Thanks to you too, David.

cheers
>Jim,
>
>I agree with Nick on the Linksys. I have used their stuff for years with good result and currently have a Linksys Wireless with 4 switched wired ports -- family computer, my development server on wires and wireless for the laptop. WAN side ethernet goes to cable modem and forms a good firewall with easy browser-based config.
>
>I'm even using it to port-forward to my server for Remote Desktop access on port 3389. Linksys setup was a breeze, by setting the server to fixed IP and telling Linksys that the cable modem's external internet address with port 3389 affixed is to be sent directly to the server machine. With that and also a dynamic dns setup so I don't have to guess the external ip, I have been hopping back to the home server while traveling this week.
>
>WEP security is also very easy to set up so no one else can use your connection.
>
>As for avoiding other nets, you can assign a certain SSID name to your net that is likely to be unique ("linksys" is the default) and then set your wireless to use that SSID as your top preference if you want to avoid the neighbor's net. You can also set a specific channel to communicate on (I think 6 is the default) to help keep your wireless card from getting confused if there are several nets near you.
>
>>Thanks Nick!
>>
>>cheers
>>
>>>Hi Jim,
>>>
>>>Yes, it is easy. I just installed Linksys WRT54G. I assigned to it the MAC address of my existing LAN card, and the switch went transparently for my cable modem. So far I use only my wired network, and programmatically disabled the wireless throught the router web interface. There you can also configure the list of MAC addresses of the PCs you want to communicate to wirelessly, and anybody else will be rejected. For example, you can download and look at the manual for this router from:
>>>ftp://ftp.linksys.com/pdf/wrt54g_ug.pdf
>>>
>>>The configuration is easy. Other routers work basically the same way.
>>>
>>>>I'm looking to get a wireless router.
>>>>
>>>>My understanding is that I can simply, after configuring the new box, move my wires over and they will continue to work as now.
>>>>
>>>>BUT I have concern with regards to "security" on the wireless part of things. Specifically, I'm not interested in becoming an access route to the internet for anyone nearby who has a wireless setup. Can this be prevented and, if so, is it a relatively easy thing to do?
>>>>
>>>>I'm also not at all interested in using others' setups as access by myself. Is there some way for me to know that it is **my** stuff that is being used by me.
>>>>
>>>>Any advice appreciated.
>>>>Jim