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Paula

Beach Fanatic
Jan 25, 2005
3,747
442
Michigan but someday in SoWal as well
I am going to get wireless Internet access for the cottages which are rentals. I'm meeting with the Mediacom people on Monday for them to install it and they said I need a router. So, I'm going to pick one up. Any recommendations about what kind of router to get (I know nothing, absolutely nothing about this, nada, nienta...)? Help me, please...

Any other recommendations about wireless in a rental.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,648
1,773
I used a Linksys WRT54G Wireless G Router - 54Mbps, 802.11g, 4-Port, but just promised it so someone else, now that I don't use it. It always performed nicely for me, without trouble. It also has four ports in the back where you can also have wired connections or a wired network. The WRT54"G" is a much better router than the "B." At TigerDirect.com, you will find the router for $50. If you shop there, use a trash email address, as they will spam you with crap everyday. The same router is probably available at WorstBuy and NotSoSuperWalmart. I'd guess that price will vary up to a max price of about $70.
 

goofer

Beach Fanatic
Feb 21, 2005
1,165
191
Paula

I use Media.com for my wireless internet and so far I have been pleased. They charge me $19.95 a month. Having wireless connection in a rental is an essential amenity.
 

DuneAHH

Beach Fanatic
I also use Mediacom for my internet connection....Mediacom provided me with the router when I signed up for highspeed with them. But maybe this is not the same thing you're talking about :dunno:.

I not too computer connection savvy...somehow it just works.
 

Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,648
1,773
Paula, with MediaCON's service sometimes going out, you might also want to leave simple instructions of how to reset it if someone's computer doesn't automatically get a connection. MediaCon recommends unplugging the power supply to the modem (this is the larger box which will feed into the wireless router) for 60 seconds, then plugging it back in. From then, it may take up to about 20 seconds for the computer to find the connection. If that doesn't work, they will want to try reseting the wireless router by the same method -- unplugging the power supply to the wireless router (Linksys says 30 seconds, but to keep instructions simple you might say 60 seconds) then plugging it back in. Typically, it will be MediaCON's modem which needs to be reset.

It might be easiest to label MediaCON's modem so that the user can easily identify what you are talking about. Maybe even a color coded sticker, referencing it in your troubleshooting instructions. I'd forget about leaving MediaCON's technical support phone number, b/c they always ask for your account number and last four digits of your SS#.

One other note is that you can set up the wireless router with an encrypted password (WPA) to block other people from using it, leaving the password in your instruction guide to rentors. Once they enter the password, and re-enter for accuracy, they will not have to log on again, as their computer will identify the protected wireless connection. If you chose to leave off the password access, anyone with close proximity will be able to access the internet from your connection. I'd guess that everyone in the other houses around the pool would be able to connect via your wireless router, without paying for cable internet. Not trying to scare you with the following but you should be aware that everyone who connects to the internet through your connection, will be using an identifier which will go back to your wireless router (ISP number). I'm sure it is rare, but if someone were to be dealing,... let's say child porn (connecting via your wireless router, even from another house in the neighborhood), and the gov't picks up on it, the Gov't will trace it back to your wireless router via the ISP address. :blink: I've heard of a case where a lady was arrested for trafficking child porn, and spent some time in jail before her friends and attorney could show that she had an unsecured wireless router, which allowed anyone in close proximity to her house to connect, and that she had no trace of the porn in the hidden files of her own computer. The case was overturned and she was released. As I said, that stuff is probably rare, and even less so down here in la-la land, but you should be aware of the possibilities.
 

SGB

Beach Fanatic
Feb 11, 2005
1,039
182
South Walton
Paula - We have exactly as Smilin JOe has described in our rental house. We use the modem from MediaCom and the router from Linksys. We've had wireless access in our rental house for 2 seasons now and only once has someone had to call me to come and fix the connection, and then they tried doing the disconnect/connect instructions one more time and it fixed their problem. I thought I'd get a call about once a week, but it hasn't happened. I have the instructions for resetting everything, as SJ described, posted in the house. I can email them to you if you'd like. Very simple, just need to do things in the right order.
 

goofer

Beach Fanatic
Feb 21, 2005
1,165
191
WOW !!

Thanks SJ....I have a secured internet connection but never understood why, except to prevent people from piggybacking. The instructions to reboot are very helpful.
 
Wireless is really a problem with renters. We have a Linksys at the beach house (brand doesn't really matter -- at home we have a Netgear Wireless-G Router) that is hidden away in the owner's closet. The problem is that we have it set up so that there is no password, but so that the SSID isn't broadcast for some degree of security. But then we'll get a moron who doesn't know how to set up a one-time profile for a wireless network, or either we'll get some geek who will reconfigure the wireless so it is available to everyone who is near our house (a security problem), and then when we arrive at our house, we have to reconfigure the wireless the way we want it to be able to get online. :bang:

For details, I can direct you to Big D, the engineer. I am not a hardware person -- I am into computer science theory.

Sorta like you wouldn't want an OB/GYN doing your hip replacement -- s/he is an M.D., but each specialty has its own level of expertise.

And why would anyone pay Mediacom for wireless? That just doesn't make sense. They are ripping you off. Buy your own router, use the hardwired service that you are paying Mediacom for, and avoid a monthly charge for wireless.
 
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Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert
Nov 18, 2004
31,648
1,773
BR brings up another good point. If there was an evil person connected via your wireless router, I believe they would have the capability to change the settings to WPA (password encrypted), blocking you out of your own router. Not sure, but I think it would be easy as changing your own WPA settings.

BR, I don't think MediaCON offers wireless service, so they wouldn't be charging Paula for wireless service, just the connection. Sounds like she wants their tech guy to install the wireless router when he sets up her cable internet connection.
 

TooFarTampa

SoWal Insider
This is very instructive. We used the Linksys mentioned above and it was very easy to do, but I'm not even sure exactly what it does. We never use it (hubby has a wireless card with separate phone numbers) and so far our renters have had no problems using our wireless router. I wasn't worried about security since we don't really have anything to protect, since we never use it. I guess that might need rethinking. :blink:

Paula, depending on how close your cottages are, you might want to try getting just one of them set up with Mediacom internet service, and then getting a wireless router that allows your renters next door to access the service. 2 houses, 1 line. ;-)
 
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