[PLUG] Wireless Access Point Security

Tom Sharples tsharples at qorvus.com
Sat Apr 24 19:34:06 UTC 2010


Minor point - at a given power setting, the wireless range of 802.11b is 
greater than 802.11g, esp. in a clear LOS environment.

Tom S.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Richard C. Steffens" <rsteff at comcast.net>
To: "PLUG List" <plug at lists.pdxlinux.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 24, 2010 12:11 PM
Subject: [PLUG] Wireless Access Point Security


> This is another phase of the thread, 2nd Router Setup.
>
> At last week's clinic we figured out how to set up my WRT54G as a
> wireless access point to use with a WET11 bridge. The subject of
> security arose and after a short conversation we decided I should try
> using the WRT54G in 802.11b mode for two reasons: 1, the WET11 only
> works on 802.11b, and 2, the wireless signal range of 802.11b is shorter
> than 802.11g.
>
> This morning I installed the WRT54G in the basement and started walking
> around with my laptop checking out the range. I got all bars showing
> green up in my office on the 2nd floor and directly above the WRT54G. I
> went outside and started walking up the driveway. By the time I got to
> the street the laptop was still showing 2 bars. I thought, "Well, it's
> clearly loosing signal strength. Maybe if I put a shield of some sort
> between the WRT54G and the outside wall of the basement, which is the
> direction of the street, maybe that will block the signal in that
> direction." So, I took an aluminum cookie sheet and set it between the
> wall and the WRT54G. I went back up the driveway and saw that, while it
> dropped to 2 bars by the time I got to the street, It took longer to do
> so, i.e. my shield worked to improve the signal strength!
>
> So, now I have radio questions:
>
> Would a shield work?
>
> Does it have to be grounded in order to be effective?
>
> BTW, I'm less concerned about the other three directions away from the
> house because it's twice as far or farther from the location of the
> WRT54G to the nearest neighbor in all three directions as it is to the
> street.
>
>
> -- 
> Regards,
>
> Dick Steffens
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> PLUG mailing list
> PLUG at lists.pdxlinux.org
> http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug


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