Need thoughts on new wireless config

[Underwater Mike]

Got a new wireless router and PC card (Netgear WGR614/WC511 -- total of $20 after rebates and discounts) for my wife's laptop. Setup was more of a hassle than I expected, but everything's up and running smoothly now. My question concerns integration of my Ambicom 11b CF card for my Axim.

I tried using the Netgear wireless function in "b+g" mode, with 128-bit WEP, but could never get the 11b-only Ambicom card to connect. Additionally, part of the reason I bought the new router was to use WPA instead of WEP, but the Ambicom card does not support WPA. So, here's my thinking, on which I'd like some feedback:

Set the router and PC card to 11g-only, and use WPA on that link. Fix to Channel 11 so that I get the least interference around my location, where everybody seems to be on Channel 6. Then, add back in the old D-Link 11b AP and fix that to an off channel (e.g., 9 or something, since it's for the PPC only and it doesn't matter if I get the full 11mbps from Channels 6 or 11). Use 128-bit WEP on the 11b connection, which worked fine with the old 11b AP.

I know this setup will work, because I have it up and running now. My questions are:

1) Does setting the 11g grouter to g-only and fixing the channel to something other than all the 11b traffic minimize interference sufficiently, or am I in trouble no matter what, given that everything's at 2.4GHz?

2) The whole idea of using WPA instead of 128-bit WEP is to enhance security, but I'm defeating that by having the WEP-only Ambicom card and 11b AP in the loop. What if I put the 11b AP on the router's DMZ? Won't that give me wireless access for the handheld but isolate the 11b from the rest of the network?

FYI, everything is MAC-restricted, so I have this thing buttoned up as tightly as I can. SSID broadcast is turned off on the Netgear radio, but can't be disabled on the old 11b AP.

TIA

[Dave Conger]

Sounds like a pretty good solution....though if you are worried about security you wouldn't want to have the old access point be WEP and on the same network. Then you might as well just use WEP on your new router because the old router will still be a "security hazard." If you are locking the old router to the Ambicom's MAC, then I would say that would be fine. WEP is pretty friendly, but if you are MAC locked, you could almost just have no encryption.

All the channels are in the 2.4 range, but are different. You should be able to run both on different channels no problem. And since they are g only and b only, they could probably even run on the same channel (though a b/g card would be switching a lot).

[Sven Johannsen]

I agree with Dave but want to comment on the DMZ thing. All that really does in most home routers is port forward all the incoming ports from the WAN to the DMZ address. Not something that tends to enhance security and does nothing to protect your network from entrance on the wireless side. The combo of Mac filtering and WEP should keep you safe.

I personally think the paranoia for most home implementations is overblown. There are easier ways for theives to get info for identity theft, open access to upload and download porn and copyrighted material, send spam, or spread viruses than cruising residential neighborhoods trying to break into WEP protected, private WiFi installations.

[Underwater Mike]

Thanks for the quick reply, guys.

I have the G radio on Channel 11 and the B radio on Channel 1, both with different SSIDs. I'm still getting a lot of interference -- having the B radio on drops my signal strength by about 25% on the G radio -- but it's an acceptable compromise for now. :wink:

[Sven Johannsen]

Thanks for the quick reply, guys.

I have the G radio on Channel 11 and the B radio on Channel 1, both with different SSIDs. I'm still getting a lot of interference -- having the B radio on drops my signal strength by about 25% on the G radio -- but it's an acceptable compromise for now. :wink:

Are they sitting on top of each other? If so, put a little distance between them. Whether the modulation is incompatible, compatible, or is designed to co-exist, the presence of a strong transmitter on a similar frequency and in close proximity to a receiver is going to give it problems.