[mccrae28]

Hello

I've given up on Belkin wireless networking products, as recommended by some people on here, and have moved onto NetGrear.

Just received the: Netgear RangeMax NEXT Wireless ADSL2+ Modem Router: Model DG824N

I've managed to set-up the basic - ie. get onto the net.

I've looked under the Basic Settings - and the encapsulation (whatever that means) is to "PPPoA (PPP over ATM)" - Now in the past, I've been told by BT and by Belkin to set encapsulation as "PPPoE (PPP over Ethernet)"

Does it matter which one i use?

Also... Why is Netgear set to channel 6 and all the others i've had have been set to channel 11? - again, does it matter what channel?

Finally -
How to I set-up security on this modem router?
In Belkin - it had WEP - which just didn't allow my Mac to join the network - but listed under the Wireless Tab > Wireless Settings > Security Options are two options: NONE or WPA-PSK[TKIP] + WPA2-PSK[AES].


Thanks in advance for helping a novice newbie. I really appreciate all the help given.

[Sherman Homan]

When you say that you got onto the net, what do you mean? Encapsulation should be what ever your ISP wants you to use. I don't think you have much choice there. But if you are the net, then your encapsulation setting (even if it is off) is correct. The channel should be set to automatic, if that is a choice; the wireless card should be able negotiate the channel with the router.
You can use either WPA-PSK -TKIP (WiFi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) or WPA2-PSK - AES which is theoretically more secure. WPA2 improves on WPA standard by encrypting the signal at a higher bitrate, so war drivers and script kiddies with pringles cantennas are less likely to gain access to your network. Your Mac Extreme card will handle either.

[mccrae28]

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan 

When you say that you got onto the net, what do you mean? Encapsulation should be what ever your ISP wants you to use. I don't think you have much choice there. But if you are the net, then your encapsulation setting (even if it is off) is correct. The channel should be set to automatic, if that is a choice; the wireless card should be able negotiate the channel with the router.
You can use either WPA-PSK -TKIP (WiFi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) or WPA2-PSK - AES which is theoretically more secure. WPA2 improves on WPA standard by encrypting the signal at a higher bitrate, so war drivers and script kiddies with pringles cantennas are less likely to gain access to your network. Your Mac Extreme card will handle either.

Hi,
Thanks for the quick response - was too busy walking around my house testing the signal - and it works. When all the others failed 6 feet from the router.

Security -
I'm on the web-interface, but in the "Wireless Settings" the only security mode options are: NONE or WPA-PSK[TKIP] + WPA2-PSK[AES].

However... There's a little blue help menu and I was looking at it for security - it mentions WEP Security Encryption - I've discovered that it's hidden when under the heading "Wireless Network" - the "Mode" is set to "Up to 270Mbps"

If I change that to "g & b" then the WEP option appears - should i change it from "Up to 270Mbps" to "g & b" - I have no idea what this means - hopefully it won't affect my signal.

Could that have effected the speed of the broadband that i'm receiving??
Before it was approx 4.5mb and not its jumping between 450.00kbps and 1.2mb?

Again, THANKS

EDIT
Just ran a speed test that BT Suggested I do, since our telephone line has been faulty.
With Wireless - speed is 440.00kbps
With Ethernet - speed is 4.3MB

Can anyone tell me why I'm only receiving 440.00kbps wirelessly? And How to resolve it.
Any Further Suggestions
THANKS

[Sherman Homan]

Stay away from WEP, use WPA your wireless card will figure it out.
The letters b and g refer to 10 and 54 meg data rate. Leave it at b+g so that it will handle both, no penalty.
I think that data speeds of 440 k is slower than dial-up....Wait a minute, what do you mean your "telephone line has been faulty"? This shouldn't have anything to do with phone lines!

[hookem2oo7]

if he has DSL it might...

but 440 kilobytes/s is about 4 megabits/s

something is definitely wrong

[mccrae28]

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan 

I think that data speeds of 440 k is slower than dial-up....Wait a minute, what do you mean your "telephone line has been faulty"? This shouldn't have anything to do with phone lines!

Woops, sorry "telephone line has been faulty" - should have said "broadband line was faulty" - We were getting high "ethernet connected" speeds of 4.5mb and one day three weeks ago it dropped to 77.00kbps. BT investigated, and said that they would fix the fault.
Gave me a speedtester link and was told to check it everytime the internet speed seemed slow.

Now Speed:
Connected via ethernet: 4.5mb
Connected wirelessly: 440.00kbps

I just something I can't get my head around it.
- My area should be getting 5mb speed - I get a max of 4.5mb - FANTASTIC - as before the fault highest was 1.5MB
Connected via ethernet cable allows me to get 4.5mb
So why can't wireless computers get the same speed? Why does it drop right down to 440.00kbps?

Is there a fault with the router? do i need to change setting?

Thanks
I feel stupid asking - but thats for answering questions from a dumb newbie.

[hookem2oo7]

802.11b at 11MBit is still much faster than your broadband connection, so i think there has to be something wrong with a setting somewhere

i get identical speeds at Speakeasy - Speed Test over ethernet or wireless on my cheap, old dlink wireless-g router

[mccrae28]

Originally Posted by hookem2oo7 

802.11b at 11MBit is still much faster than your broadband connection, so i think there has to be something wrong with a setting somewhere

i get identical speeds at Speakeasy - Speed Test over ethernet or wireless on my cheap, old dlink wireless-g router

Just ran the speed test being wireless. here are the results:


I'm from the UK - should have mentioned that, probably effected the test.

Ran a test on a site recommended by ISP, and here at the results i've just got:


SO what could be causing the slow speed when being wireless?

[hookem2oo7]

I'd change the setting to g+b instead of 270mbit or whatever it is set on. It might be a netgear proprietary signal that is causing the slow rates. That's the only thing i can think of.

[ghporter]

FYI, Apple's "WPA-Personal" is the same as WPA-PSK[TKIP]. Apple has a history of coming up with different terms for wireless things, and this is a relatively minor example.

[Tuoder]

How many bars is your connection?

i regard the adertised wireless speeds as a virtual lie. They measure at the physical layer, and there is alot fo overhead in the connection. Your numbers still suck, and should only been seen if you have really bad reception.