Wireless Networking Wireless Internet for Community

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Subject Author Date
Wireless Internet for Community les 09-16-08
Posted by les on September 16, 2008, 3:22 pm
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I currently have a wireless network (linksys router) at home and have
2 modern laptops. In the near future, our community will be going to
a wireless network provider, and we will be required to give them the
MAC Address of each computer, in order to get on their network.

I would like to buy a wireless HP printer (model 6480) and be able to
print from either of my computers wirelessly. I am told I do not need
my linksys router anymore but need to obtain another piece of
equipment (wireless modem??) so as to accomplish what I want.

Just what do I need and does anyone have any suggest models?

Posted by Char Jackson on September 16, 2008, 4:11 pm
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wrote:

>I currently have a wireless network (linksys router) at home and have
>2 modern laptops. In the near future, our community will be going to
>a wireless network provider, and we will be required to give them the
>MAC Address of each computer, in order to get on their network.
>
>I would like to buy a wireless HP printer (model 6480) and be able to
>print from either of my computers wirelessly. I am told I do not need
>my linksys router anymore but need to obtain another piece of
>equipment (wireless modem??) so as to accomplish what I want.
>
>Just what do I need and does anyone have any suggest models?

I admit, I don't have a clue as to the details of the upcoming
community wireless project, (you need to get those details from the
folks in charge of the new network), but my approach would be to put
ONE device (a router) on their network and keep all of your other
devices on YOUR network.

That way you only have to give them one MAC address, and you can
add/remove devices such as laptops and wireless printers as often as
you wish, without further coordination with the community project.

If/when you post back, please provide make and model information for
all of your networking gear, as well as any technical information you
have on the new wireless project.


Posted by DanS on September 16, 2008, 5:13 pm
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83471f82f262@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com:

> I currently have a wireless network (linksys router) at home and have
> 2 modern laptops. In the near future, our community will be going to
> a wireless network provider, and we will be required to give them the
> MAC Address of each computer, in order to get on their network.
>
> I would like to buy a wireless HP printer (model 6480) and be able to
> print from either of my computers wirelessly. I am told I do not need
> my linksys router anymore but need to obtain another piece of
> equipment (wireless modem??) so as to accomplish what I want.
>
> Just what do I need and does anyone have any suggest models?

You *would* need to hang onto the Linksys rtr if you wanted to connect
more than one device to use their internet service.

What you need to use their service, assuming it's 802.11x, is a device
that offers a 'client mode'. That is, a device that can connect to an AP,
and be used as a gateway for other computers on your network.

For good connectivity, it's best to have an outside antenna pointing
directly at their AP's antenna. One such device is the Engenius/Senao
EOC-3220. This would suit your needs exactly. It is a POE device, meaning
the only connection to it is a CAT5 cable, and has an integrated 9dbi
panel antenna. No need to run expensive low-loss coax, or mount a Linksys
rtr (juiced up with DD-WRT firmware to do client mode) in a weather proof
box, and buy an antenna/coax.

The EOC-3220 does 'client-mode w/NAT' and supports DHCP on the wireless
side. All that would need to be done is configure it as such, and plug it
into the switch portion (not the LAN port) of the Linksys rtr you already
have, and give it (the ETH side) an IP address in your existing LAN. The
internet gateway (default gateway) would then be the Eth address you have
given the outside device. The EOC will NAT your traffic back to the ISP.
I believe it also does act as a DHCP server for the wired side if you so
desire.

http://www.engeniustech.com/datacom/products/details.aspx?id=171

These can be had for ~ $150 ......

http://computers.pricegrabber.com/other/m/29867433/search=eoc-
3220/st=product/sv=title/




Posted by DTC on September 16, 2008, 9:10 pm
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Something does not sound right...on several counts.

* Your future wireless provider wants the MAC addresses of
everything you want to connect to their wireless network.

Often a WISP (Wireless ISP) will use MAC authentication when
connecting THEIR client radios to their network, and their
radios will have an embedded firewall/router or an external
router between their radio and your networked devices (therefore
the MAC addresses of your networked devices will not be visible).

If they intend to authenticate all the MAC addresses on
their network, that implies they will run out of IP addresses
real quick and that all your networked devices will be visible
on everyone elses' network.

* You can still get a wireless printer and run it one YOUR own
wireless network, the wireless printer will NOT be part of their
wireless network .

* Other piece of equipment?

They might be saying that you have to buy THEIR wireless client
radio.







Posted by Bill Kearney on September 17, 2008, 10:23 am
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>I currently have a wireless network (linksys router) at home and have
> 2 modern laptops. In the near future, our community will be going to
> a wireless network provider, and we will be required to give them the
> MAC Address of each computer, in order to get on their network.

If the computers themselves are going to make a direct wireless connection
to the network, then yes they'd need that info.

But you'd have to ask why you'd want to do this. For roaming purposes when
you're not near your own house, maybe. But when you're in your own house it
would be considerable more secure (and likely faster) to connect to your own
in-house router FIRST. And then have that make the uplink to the community
network. If you do it this way then YOU maintain control over what can or
cannot connect to your own wireless gear.

You'd need to tell us more info regarding the ISP, like what network devices
they suggest using.


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