[raj_5004]

Originally Posted by sanjayc

Why bother? When you dont need the Wifi, can't you just power off the router? Saves Energy....unless you have other equipemts/laptops/desktops etc connected via ethernet cables.

Yes, its connected to my desktop as well.

Do check if any latest firmware revision/update is avlbl.

yes, updated to latest firmware.

MAC address filtering will give you better control on assigning the same ip address everytime to your laptop or mobile or any other device which are DHCP enabled. Usefull in certain situations.

ahem, i am a noob!

[rohan_iitr]

@ raj_5004

You have enabled WPA2, that should be sufficient.

Option to reduce signal strength is present in my D-Link router. I am not sure about other brands, check with your manufacturer or search on internet.

Don't worry about MAC filtering and static IPs, it is too much of an unnecessary hassle.

About SSID broadcast - check if your phone has an option to save the network name and password, so that it can connect automatically even with SSID broadcast disabled in the router. This option is present in laptops, thats how they can connect automatically. Should be there in smartphones also.

Otherwise, like NetfreakBombay mentioned, it is safe to enable SSID broadcast if your have enabled WPA and changed default SSID. Its just that having SSID broadcast disabled give you additional security against unwanted intruders. (It is like having a mechanical gear lock in addition to the electronic central locking in a car)

@ Thad E Ginathom

Thanks for the correction and detailed explanation.

By the time I realised that I had mixed up MAC address and IP address filtering, my edit time was over. So I had posted the correction in the next post (#66).

Glad to know that there is someone on the forum to approach when I run into a networking related problem.

Rohan

[raj_5004]

Thanks Rohan. My phone does have the option to save SSID and i even tried disabling SSID broadcast, it works! Thanks a lot.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Roahan, you're very welcome, but whereas I used to be a pro sys admin, my knowledge is out of date. We have people who are doing it right now, and who know the current state of play. I never was a network specialist, I couldn't configure a Cisco router, but I know the basics of TCP/IP in a practical, rather than theoretical, way.

Will always help out when I can. My speciality is keeping it simple!

[mrohit17]

Friends,

With consistent line disconnection problems (due to municipality ofcourse) I have now decided to discontinue my BSNL broadband connection and go truly wireless the 3G way. Have shortlisted the Tata-Docomo connection. Since I need this connection wirelessly in my home I am now looking for a 3g wireless router. I have two options:

1). A 3G wireless router which accepts the 3G sim card directly into it and connects to the internet.

2). A 3G wireless router which accepts the USB modem onto it and dials the network automatically to connect to the internet.

I believe the 2nd option is good as in case of my travels I can just carry my USB modem with me for internet connectivity.

Need advice for both the above options from the experts here.

Regards;
-Rohit

[sanjayc]

Guys, any idea which dual-WAN port routers are avlbl? Cost?

I have 2 broadband A/DSL connections (Airtel/Rel WiMax) - don't seem to find a way in which both can be connected and utilized at the same time, or as a worst scenario, automatically switchover to the connection which is active if any one of them fails.

Have read about dual-WAN port routers which can take 2 broadband internet connections, with built-on load-balancing and failover mechanism but not sure if they actually work or are avlbl in India? Anyone using such routers?

[NetfreakBombay]

Buy any router that supports DD-WRT and convert one of the LAN ports to WAN. Then you can configure these two WAN ports in Failover or distribute load across these two.

This one costs 1200:

eBay India: ASUS BROADBAND WIRELESS ROUTER RT-G32 WIFI 54MBPS (item 300510246276 end time 06-Jan-2011 13:10:44 IST)

[Thad E Ginathom]

Buy any router that supports DD-WRT and convert one of the LAN ports to WAN. Then you can configure these two WAN ports in Failover or distribute load across these two.

Wow! i didn't know that was possible. I thought, as Sanjay probably did, that one needed a box designed for the purpose. When I last looked, D-Link made one.

DD-WRT sounds more and more impressive every time I hear about it!

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I thought, as Sanjay probably did, that one needed a box designed for the purpose.

You do need a proper router if there are more devices than a typical home setup. These 1200 Rs routers do no have enough CPU to handle more than 4 -5 devices on WiFi encryption.

But for normal home user, it is sufficient. This accounts for a Laptop, a PC, a WiFi phone, media player and TV. More than enough for most homes.

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

DD-WRT sounds more and more impressive every time I hear about it!

It is amazing. Firmwares like DD-WRT and Tomato are game changers.

A good read:

Coding Horror: Because Everyone Needs a Router

[Thad E Ginathom]

Hah! trust me to have a "not possible" router model, but that's not so bad: I really don't need it. I might have been tempted to fiddle, though :(

[rohan_iitr]

Originally Posted by mrohit17

2). A 3G wireless router which accepts the USB modem onto it and dials the network automatically to connect to the internet.

I believe the 2nd option is good as in case of my travels I can just carry my USB modem with me for internet connectivity.

No need to buy a dedicated router. A cheaper option would be to buy a USB wifi adapter and configure it to operate as a router for your home network.

Rohan

[sanjayc]

@Netfreak, thanks.

I have a few Netgear/Belkin/D-Link routers - the regular ones with 1 WAN+4 LAN ports lying around..maybe worth giving a shot with those first.

Any step-by-step guide link will be great to carry out your suggestion.

[mrohit17]

Rohan, could you please elaborate a little here.

The current BSNL setup I have is like this:

Line---ADSL wireless modem from BSNL(on first floor)-----WLAN cable to a i-ball baton (ground floor).

So I get two different networks at home one for 1st floor the other for 2nd floor. Due to geometry of my home a single wireless router was not sufficient.

Regards;
-Rohit

Originally Posted by rohan_iitr

No need to buy a dedicated router. A cheaper option would be to buy a USB wifi adapter and configure it to operate as a router for your home network.

Rohan

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by sanjayc

@Netfreak, thanks.

I have a few Netgear/Belkin/D-Link routers - the regular ones with 1 WAN+4 LAN ports lying around..maybe worth giving a shot with those first.

Any step-by-step guide link will be great to carry out your suggestion.

First step would be to list out actual model + version number of these routers. Based on that, we know if someone has done installation of DD-WRT on these or not.

Configuration of Dual WAN can happen only after DD-WRT is working.

[Sn1p3r]

Guys I am facing an issue I am unable to rectify.

My connection: 1 mbps Airtel Broadband

Situation 1: HP 9000 series laptop wifi.
Situation 2: ^1 + iPod touch 4G wifi working.
Situation 3: ^2 + wife's Dell operating.

In Situation 1, laptop internet access works perfectly. In Situation 2, the performance does not get affected but in Situation 3, the wifi somehow seems to drop and only her Dell works. After repeated refresh of HP I still get the service but not that great a speed.

I initially thought the new Dell has N wifi so was hogging the bandwidth, so I changed it to a G profile. But still the problem persist.

Kindly let me know if I can manage the wifi distribution? My router is DNA 2011 it is connected with ipTV.

Thanks!