Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On Sunday 07 Nov 2010 10:40:10 Paul Stimpson wrote: > Before you do anything I would have a look at the rules to see if it is > naughty, see if anyone else is doing it and take precautions like turning > off the SSID broadcast on the AP and using dd-wrt's "MAC address clone" > function to clone the MAC address of the wired Ethernet port on your son's > laptop in case they scan the network looking for unauthorised APs. Obviously each university's going to have a different setup, but this step would have been absolutely necessary at my uni, as you had to register your MAC address with your room number to get online, and were only allowed 1 MAC per room. I'd be suprised if it wasn't a breach of the uni's AUP for users to hook up their own networking equipment, so I'd speak to them rather than risk him getting kicked off the network, but that's just the sysadmin in my head trying to be heard ;-) Cheers Mark -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
> My brain's a bit fuzzier than usual this morning, but am I right in thinking I could buy a cheaper wireless modem and configure it solely as an access point, i.e. leaving the modem component unconfigured? Yes. Get an el-cheapo wireless router. Ignore the ADSL port (it'll flash a light at you, but who cares?). Connect one of the ethernet sockets to your connection, and set the wifi up as you want it to be. This is how I run my wifi network - the router is connected to a dedicated network card on my server, which runs an aggressive set of firewall rules on that interface. I am ignoring most of its capability - it has become no more than a bridge. Vic. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
> a cable > trailing across the floor might present a problem to him or any > equipment it was attached to. Could you not use stick bases and cable ties to keep the cables off the floor? And a couple of RJ45 jacks on the end... Vic. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 15:46, Michael Pavling wrote: > On 7 November 2010 15:36, Sean Gibbins wrote: >> However, the issue is that Sam >> is somewhat less than steady on his feet when not using his sticks, >> which he tends to abandon around the house and in his room, and a cable >> trailing across the floor might present a problem to him or any >> equipment it was attached to. > Ah! Well then yes, maybe a hub and a couple of tactically-located > cables would be best. Nope, apparently not: having read the rules around connectivity his PC must be directly connected to the network to be compliant! Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 7 November 2010 15:36, Sean Gibbins wrote: > However, the issue is that Sam > is somewhat less than steady on his feet when not using his sticks, > which he tends to abandon around the house and in his room, and a cable > trailing across the floor might present a problem to him or any > equipment it was attached to. Ah! Well then yes, maybe a hub and a couple of tactically-located cables would be best. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 15:27, Michael Pavling wrote: > On 7 November 2010 15:25, Sean Gibbins wrote: >> Guess he'll have to get used to the idea of sitting at his desk to use >> his laptop, eh? > How big *is* his room? Wouldn't a 5-metre network cable allow him to > sit wherever he wants? Actually, bigger than the usual hutch 1st years are presented with in halls, but no, not so big that a 5m cable would not reach all points in the room where he would want to use it. However, the issue is that Sam is somewhat less than steady on his feet when not using his sticks, which he tends to abandon around the house and in his room, and a cable trailing across the floor might present a problem to him or any equipment it was attached to. I might set him up with two cables, one for the desk and one for his bed, which he can swap between depending upon where he is sitting. Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 7 November 2010 15:25, Sean Gibbins wrote: > Guess he'll have to get used to the idea of sitting at his desk to use > his laptop, eh? How big *is* his room? Wouldn't a 5-metre network cable allow him to sit wherever he wants? -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 14:38, Robin Wilson wrote: >> Famous last words, eh? > I would suggest that he very carefully examines his university's IT policy. I > know that the University of Southampton policy expressly forbids connecting > hubs or wireless access points to ethernet sockets in halls of residence. A > friend of mine at Southampton had his computing access revoked for the rest > of the semester for breaking this policy. Obviously other universities may be > more lenient than ISS at Southampton are. Hi Robin, Wandering around the village with the dog it occurred to me that this is likely to be the case. Naively I assume everyone is like my son and therefore highly unlikely to do 'bad stuff' via their connection. I also assume that everyone who would want to use a WAP would go to reasonable lengths to secure it to prevent other people doing similarly bad stuff via their connection. Obviously that is not very realistic of me and allowing people to use WAPs would presumably expose the university, in that with an unsecured WAP a student downloading films or music would have some level plausible deniability, while a student who is restricted to only one connection to the outside world is accountable for that connection. Guess he'll have to get used to the idea of sitting at his desk to use his laptop, eh? Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On Sunday 07 November 2010 14:27:49 Sean Gibbins wrote: > On 07/11/10 09:49, Tim wrote: > > Does this help > > > > Here the AP > > > > http://www.edimax.com/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=18&pl1_id=1&pl2_id=5 > > > > Cost £22 here > > > > http://www.scan.co.uk/products/edimax-ew-7206apg-wireless-access-point-80 > >211g-54mbps-with-wds-function-%28realtek%29 > > Got it from Amazon in the end on account of Scan wanting 8 quid for P&P! > > Sean Seems fair enough, I mean getting it from Amazon not £8 p&p Hope it make life a bit easier for you both Tim -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
> Famous last words, eh? I would suggest that he very carefully examines his university's IT policy. I know that the University of Southampton policy expressly forbids connecting hubs or wireless access points to ethernet sockets in halls of residence. A friend of mine at Southampton had his computing access revoked for the rest of the semester for breaking this policy. Obviously other universities may be more lenient than ISS at Southampton are. Robin -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 14:26, James Courtier-Dutton wrote: > One point of caution. If you son is able to attach a Wireless AP, > other students will also be able to, and thus the wireless might > become very congested and cause problems that way. Well, Sam will be effectively creating his own wireless network to communicate between his latop and the the ethernet port, and as such will be able to limit who else can connect to his WAP and from there on to his ethernet port. AFAIK there is no wireless network as such within the halls of residence and each student has to connect via the wired network. I can see that if everybody did this in close proximity there could be problems with getting a decent connection in terms of available channels not receiving interference from other WAPs, but otherwise there shouldn't be a problem, surely? Famous last words, eh? ;-) Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 09:49, Tim wrote: > Does this help > > Here the AP > > http://www.edimax.com/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=18&pl1_id=1&pl2_id=5 > > Cost £22 here > > http://www.scan.co.uk/products/edimax-ew-7206apg-wireless-access-point-80211g-54mbps-with-wds-function-%28realtek%29 Got it from Amazon in the end on account of Scan wanting 8 quid for P&P! Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 7 November 2010 09:31, Sean Gibbins wrote: > Hi everyone, > > My son is currently residing in halls of residence where is 'net access > is piped to his laptop via an ethernet cable on his desk. Obviously that > somewhat restricts the flexibility of the laptop and longer cables are > not really an option as he has mobility problems and would struggle if > there were cables trailing around the room. > > It occurred to me that this might be solved with a wireless access point > that hooks up to the ethernet cable, but upon looking for a modern > incarnation of such a device it appears they have been largely ousted by > the combination wireless routers many of us use. You can buy them, but > they seem to be the same price as a good quality wireless router, i.e. £45. > > My brain's a bit fuzzier than usual this morning, but am I right in > thinking I could buy a cheaper wireless modem and configure it solely as > an access point, i.e. leaving the modem component unconfigured? > > The range isn't important, but it will need to be secured, ideally with > WPA and MAC address filtering. > > Sean > You should look at the university policy and see how many hosts you are allow to connect to the ethernet point in the room. E.g. Are you allowed to attach a HUB and run more than one PC from it. If you can, then a simple Wireless AP will work. If, you are only allowed to connect one PC/host to the ethernet cable, then you will need to go for something like a cable modem or cable access point. A cable access point does the wireless AP function, and also has an ethernet port for connecting to the external network. An ADSL wireless access point would instead have an phone port for connecting to the external network. The cable access point would then do Network address translation and therefore work correctly with the ethernet cable on the wall. One point of caution. If you son is able to attach a Wireless AP, other students will also be able to, and thus the wireless might become very congested and cause problems that way. Kind Regards James -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 10:40, Paul Stimpson wrote: > Alternatively you could ask the University to fix the problem for you. I > believe that under the disability act they are required to make reasonable > adaptations to accommodate your son's disability. He's done very nicely out of the Disabled Student's Allowance, with a new laptop, mouse, keyboard, monitor plus Windows 7 and MS Office bells-and-whistles edition, all warranteed and insured for the next three years. They have also provided a