So I picked up a Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G 2.4GHz 54mbps router so me and my two roommates can have local wireless in our apartment without dragging wires all around for our laptops.

Question is, I want to enable the password so only us 3 can connect to it, there are A LOT of people within range and I don't want them stealing my bandwith. Going into the local (192.168.1.1) settings I have set the admin password, but I cant find out how to enable it to connect to the network.

 

What kind of Internet connection is being provided by the management? Before you can think about securing the wireless, you have to get it working with a wired connection first. Once you do that:

Go into the Wireless section. Change the SSID to a name that will be unique - don't leave it at the default "linksys". Then go into the wireless security section, set that to WPA-Personal, and create a 8 or more character password. This is what will need to be entered into the Windows wireless setup when you try to connect to your SSID (network name).

 

GLC is right, you need to set it up while using a wired connection, linksys will kick you off if your using the wireless to set security.

Once you are in the router, set your admin password so noone else can get into your router and steal your bandwidth. Go to the wireless tab and then the security sub-tab and you can set your wireless security. I use WEP w/128 bit 26 hex key encryption because it works well with multiple PC's/laptops and Win XP/Vista

 

WPA is a lot more secure than WEP, and also a lot more efficient.

 

It may be, but WEP works for me.

 

You should also enable MAC filtering. This will tell your router that only the computers you specify should receive an IP address. The link below gives instructions on how to set it up. The instructions tell you to run 'ipconfig /all' to get your MAC address. Make sure you get the MAC address for the 'Ethernet Wireless Connection" not "Local Area Connection".

http://www.tekstenuitleg.net/en/arti...filtering.html

Keep in mind if you have a friend over and want to let them use your wireless router, you will either need to add their MAC address to the allowed list or disable MAC filtering temporarily. Another tip: if you have trouble finding the MAC address for a device you want to allow (like a Wii), you can disable MAC filtering, then look to see which devices are attached to the router. I don't know exactly how to find it on the WRT54G, but there may be an option that says "attached devices" or "DHCP client list".

 

A WEP password can be cracked in minutes, use something more secure

 

Well back home I got it running. From an RJ-11 through a DSL filter to a modem. From the modem through a CAT-5e to the Router. And the router to my wireless laptop.

Well I brought it back to my apartment. Our apartment complex uses a company called "Pavlov Media" and they only allow you to have two active devices per room. So I have my desktop and my router. Well when I get on my laptop connected to the router (BTW, I have my WPA2 password as my truck's VIN number, hehe) it goes to the internet managements webpage telling me to register my device. I thought the router would count as one device and just divy the internet to all portable internet devices. Its kinda hard, I've got to call the internet place and see whats going on.

-Alex

 

What you should do is connect the router directly to the wall jack, and then connect your desktop to the router with a CAT 5. The router and all connected devices will only be seen as ONE device. All you have to do is find out how to set the router - PPPoE, DHCP, or static.

TIP: Clone the MAC address of the Ethernet adapter of your desktop into the router and I'm betting it won't come up with the registration page! The MAC address is what's already registered if your desktop works.

 

Yeah, they can be, but I've never met a person good enough with computers to crack one that didnt already have internet access.

 

It's not so much a matter of preventing someone from stealing your internet access as it is protecting your computer. Sure, a determined hacker can get through a simple wireless router. But why make it easy for them?

 

Yes, As GLC said it would be clever to clone your mac address from your PC or Modem to your router, as your ISP probably IDENTs by mac addressing since it only allows registered components.

However your computer has a vendor mac and a nick mac, most likely the nic mac is what they use. So changing a Nic card would change your mac.

Be careful though because your computer mac may be an unregistered mac by your ISP and disable comm.If you use a modem, it is more than likely it uses that mac addy. In that case you would then need to clone that mac, not the nic or vendor mac of your PC.

If you have any questions or seriously stuck feel free to PM or catch me on yahoo.

Sadly, this is my Job

 

Considering that the desktop works with the NIC connected to the wall with a cable -

1. Setting the router to DHCP is PROBABLY correct - and -

2. Cloning the MAC of the NIC will PROBABLY work.

This is very common with apartment complexes that cater to college students near campus - the modem/router/whatever is located in a utility area in the complex, and jacks in the units are live.

One thing you DO need to check - with the desktop connected directly and WORKING, open a command prompt and type:

ipconfig/all

The active Ethernet connection should be examined for 2 things - IP address and Physical Address. The physical address is the MAC address of the NIC. If the IP address is 192.168.1.anything, you will have a conflict with the Linksys and the internal IP address of the Linksys needs to be changed to 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.2.1.

 

Okay guys, so right now I'm on my desktop, hardwired through my router. Everything is working thus far. I cannot get into my routers admin page (accessed via 192.168.1.1) and instead google pops up with results for it instead. What gives?

 

Please review all my posts in this thread, paying PARTICULAR attention to the last paragraph of my last post. I'm betting the complex is assigning you a 192.168.1.x IP.