Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router WRT54G

If you are even thinking about going wireless in your home, this is a device that should at least be on your short list. I work in Information Technology and I have set up more than my share of Wireless Home networks. I have had people go out and buy the cheapest item they could find and then have to call me for an additional $50/hour to fix thier Wireless network. You can set this up at home yourself. It is that easy. The one thing bad thing about the device is that the Web Interface is very hard to navigate. If you are setting up your home, here are the order of things you want to do with ANY device.

1). If you have DSL, Call your provider and ask if you have PPPOE. If so, then get the settings from them before you disconnect your computer.

2). Plug in the device according to the instructions (yes guys, you HAVE to read the instructions.. but only the small insert)

3). The instructions will walk you thru connecting to the device via the web interface. Once you are logged in, you can either set up your PPPOE settings if you have DSL or "Clone" your MAC address if you have Cable Modem(Like I said, you may have to look around for the settings, but they are there).

4). DO NOT SET UP SECURITY YET... Instead, try to connect your wireless device and see if everything works.

5). Once you are connected, the you can go back into the Web Interface and lock down your Wireless network.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE lockdown your wireless network. You have no idea the things that can happen (and that I have seen) when your wireless connection is left to default. This order goes from the most minimal and easiest to do to the most difficult.

1). CHANGE THE PASSWORD... All Linksys devices come with the password "admin"... now everyoone knows your password.

2). Turn on WPA or at least WEP encryption.

3). Shut off "Broadcasting" your wireless connection. This will stop people from being able to connect to your network using normal Windows XP Built-in tools.

4). Use MAC filtering... each and every Wireless device has a encoded Machine Access Code built into it. When you set up MAC filtering, you are only allowing the Network Cards that are allowed in your system in and denying everything else.