mobility scooter and various other allowances to compensate for the difficulties he has in getting around on his sticks while carrying stuff. > The only problem I can see is that if you ask for wifi and they tell you it's > banned you can't claim you didn't know it wasn't allowed if you go DIY. > > Before you do anything I would have a look at the rules to see if it is > naughty, see if anyone else is doing it and take precautions like turning off > the SSID broadcast on the AP and using dd-wrt's "MAC address clone" function > to clone the MAC address of the wired Ethernet port on your son's laptop in > case they scan the network looking for unauthorised APs. Good point, although I can't see they'd enforce a ban wireless connectivity under these specific circumstances, i.e. a locked down connection between a single machine and wireless access point. I generally use WPA + mac address filtering and disabled SSID broadcast, which I know isn't a guarantee of security but should keep out all but the most determined intruder. As for checking the rules I think I'll suck it and see, and if anyone does start walking the halls with a scanner and subsequently complains, I'll pick it up from there. Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 11:02, Tim wrote: > On Sunday 07 November 2010 10:40:10 Paul Stimpson wrote: >> Hi, >> >> +1 for dd-wrt. >> >> I would ask on your local Freecycle if anyone has a DLink DIR615 (the >> wireless router that Virgin Media give you free if you subscribe to the >> 50Mbps package) they don't want any more. The Virgin DIR615 comes with >> custom Virgin firmware that is notoriously old and bad. Mine crashed so >> much with the original firmware that I would have thrown it at the wall if >> I hadn't put dd-wrt on it and I've seen others freecycled so hopefully >> there will be more going spare. >> >> Alternatively you could ask the University to fix the problem for you. I >> believe that under the disability act they are required to make reasonable >> adaptations to accommodate your son's disability. The only problem I can >> see is that if you ask for wifi and they tell you it's banned you can't >> claim you didn't know it wasn't allowed if you go DIY. >> >> Before you do anything I would have a look at the rules to see if it is >> naughty, see if anyone else is doing it and take precautions like turning >> off the SSID broadcast on the AP and using dd-wrt's "MAC address clone" >> function to clone the MAC address of the wired Ethernet port on your son's >> laptop in case they scan the network looking for unauthorised APs. >> >> Cheers, >> Paul. >> >> >> Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device >> -- >> Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk >> Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire >> LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk >> -- > > I have an old D-Link ADSL Router at work if you are interested Sean Thanks Tim, The cheapskate scavenger in me says yes, and were it for here I'd take you up on it. However, I can see it getting complicated from a remote management perspective (Dad, can you come up? The Internet's broken again!), so I think we'll go for something designed specifically for the job and new out of the box on this occasion. Actually, I am doing Sam a bit of a disservice there, he is reasonably competent and certainly capable of hooking a laptop up to the ethernet cable if wifi if needed. Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On Sunday 07 November 2010 10:40:10 Paul Stimpson wrote: > Hi, > > +1 for dd-wrt. > > I would ask on your local Freecycle if anyone has a DLink DIR615 (the > wireless router that Virgin Media give you free if you subscribe to the > 50Mbps package) they don't want any more. The Virgin DIR615 comes with > custom Virgin firmware that is notoriously old and bad. Mine crashed so > much with the original firmware that I would have thrown it at the wall if > I hadn't put dd-wrt on it and I've seen others freecycled so hopefully > there will be more going spare. > > Alternatively you could ask the University to fix the problem for you. I > believe that under the disability act they are required to make reasonable > adaptations to accommodate your son's disability. The only problem I can > see is that if you ask for wifi and they tell you it's banned you can't > claim you didn't know it wasn't allowed if you go DIY. > > Before you do anything I would have a look at the rules to see if it is > naughty, see if anyone else is doing it and take precautions like turning > off the SSID broadcast on the AP and using dd-wrt's "MAC address clone" > function to clone the MAC address of the wired Ethernet port on your son's > laptop in case they scan the network looking for unauthorised APs. > > Cheers, > Paul. > > > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- I have an old D-Link ADSL Router at work if you are interested Sean Tim -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
