Carm

get broadband (read all 4 entries…)
Researching

I need to get this done before the end of June when we completely lose our dial-up.

I work in IT but my forte is applications/software. I’m a little less knowledgeable on the hardware side but it’s time I learned this stuff anyway.

I’ve had a few conversations with coworkers and friends in the hardware side of IT about what we need to do to get this working. Today I waited for 30 minutes on hold with the cable company and lucked out that at the end of the wait there was a very knowledgeable person on the other end of the phone. So I think I know most of the pieces I need to put in place.

There is no way I’m paying $150 for someone to come to my house and set up wifi when I can do it myself. From what I’ve learned here are the steps for my project:

  • Get all 3 computers we want on the wifi network on XP SP3 so we have the functionality of the current Windows firewall.
  • Configure the Windows firewall.
  • I’m not sure if the laptop even has XP. If not, I may have to research whether an older operating system (possibly Windows ME?) will even work for this. If it does I’m going to want to install and configure a third-party firewall.
  • Install and test the wireless USB adaptor I bought.
  • Buy at least one more wireless adaptor.
  • Get the self install kit from Best Buy.
  • Have a coworker help me pick out the best combination of cable modem and router (Not sure if I should get an 802.11n router or if 802.11g will be fine for our needs).
  • Use the self install kit and get the modem connected and registered with cable company.
  • Get the router installed and configured.
  • Attach all the PCs.
  • Get antivirus and anti-spyware software intalled and updated on all 3 machines.
  • Bonus: Get the laptop ready for travel mode. My most geeky girlfriend (she’s a network admin) recommends setting up a separate Windows profile for use while traveling. One without admin rights to install anything. That way if any nefarious types try to get into my computer while I’m using an unknown connection they can’t get very far. I’d like to do this for the Hawaii trip.

Jun 04, 2009, 09:14PM PDT | 17 cheers


Comments:

Bee Sage obsessed with learning

What I did...

This is the router I just bought two weeks ago:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124284

It works great. You can wire up to four computers into it, and have wireless. In my opinion, 802.11n isn’t worth it right now. It’s supposed to be approved in November this year. Plus, if your computers aren’t n capable, they won’t see the benefits anyway, and all of the standards are backwards compatible all the way through a.

I agree with your friend about the laptop. If you’re REALLY concerned about security, I’d put Linux on it…but that’s a bit drastic. ;-) (Says the girl running Windows right now.)

Congrats on hooking it up yourself! Setup charges are such a ripoff!! I charge $20 an hour to work on computers, and I’ve still never walked away from a setup with more than $40.

Jun 05, 2009, 09:22AM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 2 cheers

Carm

Thanks Bee!

I appreciate the advice about .11n. It hadn’t occurred to me that one’s computer needs to be at a certain level to take advantage of newer standards. It makes total sense.

Thanks for the link too. You are braver than I am though. Walter would kill me if I bought refurbished instead of new. :)

Yep, I’m a Windows gal all the way. Not that Linux wouldn’t be fun, but there’s no way I have time to learn it! I’ll be lucky if I get this project done on time.

Wow, you only charge $20 an hour?? Is that in general or just for your family and close friends? You would never see those rates in Seattle!

Yes, I am pretty confident I can handle this myself. Now if I can only find the time to work on it!

Thanks again, Bee. I appreciate your input.

Jun 07, 2009, 08:16PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 4 cheers

Bee Sage obsessed with learning

Ack! Sorry!!

I bought a new one!! I actually paid less than that price for mine, so I assumed it was the new one. (Always hunt for online coupons…always worth it.)

Yeah, I don’t advertise or anything. I help people on Freecycle occasionally, and some co-workers and their friends. I don’t want it to be a full time job, and I usually only help people who are pretty desperate and can’t pay Best Buy $300+ to back up and replace a hard drive. It’s way cheaper for them, I can do homework while I’m helping them, and it’s still more than twice what I get paid for doing the same stuff at my “real” job.

I’d do it full time (and charge a normal rate), but I don’t want to have to declare it a business, worry about being sued (I make people I don’t know sign waivers as it is), or have it mess with my homework time.

The past couple of jobs I did, I traded services rather than charging money. Got my bike repaired and a suit altered!

Jun 07, 2009, 08:43PM PDT | Thread | Respond to this 1 cheer

Carm

I love that you barter

Sounds like the perfect fit for you! And good for you for helping out your friends and coworkers.

I also think that’s a great idea to have people sign waivers too. Once you touch someone’s PC it seems like something else always goes wrong and since you were the last one to touch it, the owner of course blames you for the problem. I hope you don’t have too many such problems when you’re helping people out. I imagine folks are really grateful for your help.

Jun 09, 2009, 06:30PM PDT | Respond to this 2 cheers


Carm has gotten 17 cheers on this entry.

 

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