I'm a big proponent of free wireless, but now that my apartment is too far away from anything, I ampaying for internet now. I'd still like to share the connection though, so I'm looking for a good wireless router that will let me control how much bandwidth goes to each user--something like 80% to someone with a password and 20% open. Does this exist, or do I need a computer hooked up to it or something?
I can think of a dozen reasons right off hand why you wouldn't want some unknown using your wireless. Really, trust me on this... it's just a bad idea. mm
I can't imagine why anyone would willingly give away free bandwidth. Where we play D&D, someone in the next apartment has an open wireless connection. Ohh, the havoc we've considered wreaking just for fun. Sadly, he doesn't keep pornographic videos of him and his wife on the computer. But if he did...we could see them.
How do they get away with what? Do you mean, for example, a motel that offers free wireless or a coffee shop or whatever? And what are they getting away with? mm
Why am I concerned with what people do over my wireless network while people who run coffeeshops are not?
Got it.... well, actually they are. At least the smart ones are. Some places make you register with an email address, some places have security cameras (inside and out), most of them have some kind of user agreement you need to click first, motels know who is staying in their rooms. None of that guarantees someone won't be up to no darn good, but it probably cuts down on criminal intent and activity. Take it from someone who has used "free" wireless from 17 states (so far) apartment complexes are good places to pick up unprotected wireless. Now while you might not care if it's me sitting out there in the parking lot trolling some innocent board, you would care if it's someone doing some peer to peer file sharing of kiddie porn. It's not a good idea.... mm
Boy! mm only sees the worst in people. It could be that they are only downloading the service schedule of their local church or soup kitchen; and not p2p filesharing or child pornography.
Much higher, since you can be liable for any illegal activities they engage in. OTOH, I've seen an open wireless network as a defense for fileshareres... "uhh, someone was using my connection!".
Well #1 they make people agree to little release thingies when they log on that says they cannot do x, y, or z etc. Then if people do it they can say "hey we clearly stated that this connection was not for ____ ". Yes, it's stupid. If you keep detailed logs you should be ok though, as long as you can prove that illegal activities were some leechers. As to your question, I think the D-Link DGL-4300 can do bandwidth limiting... that's what I use myself but I haven't messed with it too much in that area. You can set packet priority as well as schedules for your different policies... so you could open up the pipes completely during your working hours, for example.
But no one will tell me how someone analyzing my packets on their way to my own router is anything different than someone analyzing my packets on their way to, say, the router in the coffee shop.
I just bought a NetGear RangeMax wireless router and decided to secure the network. I've been warned by my ISP for filesharing and I'm not taking any chances of someone using my IP and getting me involved in a lawsuit. It's awesome!! I'm typing this in my bed!!
Your own router would be password protected to prevent anyone connecting to your network in the first place.
It's just not smart to do it, mburtonk. Hitchiker's can cause all sorts of problems to you, perhaps get into your own PC and install trojans/backdoors, download illegal 'stuff', etc. Now, if you want to share it with some people, give them a WEP authentication key. This way, you can control who is on the network and prevent drive-by access.
