Spiceworks

Church IT Support

This post is a summary of what the project is about

Interesting Article about Securing Wifi

"Experts say the more savvy hackers can go beyond just connecting to the Internet on the host's dime and monitor Internet activity and steal passwords or other sensitive information."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110424/ap_on_hi_te/us_wi_fi_warning

The devices used and steps taken to obtain wireless bridge

This is a list of devices I used:

Netgear N150 Wireless Router WNR1000v3

Belkin 54g F5D7230

Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router

For the Belkin and Linksys to work with a wireless bridge, I disabled the QoS option on the Belkin router.  It was on for the netgear access point, but for the Linksys router, I turned if off for it to work correctly.  The only way to impose QOS is to have the belkin doing routing. If it is bridged by some means, it cannot impose QOS.  In this case, the Linksys is the router and the Belkin is the wireless bridge.

Set the Alternative Configuration for the wired TCP/IP to match with the repeater.  These are the steps to get the wireless bridge working with WEP encryption for a Belkin and Netgear:

1) Set netgear to be the access point
2) Assign netgear a wireless WEP password on the router
3) Make sure the netgear router knows the MAC address of the belkin repeater
4) Set belkin to be the wireless bridge by listing netgear MAC address
5) Set the belkin wireless WEP security to match with netgear wireless WEP security
6) Wait for the netgear signal to reach the belkin repeater for the wireless bridge to work
7) The DHCP server should be on the network access point

I tested the connection speed by downloading firefox, flash player, and going to youtube to play worship songs.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge

Netgear Wireless Bridging Overview

"Wireless Bridging is usually used to extend network coverage to locations physical cabling cannot conveniently reach.

As of July 2005, NETGEAR access points supporting WDS are WG302, WAG302, WG602v2, WG602v3 and ME103. WDS is supported between any of them, except the ME103, which can only WDS to another ME103. (The Wi-Fi Alliance do not certify WDS, so there is no guarantee that one model of access point can do WDS to a different model of access point.)

• Technical Support does not provide free help setting up WDS between NETGEAR access points and non-NETGEAR equipment.
• It is not possible to create wireless bridge between NETGEAR wireless routers and NETGEAR wireless access points."

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/960/~/wireless-bridging-overview

Network repeating allows two distant sections of a wireless network to communicate. This explains how to do wirelessrepeating with NETGEAR access points.

Other models and firmware may work similarly to this example:

• WG602v2 access point, firmware version 3.2 RC6.
• WG302 access point, firmware version 2.0.3.
• 64-bit or 128-bit WEP (optional).
• Access control list (optional).
• No WPA/PSK— This type of WPA security will not work with repeating.

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1016/kw/wireless%20bridging

myTouch 4G hotspot?

[testing] came from a phone a member uses, but may disrupt the wireless mic

http://www.ehow.com/info_8036166_causes-wireless-interference.html

Upgrading Computer by adding more ram and implementing wireless router

- PC Lab Removed 2 stick of 256MB RAM from two desktops
+ Church Library (1 stick of 256MB RAM)
+ Church Office (1 stick of 256MB RAM)
[Complete]

[retest] Attempting to access Content Management System from home, but probably a setting is not done right.  Do not forget to set the gateway on the server using the CMS.  Need to test it with others willing to put in the IP address.

[Complete] setting up wireless router
[Diagnostic] Wifi internet connection drops in and out
[Diagnostic] If there is no wifi signal, there will be a i8042prt buffer overflow and the ps2 mouse will freeze from time to time.  Disable the wifi connection on the computer.
[Improving Wifi Strength]  The encryption must be disabled from access point, move access point away from computer screen, radio and ssid must be broadcast, and keep sending pings to a random internet address.

[Tested] Wireless Bridge with Belkin and Netgear router and it works.
Configuring two routers as one acts as the access  point and the other access as a repeater bridge

In this example, the netgear router was acting as the Access Point / Wireless Base Station while the Belkin router was acting as the repeater.  The Access Point and Repeater must have the same channel and same encryption protocol to be able to communicate.

PURCHASE NETGEAR REPEATER TO STRENGTHEN WIRELESS SIGNAL

[future] probably a best idea to get a repeater and increase the signal strength of the access point as seen in the picture example below http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2745/~/how-to-set-wds-(repeater-function)-on-wndr3300%2Fwnr3500%3F

Wifi Speed Boost

"Wireless LAN or wi-fi kit is getting everywhere these days.

And you’ll likely find that like most folks, your wireless surfing has slowed of recent especially if you’ve had it running a while.

The likelihood is that if you live in a densely populated area or you’ve made internal changes to your living space then either or both these (and more) could impact on your wireless surfing speed.

So what can you do?"

source:
http://www.churchtechy.com/2010/06/wifi-speed-boost/

Greg's obsession de' jour
In my efforts to add the words "wireless savvy" to my network admin resume, I've been reading books and web pages on radio propagation, antenna theory and design, and building wireless networks with 802.11 (WiFi). One of the first things that got me excited was the Pringles Can Antenna.  Published on the internet and in a fine book by Rob Flickenger, the net admin for O'Reilly, this design for a do-it-yourself, VERY inexpensive antenna made from a recycled junkfood container is as cool as the other side of the pillow.  It seems that everyone is building and using these.  The various community wireless network groups all talk about them and folks are reporting that they do the job.


source:
http://www.turnpoint.net/wireless/has.html

Purpose of computer lab

I am revisiting the reason why I wanted to help build and maintain this computer network for the church. It is meant to be an out reach program and I cannot handle it alone. "In life, we are given a talent and we are meant to share it with other people."

The network will:

Service the community with internet access for job searches
Service the children in school to work on their homework
Provide computer technical support to other offices and ministries on the church campus.

Limitations:

Restrictions will be enforced on what type of websites they can access
The Computer Lab is not a place to do a start up business, but it can be a place of learning

Update 4-22-2011:


Supporting Operations:

This project also supports the operations part of the organization.  Some of the issues that have to be addressed is documentation, knowledge transfer, training, and finding willing people to help.