[Eug-lug] AVG virus protection software

[Garl Grigsby]

Brian Gallagher wrote:
>> Buy a higher gain antenna. Better yet, buy two. One for the client 
>> and one for the WAP. I've used these [1] in the past and they are 
>> well worth the money. Gained an extra 200 feet in one direction and a 
>> solid signal through three walls in th other. If you watch you can 
>> get them for < 15 shipped after rebate. Or you could always build 
>> your own antenna...
> I would like to have a conversation with you about antennas.  Ben 
> recommended a bridge and I appreciate that offer, but this wireless 
> share is transitory.  Wireless bridges are generally expensive and if 
> the share situation changes I could end up with a bridge to nowhere, 
> so to speak.
Buy a WRT54GL (The 'L' is important). They run ~$50-$60. Replace the OS 
with one of the 'enhanced' versions. I know that they will do bridging 
[1]. The nice thing with this unit is when you are done you can either 
use it as a wifi/firewall or sell it easily.
> The picture of the high gain antenna that you suggest show the antenna 
> on a pedestal, held down with a nut.  Do I remove the nut and fasten 
> antenna onto the post of the WAP w/ its antenna removed or is there 
> some connecting hardware not shown?
The Antenna is on pedestal with a short cable, maybe 24". You can get 
longer cables, but as I understand it, the longer the cable the more 
signal loss, but don't quote me on that. My knowledge of radio antennas 
is all experimental. The antenna can be mounted to the wall using 
screws, but I always just set it next to the WAP or on top of the 
computer. If you want something attached I know that a number of people 
make screw on replacement antennas but it all depends the card/WAP you 
are using and the antenna connection. Personally the screw on types 
never seem to work that well behind the computer. I always had better 
luck when they were above the case. On the WAP, they seem to work OK.
> Building an antenna sounds interesting, do you have "hands on" 
> experience there?  I would need some tech help on that.
Google is your friend. You can google the word cantenna [2]. This link 
[3] was buried in my list of 'things I want to look at when I have 
time'. It has info on a bunch of antennas.
>> What card are you using?
>
> I have four cards, all D-link.  I have no allegiance to D-Link, I just 
> bought a set, on sale: wireless router, PCI and USB cards when I got 
> started looking into wireless.   I am working on the assumption that I 
> have to test these cards under Windows to prove a "known good" status 
> before delving into the Linux unknown.
>
> DWL-G510 (PCI)  this card had a history of flakyness under WinMe (hey, 
> its Me what did I expect.  I haven't tried it under XP.  The one thing 
> PCI does seem to have is greater range!)
>
> DWL-G520 (PCI) this card was found  in a computer by side of the road 
> that some Frat Boys had take a baseball bat to.  Status unknown.
I don't know what to say to this....
>
> DWL-G120 (USB) this card is the one I use primarily.  It has a long 
> dongle cord and I have it run up the wall close to the ceiling.  When 
> I was playing with setting it up with Ubuntu I ran into the "which rev 
> is the chipset issue."  I chickened out on opening the housing to view 
> the chipset, as this is my web access, unless I want to sit in the 
> cold garage and I don't.
>
> DWL-G122 (USB) this card in promising.  Ubuntu showed a Marvel 
> chipset, if I remember correctly.  The issue with these thumb drive 
> type wireless cards is signal range; and with a short dongle cord to a 
> pedestal base,  I can't work the antenna directionality as I would like.
USB extension cables are cheap... The other issue is that you usually 
can't replace the antennas on USB NICs. So if you go for the USB then 
your best be would be to move the device around until you get a better 
signal.
>
> Give me till after the holidays, I would like to revisit this 
> discussion and solve this problem once and for all.  Also, I got a 
> how-to specific to this DWL-122 card and Ubuntu and it mentioned the 
> software setup.  I'll have to find that documentation.
>
> As with everything Linux, while I've been frittering, someone has 
> already solved the issue and I just need to update my OS version, etc, 
> etc. will probably be the case.
>>> Here is my question: should I stop worrying about virus protection 
>>> and make implementing Linux wireless my top priority, because virus 
>>> threats are low under Linux; Therefore, would I be better off 
>>> running Linux, with no virus protection, then to keep working with 
>>> windows and outdated AVG software?
>> That's up to you. If you are going to keep using windows, then get an 
>> A/V solution. Also, make sure you are running Firefox and Thunderbird.
> I am running Firefox and Thunderbird.
>
Good man.

-Garl

[1] http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Wireless_Bridge
[2] 
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B2GGGL_enUS175&q=cantenna
[3] http://www.seattlewireless.net/AntennaHowTo