[SOLVED] wired vs. wireless install

Sometime next week, I'm having my computer desk switched around, placing it where the entertainment center is. My wireless modem sits on top of it. Using my mother-in-law's computer, which is wired, she gets a more steady signal. Since my wireless modem has ports to plug it in, I'm going to give it a shot.

Will it make any difference regarding the type of modem is, as long as I have a connection to plug into. I want a more secure and steady signal for my desktop, while having wireless available for my notebook, as well as company that arrives with them.

Cat

Simply because I'm very well educated in wireless hacking/snooping methods, I really like running wired machines only.

WPA2 with AES encryption is quite secure but even that can be susceptible to monkey-in-the-middle type of attacks by an advanced hacker using any Linux variant. Running a RADIUS server to authorize wireless connections pretty much is extremely secure but the way I see it, you can't hack something wirelessly when there is no radio signal to hack.

Basically, I like knowing my data is going through wires instead of air.

To answer your question, no. As long as there is an unused available lan port, plug in and go!

Cat - your wireless router should have 4 LAN wired ports on the back for ethernet cable connections. This is in addition to the wireless radio signal that's transmitted.

Just plug in your desktop to the one of the 4 ports on the back and you'll be good.

Question for you mate, how long can you have a Lan cable before it begins to affect signal?
I ask because I'm slowly doing home renovations and was thinking of running LAN cable and plugs to a couple of rooms in the house.

Good question. I used to work for UL as project manager in the Wire & Cable testing division.

Cat5, Cat5e and Cat6 all have a maximum length of 90 meters. It's really 100 meters, but I'll tell you 90 to be on the safe side. That's about 295 feet. Any longer runs would need a repeater, or fiber to be used instead.

There are "better" Cat5e and 6 that can handle quite more than that nowadays though I believe.

That would easily meet my needs. Thanks.

Just be sure your neighbor isn't home when you hook up to their system and be sure to bury the cable well. LOL!

Thanks for all of the answers. Yes, there are four LAN wired ports on the back of the router, when Time Warner setup my service, the technician plugged in my notebook for a couple of minutes to configure the service for both computers. I still have the cable that he used, it was about 5 to 6 feet long, which will be plenty. I will install one of those line protectors (or whatever they're called) to prevent any voltage spikes from lightning from reaching my desktop.

The reason I want to do this is, years ago, Time Warner had a cable going to my TV, lightning struck, and my tuner was fried, requiring replacement. I believe that the grounding was inadequate, causing current to flow through the line. I was watching TV at the time it happened.

This is what attracted me to the newer computers with built in wireless. But as I've already said, I want security and a more stable signal. Wireless is convenient for ease of setup and all, but security is more important to me than portability. I'm not dragging a desktop from room to room.

Cat

Today, my stepson and my spouse moved my room around, and for the first time ever, I have wired internet service. I didn't notice a speed increase, but I feel a lot more secure. When I'm wireless, I click onto the internet access icon, and can see at least a dozen connections at any given time. What amazes me is that half of them are unsecured networks, fruit that's free for the picking. I would never run a setup like that.

But my point is, if I can see them, they can see me too. That's what led me to go wired. Hopefully, there will be no loss in speed, but if it is, I can always use the wireless for downloading large files.

Cat

Not necessarily the correct conclusion at all. (I mean that in a cool way, as in learning etc...) The simple act of setting the router's SSID to be hidden will disallow anyone to sense your network's presence, without the use of Linux and hacking tools.