Is all broadband wireless?

Murrell

Hi,

I am moving to a non cable area and deciding which provider to go with for phone and broadband. They all seem to use wireless. Do you know if there is any providers that don't use wireless? Reading on here about wireless security has really worried me and i really don't understand all the things you have to do to make it secure. I don't have a laptop, so don't need wireless.
Any advice please.

thanks in advance
Sandra

colinw

Most of them do provide you with a wireless router now. I know that Sky and BT do. The wireless systems they provide come with the security already setup. The usually provide the router with a password. All of these routers can also be used with an ethernet wire which I presume is the way you would use it. What choices do you have of providers?

darich

colinw wrote: »

Most of them do provide you with a wireless router now. I know that Sky and BT do. The wireless systems they provide come with the security already setup. The usually provide the router with a password. All of these routers can also be used with an ethernet wire which I presume is the way you would use it. What choices do you have of providers?

You are right in that you need a password to access the router's settings but no ISP, to my knowledge, will ship a router with wireless security built in. I don't even know if that's possible.
How secure is it if someone else has decided your password for you?

Wireless security is the responsibility of the end user. Using a cable won't necessarily mean you're totally secure either because the router may transmit the wireless signal automatically/by default. That means you'd have to manually deactivate it or make it secure.

prowla

My Sky router has 4 Ethernet network ports and a wireless capability.
Right now I am using a PC attached to a network switch that is connected to one of the ports.
I can disable wireless access if I choose.
The router is a standard Netgear model, with Sky's modified firmware.

jdan9

darich wrote: »

You are right in that you need a password to access the router's settings but no ISP, to my knowledge, will ship a router with wireless security built in. I don't even know if that's possible.
How secure is it if someone else has decided your password for you?

Wireless security is the responsibility of the end user. Using a cable won't necessarily mean you're totally secure either because the router may transmit the wireless signal automatically/by default. That means you'd have to manually deactivate it or make it secure.

I have relatives who have a router supplied by the ISP with the security already enabled... the preset SSID and the password are printed on the bottom of the router, obviously they can change them if they want to though.

OP, if you are really that concerned about wireless security, you should be able to disable the wireless feature on your router, or you could try asking the ISP if they have any non-wireless routers they can provide you with.

To be honest, you should be absolutely fine if your wireless connection is protected with a password.

colinw

darich wrote: »

You are right in that you need a password to access the router's settings but no ISP, to my knowledge, will ship a router with wireless security built in. I don't even know if that's possible.
How secure is it if someone else has decided your password for you?

Wireless security is the responsibility of the end user. Using a cable won't necessarily mean you're totally secure either because the router may transmit the wireless signal automatically/by default. That means you'd have to manually deactivate it or make it secure.

Actually most of the ISP's send the router with security enabled. They usually have a label on the bottom of the router with the SSID and password. Sky certainly do. It would not be responsible of them to provide unsecured wireless networks.

robt_2

darich wrote: »

You are right in that you need a password to access the router's settings but no ISP, to my knowledge, will ship a router with wireless security built in. I don't even know if that's possible.
How secure is it if someone else has decided your password for you?

Errrrrr....

I can't think of one that doesn't.

Murrell

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I think i have a choice of BT or sky. When i try to check availability for the area i'm moving to, they always ask for phone number, which i don't have yet. I know BT have lines in the area and the house has sky tv, so will probably go with sky and get tv, phone and broadband. Glad you can switch wireless off and change passwords.
thanks
Sandra

456789

try it with a neighbours number

colinw

Murrell wrote: »

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I think i have a choice of BT or sky. When i try to check availability for the area i'm moving to, they always ask for phone number, which i don't have yet. I know BT have lines in the area and the house has sky tv, so will probably go with sky and get tv, phone and broadband. Glad you can switch wireless off and change passwords.
thanks
Sandra

I would recommend Sky in your position. I know a number of people who have Sky and it works well. I think the broadband is free is you also have the telephone or you can pay a bit extra and get a bigger download limit and faster speed. Don't worry about the wireless. Sky routers come with WPA security on the router. This is almost impossible for anyone to crack. Even if you left the wireless side of it running and did not use it you would be fine.

macman

Re post 8, I thought you had to have a BT line in place to get Sky?-it's a contractual requirement to have the box connected to it for the first 12 months. Or are you saying that the house does have a BT line but that you just don't know the number?