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sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 8:21 am Post subject: Broadband....
When my Mac finally arrives (still in Luxembourg at the moment), what info am I going to need to hook it up to my broadband connection?

Treacodactyl
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Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 8:48 am Post subject:

Personally I would use a B/band router/firewall box. You can then connect the Mac to the router via a Ethernet cable. Does the Mac have a LAN port?

I suggest the b/band router/firewall rather than a modem as it's only �10-�20 more but the tests I've done on my router/firewall have proved it's difficult th hack.

Makes I'm not sure about as I've only used one that my provider uses. It makes the support easier but it was expensive.

jema
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 28238
Location: escaped from Swindon

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 9:13 am Post subject:
Stiicking a hardware router between you and the net, cuts you off from most the nasties, of course though they would not infect a Mac anyway

Treacodactyl
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 9:17 am Post subject:
I read an article on Linux saying that, even though they can be easily hacked, a linux box and a XP box connected to the internet and the XP box was hacked in minutes and Linux hacked in about 3 months! No Mac info... I'd also only use a wired router, not a wireless one.

jema
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 10:22 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

I read an article on Linux saying that, even though they can be easily hacked, a linux box and a XP box connected to the internet and the XP box was hacked in minutes and Linux hacked in about 3 months! No Mac info...

I'd also only use a wired router, not a wireless one.

It seems to me, that if you are able to run the wires without a lot of problems, then wire is more secure, faster and more reliable.

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 12:25 pm Post subject:
I'll be installing a router at some point, but just at the moment I'm using a USB modem.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 12:27 pm Post subject:
If you have the modem it should just plug 'n play then?

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 12:29 pm Post subject:
I'll let you know. Does the mac need to know a password or something? Sorry, I know jacks*** about how all this works.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 12:30 pm Post subject:
Who's your ISP?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 12:30 pm Post subject:
BT.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 12:35 pm Post subject:
I assume all you'll need to do is plug the modem in, point your browser at www.btinternet.com and log in.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
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Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 1:15 pm Post subject:

sean wrote:

I'll let you know. Does the mac need to know a password or something? Sorry, I know jacks*** about how all this works.

Were you given a starting pack from BT? That should have your password and other details needed.

sean
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Feb 24, 05 1:16 pm Post subject:
Yup, I'll dig it out.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 05 4:22 pm Post subject:

The USB modem that come with the BT package isn't very good, as it has to 'dial' a connection every time you want to go online. You'll be better off getting yourself a router with a built-in firewall; that way you can leave the connection on permanently and you'll be safe from malicious intrusions. Mine's been chugging away for months online without mishap.
The Mac has a built-in socket for a standard RJ45 network plug, and most routers come with cabling, so setting it up is a doddle, even though most installation manuals ignore the Mac completely.
Any probs, drop me a message and I'll talk you through it down the phone.
Or you could go wireless with an Airport card in the Mac talking to a wireless router somewhere else in the house - a much less cluttered and more elegant way of doing it.

Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
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Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Fri Feb 25, 05 4:46 pm Post subject:

Gervase wrote:

Or you could go wireless with an Airport card in the Mac talking to a wireless router somewhere else in the house - a much less cluttered and more elegant way of doing it.

And less secure...

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