wireless router WEP slowdown question

[substance12]

On a wireless router, when you have the encryption enabled... I think that is called WEP. Regardless, when this option is enabled, typically there is a slowdown in your connection. What is an average number which is exceptable?

Second question is about security. Is there a big concern with wireless routers? Is there another forum which I can read about all this in?

Thanks in advance

 

[ptw]

In our house we run 2 separate wireless networks. One is a standard 11 mbps 802.11b, and WEP slows it down by up to 20%. The other is the new 22 mbps 802.11b from D-Link (Linksys and USR also have one out) and WEP has not slowed it down at all--at least at 128-bit encryption. I haven't tried the 256-bit encryption yet.

Yes, security is a potential problem. There are two basic threats:

1. Someone will intercept your packets and decode them to get information (credit cards, business data, etc)

2. Someone will hook onto your network and either steal/delete files, or else (and much more likely) freeload off your Internet connection.

The 2 main defenses are WEP (encryption to protect your data) and MAC addresses (which only allows network cards with unique MAC addresses built-in to access your wireless network). I really don't know much more about them other than that.

Here is a site I found recently with some useful info, including terminology to help out beginners.

http://www.timhiggins.com

 

[DaveSimmons]

Different brands have different slowdowns from turning on WEP, some don't slow down at all, some go up to 40-50%. Read reviews at www.practicallynetworked.com

 

[substance12]

20% seems reasonable to me. I was reading some review of the SMC7004VWBR and it was saying with WEP enabled there was 40-80% slowdown. That just seemed way too much.

Many wireless routers have 4 port hubs attached. Are computers attached to the 4port hubs threatened due to wireless security issues?

 

[DrVos]

Significant slow downs are possible, I remember reading on practicallynetworked.com that the first version of the Linksys Wireless router would slow down from 11mbps to 2mbps!! I have the rev.2 of the router and the slow down doesnt seem nearly as drastic, but is noticeable.