[OT] Best way to setup Wireless Internet Connection

["Mark Golledge" <markgolledge@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

I hope you might be able to help.

I'm trying to work out the best way to setup my home network.

I have a Netgear DG834G Router, 2 wireless laptops, 1 computer (wired to
the
router which is on 24/7 due to hosting a personal website), 1 wireless
connected Xbox and then often use my mobile phone to connect wirelessly to
the internet.

Network is setup ok at the moment - all can 'see each other' which is what
I
want. I'm using WEP 128 bit encryption which is open for wireless settings
(xbox can't cope with WPA).

However, my issue is around the ADSL settings. I've recently signed up with
Vodafone at Home which use a dynamic IP address and dynamic DNS. Since I'm
hosting a website, I've setup No-IP which works fine.

On each computer should I be specifying the IP address? At the moment I've
enabled the router as a DHCP server and then limited the range of internal
IP addresses to those I'm using. I've then fixed the IP using the
properties
under the relevant network connection.

So, for example, my settings for my laptop are as follows:

IP: 192.168.0.4
Subnet: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1

If you fix the IP you have to specify which DNS server to use which is
strange given that Vodafone at Home tell me I need to be using a dynamic
DNS.

Also, it is a pain when we have friends over who bring a laptop since I
have
to set them up on the network and then also a pain when we go to others
since I have to change all the network settings.

Is there an easier but equally secure way of doing this? I do want to make
sure though that I don't have conflicting IP addresses (which I guess is
possible if I change settings to obtain IP automatically?

Thanks,


Mark


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]