is to IM someone while pooping.

 

[Idaho]

Wireless should cost no more than standard DSL or Cable internet. The only extra expense would be a wireless modem and router. Probably about $50 at Radio Shack.

 

[BYH]

Is it still $80 a month? That's the only reason I don't have it. My dream is to IM someone while pooping.

You get used to it pretty quickly.

 

[Leo Mazzone]

Wireless should cost no more than standard DSL or Cable internet. The only extra expense would be a wireless modem and router. Probably about $50 at Radio Shack.

So for the technical 'tards like me, we can do it ourselves with no input from the DSL company?

Is it still $80 a month? That's the only reason I don't have it. My dream is to IM someone while pooping.

Just don't eat it!

 

[Clever username]

Wireless should cost no more than standard DSL or Cable internet. The only extra expense would be a wireless modem and router. Probably about $50 at Radio Shack.

So for the technical 'tards like me, we can do it ourselves with no input from the DSL company?

Is it still $80 a month? That's the only reason I don't have it. My dream is to IM someone while pooping.

Just don't eat it!

Indeed. I certainly don't want the dysentery.

 

[Idaho]

Better hurry. Sportschick is eagerly awaiting a report on your bowel movement.

 

[Clever username]

Just need a quick dose of fiber and I'll be firing off IMs left and right. And I'm not sure if that was a euphemism or not. Let's hope not.

 

[Idaho]

Maybe you can set up the webcam and keep everyone in the IM club happy.

 

[markvid]

The one thing I'd highly recommend to all is to use MAC filtering so only certain computers and devices can get on your network. In other words, keep everyone else in the neighborhood from skimming off your high-speed you paid for. Also, it keeps you a little safer from viruses and hackers.
I had opened up my network a couple of weeks ago so my brother could use it while he stayed and helped my wife with babies while I was on the road. I forgot to lock it down and when I saw my speed had gone down significantly, it was because 4 other machines outside my home were sucking up bandwith.
Now, 2 of them foolishly shared their hard drives while trying to hack me and look inside my drive.
One of them, I deleted a few of their files (all their word documents, excel files and music files).
The other had nothing on their drive to amuse me, but I did nuke some stuff just to make a point to them.

If you have any questions on how to lock down your wireless network, please PM me.

 

[BYH]

If you have any questions on how to lock down your wireless network, please do not **** with me.

 

[sportschick]

Better hurry. Sportschick is eagerly awaiting a report on your bowel movement.

Eeeewwwww. I'm not that desperate for buddies, dammit!!!

 

[HejiraHenry]

I guess we're late adopters, but when my wife wanted a new computer this fall I suggested she get a laptop ... and then get the house – which is on Comcast broadband – set up for wireless.

We had a local vendor handle the install for us, just for convenience. My wife is tickled with the results, especially the fact she can print to our desktop printer from her new laptop. I'm tickled mainly because she's tickled - and now, there's no waiting to use the computer.

I realize we're several years behind the curve, probably, compared to all you crazy kids with your Googles and everything.

Bet you like Al Gore now, huh? :D

Sure. I have always liked Al Gore the person. Covered his first Congressional re-election campaign, am still good friends with people on his staff ... even turned down a (insignificant) job on the VP's staff in 1992. ... thought, for a long time, that he represented the future of the Democratic Party that I wanted to be a part of .... but somewhere along the line our views diverged. ... the Al Gore you see on TV isn't the same guy he is in person.

Well, I assume ... it's been a while.

People who know him say the same thing about W (and Clinton, and GHWB Bush and Reagan, etc.), of course.

 

[BYH]

You should write a book, HH. In this environment, you'd probably sell a ton of copies to the right side of the aisle.

 

[Football_Bat]

DSL is amazing.

I got my wireless setup in August through AT&T. (I had to do it because my paper canceled its free dial-up accounts.) They had an introductory offer of $12.99 a month for the first year.

All you do is plug the wireless unit into a phone line and that's how it gets its signal. Very easy to set up. Comes with wireless and ethernet cable, so I can hook up my home computer to ethernet and use my work computer at home via wireless.