Wireless connection question

[redjeep]

This may have been covered here before but until recently I didn't know there was a computer forum on here:o . I'm sure somebody here can help me- unfortunately, I am a computer idiot:confused: Earlier this year we were finally able to get DSL in our rural area and we have our service through AT&T so we have access to their anti-virus, anti-spy, anti-everything...When we got it our son set it all up for us so I'm not sure what all he did-but, my question is, how do we know if he secured the network so people aren't piggybacking? And if he didn't, how do we go about doing that? As I said, we live in a rural area, but we do have neighbors all around us, even though many of them are elderly people who don't own computers. Lately our signal has been in the "low" to "very low" range and I'm wondering if something like this could be causing that, or, what would cause the signal to be low alot of the time? Hope this makes sense- can somebody tell me what to do in EASY, non-techie terms?!:D

[mcfox]

Probably positioning of the wireless aerials making the signal low ... or something getting in the way.

Securing the network ... you would need to log into the interface for the network. Type (or better, just copy) this into your web browser address bar:
http://192.168.2.1 and then hit 'enter'.

That takes you to the interface for your wireless modem. You should be able to check whether you have a secured network or not by carefully browsing through the menus.

Be careful about not changing any settings or you will lock yourself out! Pain in the bahooka, I can tell you! Then it means resetting to factory default and reconfiguring the thing again.

[redjeep]

Probably positioning of the wireless aerials making the signal low ... or something getting in the way.

Securing the network ... you would need to log into the interface for the network. Type (or better, just copy) this into your web browser address bar:
http://192.168.2.1 and then hit 'enter'.

That takes you to the interface for your wireless modem. You should be able to check whether you have a secured network or not by carefully browsing through the menus.

Be careful about not changing any settings or you will lock yourself out! Pain in the bahooka, I can tell you! Then it means resetting to factory default and reconfiguring the thing again.

Thanks for the reply mcfox! You made it sound pretty easy- but I'm kinda freaking out now about accidentally changing something....:D . Maybe I should just leave it alone....I have nightmares of hitting the wrong button on the internet and accidentally ordering 50 cases of hotdogs:( , or buying "one of each" on Amazon, ordering a dozen sets of tractor tires, a box of snakes:eek: :eek: :) :eek: :eek: , a gross of baby chicks (two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree), bidding on property in the Hamptons, signing myself up to be the next civilian in space, buying a freight truck full of pink flamingos, bidding on a Picaso painting:eek: :eek: , and the list goes on and on....

[mcfox]

Hehe. I used to be like that, too.

Can barely move in my house for all of the pink alligator stuffed toys ... :D j/k

[redjeep]

Hehe. I used to be like that, too.

Can barely move in my house for all of the pink alligator stuffed toys ... :D j/k

Alot of us folks of the "older generation" (the 8-track generation) have problems with the new technology!:D My son calls me "Oldie Hawn":rolleyes: - don't know what I'd do if he couldn't fix my computer "mistakes"....I'm not real ANCIENT so maybe there is hope for me...Thanks again!