difference between Lan and Wan on my computer?

free4440273

hi, just wondering if anyone can help. i have just bought a new wireless router with internal modem. i have a winxp laptop. when i connect to the internet, everything works absolutely fine etc, but i just have a question about something. in the bottom right, i have the icon for the Lan, as you would expect, but beside this i also have a connection for 'Wan connection on [name of my router]' (i never had this with my old usb modem). When you double click it says 'internet gateway', 'speed 2.2mbps', and then a few icons which i cannot draw here but which say 'activity internet > internet gateway > my computer'. what is this referring to? is it a security hazard? thanks all

superscaper

Don't have experience of what you've described but WAN refers to wide area network or in other words t'internet. So I think things are fine, 2.2mbps sounds right for speed of your internet connection.

free4440273

why does the Lan show a speed of 100mbps, far more than the Wan; one would think it to be the opposite way round...thanks for the reply also

superscaper

free4440273 wrote:

why does the Lan show a speed of 100mbps, far more than the Wan; one would think it to be the opposite way round...thanks for the reply also

Local area network; ie your connection between computer and router is always much faster than your internet connection and 100mbps sounds right for a typical ethernet (local network) connection.

free4440273

superscaper wrote:

Local area network; ie your connection between computer and router is always much faster than your internet connection and 100mbps sounds right for a typical ethernet (local network) connection.

thanks, you are extremely kind with your replies

albertross_2

Have you encrypted it?

free4440273

albertross wrote:

Have you encrypted it?

yes, thanks - i used WPA encryption. one of the problems i do notice is a slight latency, even if i am using a normal wired Ethernet (and not wireless) connection: i mean slight latency when using browsing the web. this latency is increased further when i do indeed use a wireless connection - i just mean two or three minutes after starting up the laptop with the supplied usb wireless adapter (i have an ozenda router and usb adapter). i have to click on refresh a couple of times and then google starts up ok. anyway, thanks for the reminder

albertross_2

In, IE, tools, internet connections, lan settings, is everything unticked?

If you haven't already you might also want to disable the ssid broadcasting for a bit of extra security. If you are getting interference from the neighbours, then changing channels might help with the wireless latency, you can use netstumbler to see what they are using.

free4440273

albertross wrote:

In, IE, tools, internet connections, lan settings, is everything unticked?

If you haven't already you might also want to disable the ssid broadcasting for a bit of extra security. If you are getting interference from the neighbours, then changing channels might help with the wireless latency, you can use netstumbler to see what they are using.

yes everything is unticked. thanks for your help as always. have a lovely evening also