Hi, +1 for dd-wrt. I would ask on your local Freecycle if anyone has a DLink DIR615 (the wireless router that Virgin Media give you free if you subscribe to the 50Mbps package) they don't want any more. The Virgin DIR615 comes with custom Virgin firmware that is notoriously old and bad. Mine crashed so much with the original firmware that I would have thrown it at the wall if I hadn't put dd-wrt on it and I've seen others freecycled so hopefully there will be more going spare. Alternatively you could ask the University to fix the problem for you. I believe that under the disability act they are required to make reasonable adaptations to accommodate your son's disability. The only problem I can see is that if you ask for wifi and they tell you it's banned you can't claim you didn't know it wasn't allowed if you go DIY. Before you do anything I would have a look at the rules to see if it is naughty, see if anyone else is doing it and take precautions like turning off the SSID broadcast on the AP and using dd-wrt's "MAC address clone" function to clone the MAC address of the wired Ethernet port on your son's laptop in case they scan the network looking for unauthorised APs. Cheers, Paul. Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 09:49, Tim wrote: > Does this help > > Here the AP > > http://www.edimax.com/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=18&pl1_id=1&pl2_id=5 > > Cost £22 here > > http://www.scan.co.uk/products/edimax-ew-7206apg-wireless-access-point-80211g-54mbps-with-wds-function-%28realtek%29 > > Hope it helps Hi Tim, That's much nearer Sammy's price range than anything eBuyer were offering, so i think we'll go for that. Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 07/11/10 10:01, Jack Knight wrote: > > Sean, > > You could get a cheap 2nd hand router and blow it with DD-WRT or > OpenWRT - see their hardware compatibility pages (below) for suitable > devices. Then you have massive flexibility to set the thing up exactly > as you want, plus tweak power settings etc. > > http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start > http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices > > Have fun Hi Jack, Thanks for that, but in this case I will keep it simple, as it is for my artistic (i.e. decidedly non-technical) son! Sean -- music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: www.funkygibbins.me.uk -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On 7 November 2010 09:31, Sean Gibbins wrote: > Hi everyone, > > My son is currently residing in halls of residence where is 'net access > is piped to his laptop via an ethernet cable on his desk. Obviously that > somewhat restricts the flexibility of the laptop and longer cables are > not really an option as he has mobility problems and would struggle if > there were cables trailing around the room. > > It occurred to me that this might be solved with a wireless access point > that hooks up to the ethernet cable, but upon looking for a modern > incarnation of such a device it appears they have been largely ousted by > the combination wireless routers many of us use. You can buy them, but > they seem to be the same price as a good quality wireless router, i.e. £45. > > My brain's a bit fuzzier than usual this morning, but am I right in > thinking I could buy a cheaper wireless modem and configure it solely as > an access point, i.e. leaving the modem component unconfigured? > > The range isn't important, but it will need to be secured, ideally with > WPA and MAC address filtering. > Sean, You could get a cheap 2nd hand router and blow it with DD-WRT or OpenWRT - see their hardware compatibility pages (below) for suitable devices. Then you have massive flexibility to set the thing up exactly as you want, plus tweak power settings etc. http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/start http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices Have fun > Sean > > -- > music, film, comics, books, rants and drivel: > > www.funkygibbins.me.uk > > > -- > Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk > Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire > LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk > -- > -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Wireless Access Point
On Sunday 07 November 2010 09:31:05 Sean Gibbins wrote: > Hi everyone, > > My son is currently residing in halls of residence where is 'net access > is piped to his laptop via an ethernet cable on his desk. Obviously that > somewhat restricts the flexibility of the laptop and longer cables are > not really an option as he has mobility problems and would struggle if > there were cables trailing around the room. > > It occurred to me that this might be solved with a wireless access point > that hooks up to the ethernet cable, but upon looking for a modern > incarnation of such a device it appears they have been largely ousted by > the combination wireless routers many of us use. You can buy them, but > they seem to be the same price as a good quality wireless router, i.e. £45. > > My brain's a bit fuzzier than usual this morning, but am I right in > thinking I could buy a cheaper wireless modem and configure it solely as > an access point, i.e. leaving the modem component unconfigured? > > The range isn't important, but it will need to be secured, ideally with > WPA and MAC address filtering. > > Sean Does this help Here the AP http://www.edimax.com/en/produce_detail.php?pd_id=18&pl1_id=1&pl2_id=5 Cost £22 here http://www.scan.co.uk/products/edimax-ew-7206apg-wireless-access-point-80211g-54mbps-with-wds-function-%28realtek%29 Hope it helps Tim -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
