[Leaplist] Another HW Q: Wireless Router? -- WLAN Access Point (AP) instead

[Bryan J. Smith]

You don't need a 'Ritter.  You already have IPCop.
You need an Access Point (AP).

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=335&name=Wireless-AP-Bridges  

A lot of people complain that APs cost more than 'Ritters.  There's a reason
for that, the microcontroller, memory and performance.

'Ritters are setup for no security by default, and choked after an
AES WPA connection or two.  APs are designed for many,
if not dozens, of AES WPA clients.  I have my Wii, wife's netbook
and main notebook, my main notebook and work notebook, plus
a pair of PSPs.

There are many advantages to APs over 'Ritters:  
- No reboot after a change ('Ritters often want to reboot)
- Configuration changes without going down (even without a reboot)
- Advanced settings, especially multiple APs, etc... various options
(I can't stand 'Ritters that don't let me disable RC4!!!)

I can typically find an AP for $50-60 that is very good.  My 4 year-old
Trendnet that cost me under $50 after rebate is still kicking and handles
the half-dozen clients without issue, at full AES cipher WPA.

As always, never run RC4 (WEP and WPA-TKIP) and force AES (WPA2
or WPA w/only AES).  AES should be the only cipher with WPA2 by
default, although you can run WPA and make it AES only (which I've
had to do for my lemon of a work notebook with its Intel 39xx WLAN,
and a few units I've seen).  For some reason some systems just don't
like the WPA2 handshake, which should only be a software detail, but
some cards just take issue with it (even though it's enabled AES-only
for WPA, it works while WPA2 doesn't).

Never run RC4.  Not only is the cipher pathetic (although that's what
most 'Ritters need), but the WPA-TKIP (WEP with key rotatoin) is just as
bad as WEP itself.  This was well assumed for years, and has been
proven over and over the last year.


 -- 
Bryan J  Smith           Professional, Technical Annoyance 
Linked Profile:         http://www.linkedin.com/in/bjsmith 
---------------------------------------------------------- 
Red Hat:  That 'other' American software company built on
open customer selection of options and value, instead of
controlled distribution channels of forced bundle and lock



----- Original Message ----
From: Bruce Metcalf <bruce.metcalf at figzu.com>

I'm ready to go wireless at home. Already have an IPCOP box with a Blue net, so that half's done. Now I need a way to connect that to the various wireless devices -- securely.
I've read carefully the rants about the difference between routers, "ritters", and access points, to very little constructive result.
Short question: Is this the sort of thing I want?

<http://tinyurl.com/nx8s8c>

'Nother short question: Good price?

Long question: If this isn't what I want, what is?

Need to act by 4pm to grab this price, so quick replies are appreciated.

Thanks,
Bruce

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