Katie and David talk through home networking including wired and wireless solutions along with common pitfalls and speed bumps.
Links of note
Wikipedia on Wireless Security
Breaking WEP in Under a Minute
Apple Networking Gear
Follow Up Links
AmberV talks File Naming – post 1 – post 2
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You mentioned the MacBreak Tech podcast and the fact that they weren’t still podcasting. They moved to Know Tech and they stopped for quite some time, but are back with new podcasts.
Thanks for another great show. I think the biggest compliment I can pay this podcast is that even when the subject isn’t something I’m super excited about (like Home Networking) I still enjoy the show and I still come away having learnt something. Though I think that might be stretched if you do a whole show on naming files – I share Katie’s pessimism on that idea.
My take away from this latest show is that I now have my home LAN running three times faster. You talked about PowerLine and I realised that I had such a system lying in a drawer unused (I got it free with something and never realised it could be used with my computers). I hooked it up to my router and my iMac, which had previously been running wirelessly, and it works great. So thanks for that.
I listen to a lot of Mac podcasts but only discovered Mac Power Users a month or so ago. I’ve since caught up on all your past editions and it’s the show I most look forward to these days. I appreciate the effort and the research you both put into the show and way you strike the tough balance between sating current power users while not ostracising those of us with power user pretensions.
Don’t forget about M.A.C cosmetics
Just listened to your podcast for the first time. Most informative
One thing I listened out for was mention of a little known feature of the Airport Express – search for ‘proxysta’.
It allows you to use a remote ethernet connection over wifi, something I needed for a Squeezebox that didn’t like a b/g/n connection. Similarly with a W7 machine whose Edimax b/g/n adapter wouldn’t authorize when running Jolicloud. A very useful feature..
Regards
Hey there – love the podcast.
I use a 1TB hard drive connected to my Airport Extreme for wireless Time Machine backups with out a hitch, no hacks, nothing. all I had to do was do the initial back up with the drive plugged in to my Mac, then plug it in to the airport, and select it in the time machine pref.pane and from then on, it has worked seamlessly. it is admittedly a little bit slow, but since the amount of changing of large files that I do is insignificant, it is not a problem.
Thanks for the fabulous podcast
Trevor
After listening I wondered what wireless protocol my mac was capable of. Found this page that might be useful for other listeners:
http://www.everymac.com/systems/by_capability/macs-with-airport-airport-extreme.html
Thanks for the great podcast.
Thanks for another great show. There is always something new I learn out of these podcasts. I’d love to hear a whole show on naming files. I am totally intrigued on the AmberV filing system and would like to know what you and Katie do on the files.
Again, thanks for sharing the wonderful ideas and oh, I loved the Merlin Mann podcast. Keep up the good work. You both Rock!
Thanks!
David questioned whether using a secure connection (eg, https) at a internet cafe was safe.
1) Anything sent in the air that’s encrypted on your computer goes through the air encrypted and unreadable.
2) Unless you’re the victim of a “man in the middle attack” where the thief pretends to be the router and tricks you into connecting to him and accepting his fake certificates. This is rare.
3) More likely is that some program on your computer makes a routine connection to a server in an unsecure fashion (something that at home was never a problem) and gives out your password in the air in plain text.
4) I think the girl in the show was bringing her own laptop. I’d avoid public computers like the plague.
Hi,
thanks for the great episode.
To your question:
I would love an episode about naming files and folders and other system entries like calendars, todo labels (in things e.g.) and so on, especially since I am german and only use english operating systems which sometimes creates a confusing mix of the languages used in the naming of stuff.
Go on with the great podcast!
Best wishes,
Claudius
I have been patiently awaiting someone to do a show on taxonomy and their methods of retrieval. Listening and watching how other people implement their productivity greatly enhances my own. This specific topic has been the top on my list for quite some time. I would love to hear your own unique perspectives on naming files. I am keeping my fingers crossed!
Keep up the great job guys!
Josh
“taxonomy” ?!? maybe you mean methodology?
You guys do great user podcast, but speaking as a network manager, I’m not sure if I would’ve done this podcast without some actual networking knowledge and experience. Nothing personal, but sometimes you can’t be all things to all people.
Hi David and Katie,
I’m a new “switcher” and have enjoyed the last few episodes of MPU. This “Home Networking” episode had a lot of great content!
As for David’s idea of a show about file names, taxonomy, etc… I’m all in! Everybody’s got their own way of naming files and folders. I think it would be great to get the ideas of others’ regarding this and general housekeeping methods.
Please consider us “switchers” as well, as the Mac sure lays out files/folders/apps quite differently than in the Windows world. This was my single biggest hurdle moving over to the Mac… where the heck are all the files stored, and why there?
~brian
Great episode! I like the pacing–very relaxed and conversational, but organized and thorough. And yes, I would love to hear you talk about file-naming conventions!
Great episode.
Have a question for you (likely in the dumb question category). I am using a DSL modem + time capsule (dual band). The DSL modem transmit its own network (@ 2,4G) but I principally use the networks I have set up via my time capsule. The network transmitted from the DSL modem is only used when there is a (rare) problem with the time capsule.
Wondering whether the fact that the wireless network is transmitting three networks (one from the modem and two from time capsule (basic + guest) somehow dilutes the wireless signal I am able to achieve.
I enjoyed the show on home networking. Thanks!
About 10 mins into the podcast you say that CAT 6 is a good idea if your wiring your home from scratch. When I heard that I just had to put the paint brush down and email you. (We’re renovating right now).
Actually, the best solution for structured cabling is to run conduit to each room from a central hub and then run a pull cord through it.
When you need to install a new cable you just pull a new cable through and terminate it at both ends – its easy and quick to do.
This way you can upgrade ethernet cables forever for low cost and you can also add HDMI lines, coax lines, etc.