Computer Questions

Life just happens to learn more about computers

Published on January 3, 2007 By lifehappens In Blogging

Did you know that if it takes about 15 minutes to disconnect acomputer, monitor, camera, keyboard, mouse, printer, scanner, and camera?

Did you know that it takes signifigantly longer to move said computer and reassemble it?

Did you know that if you forget that you installed a separate video card several months agao, you will have 2 video connetions?

Did you know if the new one is really low and set in a bit, you will probably only see one, and get really frustarated when you can't get anything on the monitor?

Did you know that the embarassement you feel when you take it to a computer repair shop isn't as great as the relief you feel that you don't have an expensive repair?

Did you know that only one, count that, only one cable outlet in your house is high-speed internet ready?

Did you know that The local cable/ISP will take more tahn a week to come fix the problem?

Did you know that they will charge $35 for moving a switch or whatever they need to do? (they dont' even need to come inside)

Did you know they won't just boost the signal stregth on all the outlets....just one.

grrrrrrr.

So i went out and bought a wireless router and wireless network card. It was much easier to install thatn I thought. Somehow I expected it to be very complicated and technical. What are all those computer geeks doing when they offer to put it in for $65? Yikes! Anyway, to continue the questions.

Did you know when you buy a wireless router, the computer geek behind the counter will be very polite to your face, but smile REALLY big as though he is trying not to laugh at you because of your last vist?

Did you know that if you are really nice, the computer geek will tell you how to install the wireless card? But he will yell, "See you tomorrow!", as you leave.

Did you know that to install a wireless router, you first have to connect the computer directly to the router?

That's right. Time to move the computer again. Back to where we started. 20 seconds to install, only 5 min to move and reconnect computer (I'm getting faster at this)

So now I am lounging on my overstuffed living room chair, typing on my wireless keyboard, connected wirelessly to the internet (and yes, I have security set up so no one can steal my bandwidth or snoop on me). The only problem is that the screen is a bit to far away to see comfortably.

I wonder how hard it would be to set a projection screen and have a very LARGE view?

Comments

Dr Guy

on Jan 03, 2007

I am impressed with the New Wireless routers. They come with encrytpion set up by default (whereas in the earlier days you had to turn it on yourself). And usually, unless someone is targeting you, even a weak encryption is good enough to keep most out of your network as a hacker wont bother with you, just move on to the ones that are wide open. BUT, not always. I was listening to Kim Kommando the other day, and she said until she turned on the MAC filter, some kid in her neighborhood was hacking hers even with the encryption. So be careful. If you notice a degradation of performance during specific times, best to turn on the MAC filter. It is not hard, and you can do it in minutes.

As for the cable outlets, I only have one entrance in my house, and then I run my own branches off of it. The cable company only knows about the one, so they dont charge me extra and I have all 5 TVs and the network running off of my cable.

lifehappens

on Jan 03, 2007

she said until she turned on the MAC filter, some kid in her neighborhood was hacking hers even with the encryption. So be careful. If you notice a degradation of performance during specific times, best to turn on the MAC filter. It is not hard, and you can do it in minutes.

And that just went above my head. Here I was, feeling confident and proud of myself.....

MasonM

on Jan 03, 2007

MAC filter: every wireless card has a specific MAC address which is it's specific identification to the router. You can set the router to only allow connection for specified MAC addresses, thus rejecting any other cards from connecting.

Dr Guy

on Jan 04, 2007

To find out yours, go to Start/Run and then type in CMD and hit OK. Then type ipconfig /all <Enter>

Look for something called Physical Address. That is your MAC Address (it is a 12 digit Hexadecimal - Base 16 - number like 00-C0-34-AE-12-34. You dont need to enter the dashes when entering it into the wireless router.

Gideon MacLeish

on Jan 04, 2007

The truth is, most computer issues are simpler to deal with than many people realize. But I'm not allowed to say that...lol! I want to get PAID!

You'd be surprised how many people can NOT configure a router...even with us talking them through it over the phone.

lifehappens

on Jan 04, 2007

Mason and Gid. Thanks for the help. I'll call you if I get stuck again!

Dr. Guy: THank you for the set up guide. I do appreciate people who can tell me how to do it steop by step. I'm the kind of girl that likes to learn as I go!

MasonM

on Jan 04, 2007

I could give you step by step instructions, but you'd have to install Linux first

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