[Eug-lug] AVG virus protection software

Wed Dec 6 14:10:04 PST 2006

Comments added below...

On Wed, Dec 06, 2006 at 11:38:25AM -0800, Allen Brown wrote:
> Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 11:38:25 -0800
> From: Allen Brown <abrown at peak.org>
> To: Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group <euglug at euglug.org>
> Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] AVG virus protection software
> 
> LinuxRocks! wrote:
> [cut]
> >	You could also get extension usb cables, and run your usb wifi 
> >adapter outside, or to the garage, or wherever you get signnal. This is 
> >the solution im using for local folks that cant get a decent signal 
> >level inside thier rv. I got some 15' usb extension cables on ebay, and 
> >15' isnt too far for usb (I havet had to try using 2 extensions yet, 
> >but im leary that wont work...)
> 
> You will have to test this with the specific hardware and the specific
> cable.  There are wide variations in how well the various USB companies
> have implemented their circuitry.  There is a written spec which gives
> reasonable margin, but that spec is often ignored if the product
> happens to work on a 5 meter cable.
> 
> [cut]
> >Buying high gain antenna will make a big difference, its really needed 
> >for the xmit antenna (many units have 2 antenna one rx the other tx), 
> >its the tx antenna that will benefit the most, and putting antenna on 
> >the access point will be more effective than on the adapter.
> >
> >Jamie
> 
> Not sure what you mean by that statement.  In terms of improving
> the connection between two systems improving the receiver is
> equivalent to improving the transmitter.  Same for the antennas.

If you have one pair of extended range antenna (2 antanae), and you put 
one on the transmit pole of each router, you will get better results 
than if you put both extended range antennae only on one router.

> 
> I can see two places where this would not be true.  If you have
> more receivers than transmitters then upgrading the transmitters
> is more cost effective.  And if you have significant background
> noise then boosting the received signal will also boost the noise.

you always have the same number of transmitters/receivers each router 
has one of each.

Yes, its true than when you amplify the signal, you amplify the noise. 
This is what it says in the DD-WRT docs for changing xmit power:

Xmit Power
    This value ranges from 1 - 251 mw, default value is 28mw. A safe 
increase of up to 70 would be suitable for most users. Higher power 
settings are not recommended for users due to excess heat generated by 
the radio chipset, which can affect the life of the router.

I've read elsewhere that turning up the xmit power doesnt effect the 
heat as the radio isnt the primary heat source, the CPU is. more 
traffic/encryption/cpu intensive stuff... causes heat, but the radio 
doesnt so much...

There is also an adjustment called "Noise Reference" im unsure how/what 
it does, but my guess is it will help with higher noise levels due to 
higher transmit power. 

Jamie

> -- 
> Allen Brown  abrown at peak.org  http://69.59.200.90/~abrown/
>   An island of stability. -- President Jimmy Carter (1979) describing
>   the Shah of Iran.  The Shah was overthrown a few months later.
> 
> 
> >On Wed, Dec 06, 2006 at 09:09:06AM -0800, Brian Gallagher wrote:
> >
> >>Date: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 09:09:06 -0800
> >>From: Brian Gallagher <baggab at pacinfo.com>
> >>To: Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group <euglug at euglug.org>
> >>Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] AVG virus protection software
> >>
> >>Garl Grigsby wrote:
> >>
> >>>Brian Gallagher wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>It looks like AVG will not be free any more after January 15th.  Now 
> >>>>I am looking for suggestions for a replacement.
> >>>
> >>>Avast. (www.avast.com).  You have to login once every 14 months, but 
> >>>it is a superior product to AVG. No money involved for home users.
> >>
> >>Thanks for the tip!
> >>
> >>>>Some Background:  I use a wireless share for my connection for my web 
> >>>>access.  I pay my house mate to be part of his network, so this is 
> >>>>not road warring!  I am on the edge of the wireless router range, so 
> >>>>the signal is weak to begin with and drops out frequently 
> >>>>complicating my wireless technical development.  I have setup a test 
> >>>>station that is much closer to the router, but its cold in the 
> >>>>garage, if you know what I mean!
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>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.
> >>
> >>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?
> >>
> >>Building an antenna sounds interesting, do you have "hands on" 
> >>experience there?  I would need some tech help on that.
> >>
> >>
> >>>>Given that I don't know much about wireless accept what I have 
> >>>>learned from trial and error, it has been rough to get to a Linux 
> >>>>implementation of wireless networking.  At present I am still using 
> >>>>windows.  Frankly, I just kept giving up too easily and never really 
> >>>>tried to get things running, as other work has take priority.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>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.
> >>
> >>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.
> >>
> >>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.
> >>
> >>Thanks Garl,
> >>
> >>Brian
> >>
> >>>Garl
> >>>
> >>>[1] http://tinyurl.com/ppxtj
> 
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