[iWork]

Hello! I'm a new Macworld forum user and I have a couple of questions.
I'm about to get Comcast cable internet and I want to create a wireless network.
I currently have the necessary ports and what not in my room, which is where I will be most of the time. Anyways, I was wondering how do I set up a wireless network?
Which router do I get? Something Apple (which I prefer) or something generic? A router with 802.11N or just G? I live in a townhouse, so do I really need the range of N?
Also how do I set up security in the network, I want to use WPA2 encryption.
I just need the total lowdown as to how to do this...I'm so confused /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
I mean does the guy just come and connect the wires and the modem together or what? The comcast guy should be here tomorrow or the day after or so.
Any ideas/insight would be VERY appreciated. Thank you so much.
Oh yeah one LAST thing, how do I protect my Mac from viruses and what not with such a wide-bandwidth connection?

[smax013]

The Comcast installer should wire the cable jack if there is not already one in the location where you want the modem. He/she should then install the modem and cable from the modem to your computer. He/she should then potentially setup your computer, but this might not be included any more...and even if it is, he/she may not know Macs. It might be a "self-install". Regardless, there should not be too much to setup on the computer to get a wired connection. Then the Comcast installer goes bye, bye.
To get your wireless, you will want a router with a WiFi access point. I would suggest that even if you did not want wireless, you should get a router. A router (wired or wireless) will act as a firewall for you and help protect your computer from the always on Internet connection.
Which router is not something that I will tend to hand out recommendations for. Picking routers with wireless that will work with existing hardware can be kind of a crap shot. I would, however, say you best bet is an Apple Airport Basestation of some type. It has the best chance of being compatible with your MacBook's built-in WiFi. And they tend to be rather easy to setup from what I understand (never had the joy of an Apple Basestation). The downside of Apple's Airport Basestations is that they tend to be more expensive than other brands (such as Linksys, Buffalo, etc).
As to 802.11n vs. 802.11g, it appears that you have a MacBook that is compatibile with 802.11n (you said it was a Core 2 Duo). If all you are going to do is access the Internet with the wireless connection, then you will likely gain little benefit of the 802.11n other than maybe the added range. Your cable modem connection will be the bottleneck not the wireless connection. If, however, you also plan to use an external USB drive with say an Airport Extreme to get a network drive or have another computer on the internal network that has a wired connection or supports 802.11n with which you want to share files or get an AppleTV that you will sync wirelessly, then the added speed of 802.11n might be a benefit.
As to setting up the router, that will largely depend on which one you go with. I would suggest picking one out, buying it, and try setting it up with the instructions. If you have trouble, then post back here and see if someone can help. If you go with something other than an Apple, I would suggest buying it locally at a store that has a good return/exchange policy in case it does not play well with your MacBook's built-in wireless.

[iWork]

Could you possibly explain the Comcast dealio? What do you mean by "He/she should then install the modem and cable from the modem to your computer"?
For the router part, I do plan on getting an Apple one, the Express one, because it's cheaper and I don't need the range, my townhouse is moderately sized and it's easier to set up /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
But ... do I just plug the ethernet cable into it or what?

[smax013]

Quote:

---

Could you possibly explain the Comcast dealio? What do you mean by "He/she should then install the modem and cable from the modem to your computer"?
For the router part, I do plan on getting an Apple one, the Express one, because it's cheaper and I don't need the range, my townhouse is moderately sized and it's easier to set up /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
But ... do I just plug the ethernet cable into it or what?

---

Comcast dude (we will be politically incorrect and assume it is a dude /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) should first wire up the jack if you don't already have one. I believe he will then create a coax cable to go from the jack to the modem. What I don't recall from this point if Comcast does full installs or if they "permit" self installs. If the Comcast dude is doing a full install, then he will take the included ethernet cable from the modem to your computer. He (or maybe you) will then fire up the computer. In theory, you should have Internet (he might need to make a call to "activate" the modem). If not, then your Mac's network settings might not be set to DHCP (automatically obtain an IP address). There should be no password or login to setup for the router. Now, there might be an "install" disk that can then be used to setup your primary account information (i.e. password, etc). But, I don't completely recall...it has been so long since my Comcast was setup.
At that point, you should have an Internet connection by way of a wired connection. Comcast dude goes bye, bye. Now, it is up to you to setup the Airport Express. You should be able to have the ethernet cable go from the modem to the Airport Express. Then you should be able to use the Airport Setup Utility and follow the instructions for setting up the wireless network.

[iWork]

Ha there will be no need to wire, my house is already prewired for cable and what not, so I guess no unsightly wires /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif!
So basically he takes a cable hooks that up to the outlet to the modem, then he will wire up an ethernet cable up to the modem to the computer, or in my case my Airport Express, and then I will finally set up my wifi network and enable all security measures and what not.
... hahaha just reassuring myself ha.

[d00d]

Bingo. If you bring your own modem (cost effective if you stick with cable long enough), you can do a "self install" where you string the coax to the modem and so on (the installer just checks signal).

[iWork]

Hahaha funny story. I'm currently hooking up with Comcast because it's cost-effective. I get a year for 33 dollars a month and the modem would cost 50 dollars if i buy it....OR I could rent one for 3 dollars a month for the next year and return it when I cut off the internet, since I do head off to college then and plus...it'll sky rocket to 57.95 a month after the year promotion.
Self-install isn't available for me ha. I have to get technician to do it...for like 20 dollars of something.
btw - d00d = Macuser rocks

[smax013]

Quote:

---

Ha there will be no need to wire, my house is already prewired for cable and what not, so I guess no unsightly wires /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif!
So basically he takes a cable hooks that up to the outlet to the modem, then he will wire up an ethernet cable up to the modem to the computer, or in my case my Airport Express, and then I will finally set up my wifi network and enable all security measures and what not.
... hahaha just reassuring myself ha.

---

If the installer is doing the whole install (including getting your computer setup), he/she may not be willing to mess with the router. He/she may only hook up the modem to the computer by ethernet cable and then it would be up to you to deal with the router (which is not hard in terms of the cabling...and not really hard in terms of the software setup). I am not sure one way or the other...I generally do it all myself (same with my TV hook up) as I tend to have a rather complex setup and don't want someone else monkeying with it.

[d00d]

Quote:

---

btw - d00d = Macuser rocks

---

Well thank you! We aim to please. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[iWork]

Hey guys, just wanted to give an update on the Wi-Fi situation.
It's a VERY LONG story but here goes hahah...
First the Comcast guy came yesterday and basically had to WIRE the house, even though it was prewired so he had to go out side reconnect some cables and what not and that took like 1.5 hours and it was frustrating because our homebuilder was just a wee bit challenged when it connected cables and what not.
Then finally he gets the stuff hooked up and leaves. THEN I have problems with service itself and I have to call Comcast like 3 times before I got the freaking modem to work but it finally did. THEN the airport thing wasn't configured right and what not and I spent like 5 hours before conceding to the idea of calling Applecare, I ended up calling THEM 3 times, of which 2 times, I had to hold for 30 minutes or so, but atleast... IT FINALLY got configured, everything is in working order and what not, the modem is "activated" and what not and the Airport gets the IPs and what not.
So ... I'm happy lol. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I enabled MAC address filter and WPA2 security /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

[smax013]

Glad you got everything working...even if it was just a hair painful! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[iWork]

Thanks to you and d00d's help!
So glad it's working. Everything is a charm /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[smax013]

Quote:

---

Thanks to you and d00d's help!
So glad it's working. Everything is a charm /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

---

Glad to provide what meager assistance that I can, when I can! /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[d00d]

I'm glad that it's working. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif