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On Tue, 4 Jul 2006 21:31:06 +0000 (UTC), (Geoffrey
S. Mendelson) wrote:

Beverly Erlebacher wrote:
I'm confused about this "access point" thing.

An access point is a device with an ethernet port on one side and a wifi
port on the other. In technical terms it would be called a "bridge". It
"bridges" two seperate network segments, although in this case they use
different topologies (100Base-T and WiFi).

Is that the same as a "router"?

The usual WiFi router consists of a four port ethernet hub (LAN ports),
a seperate single ethernet port (WAN port) and a WiFi access point.
It is set up to "route" between the single (aka WAN) port and the other
two ports, the LAN and WiFi. Most of what it does for routing is NAT (network
address translation) and some sort of IP tunneling.

If you ignore the WAN port and just use the LAN ports, you have a four port
hub and an access point.

Is it as simple as buying a second router (routers are familiar to me) and
just hooking that second router to the first router by cable and that would
extend my range by the distance of the cable connecting the two routers?

Yes. Just make sure to use the LAN ports. It would be best to use different
channels. Most WiFi clients are smart enough to use the channel that is the
strongest if they have access points on more than one with the same SSID.

Make sure to use encryption. Encryption is NOT to keep your data safe,
nothing can do that. If someone is intent on accessing your network, WEP
encryption will not keep them out.

True, but the ones that use the dynamic encryption can do a reasonably
good job along with a firewall and router. The golden rule is
"Nothing is bullet proof"

What it is for is to convince the guy driving down the street looking for an
open network to send out SPAM, or "share" kiddie porn, to drive on.
Unfortunately, most users don't even change the SSID of their network, let
alone set an encryption key.

One of the locals mentioned doing a bit of "war driving" around town
just for curiosity. About 80 to 90% of the networks heard were
unencrypted AND over half of those _still_used_
the_default_name_and_PW.
I use hard wired Cat5e in a gigabit network as with the amount of
traffic wireless is just too slow even if it is full duplex.

NOTE I only receive the two amateur radio news groups.
Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

Having tuned in late, if you want to have an open network, look up PublicIP.
It's a "live cd" that runs on a PII or better (x86) computer and provides
all the functions you need to offer a secure and safe open network.

Geoff.
Roger

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