Time and Remote Power Your Wireless Access Point
Wireless security is always something that I am concerned about. I have written about this before and I continue to come up with new and better ways to protect my network.
Recently, I have taken to completely turning off my wireless access point. I figure, if there is no wireless signal to access, then there is nothing to hack into. I got myself another digital timer just like the one I wrote about in How To Get a 2 Year Old To Wake Up When You Want. Then, I analyzed then I needed to have the wireless on and when it was not being used and I programmed it to be off during those times!
Some of the times that I discovered the wireless could be turned off include:
- When I’m working at the office
- When I’m sleeping
- When I have other things planned
This seems to work well for me about 95% of the time. But, I did find that the on/off button on the timer was very important. It was also very inconvenient because the timer was in the back of my wiring closet which is always a pain to get into.
So, my future plans are to built a Y power splitter for the access point. I will then purchase a switch with a remote contol. I can then plug the timer into one outlet, the remote switch into the other, the Y cord into each device. I would then plug the wireless access point into the Y cord.
Theoretically, I should be able to then have the access point powered by either the timer or the remote control.
Please remember, I am not an electrical engineer and this is only an idea. Don’t go out an electrocute yourself!
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5 Responses to “Time and Remote Power Your Wireless Access Point”
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George Says:
March 19th, 2009 at 6:31 amCheck on the X-10 products. They have a website, X-10.com, but Radio Shack has, or had some similar products, as do several other manufacturers. Some of these are available at Lowes, Home Depot, and the like. You will find that they have a timer that communicates via a digital signal on the power line. The signal operates a remote switch that plugs in. They also have wireless remotes that will communicate via a base station to the switch. The signals will not extend through the transformer that feeds your home, so the system is somewhat secure to outside influence, and the wireless signal only lasts about a second when it is transmitted.
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Uncle Scrooge Says:
March 19th, 2009 at 7:13 amYou might be interested from a solution like this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_strip#Green_energy-saving_features_and_standby_power -
O'Boise Says:
March 19th, 2009 at 8:33 amEasier solution than all these if you’re running a Linksys Wireless modem. Check out Tomato (http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato), an open source update for Wireless Routers. You can set the router in the configuration to turn off your wireless radio at specific times (http://www.polarcloud.com/tomatofaq#how_do_i_disable_wireless_acce) in addition to QOS routing, better security, and signal power adjustment.
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O'Boise Says:
March 19th, 2009 at 8:35 amEasier solution than 2all these if you’re running a Linksys Wireless modem. Check out Tomato , an open source update for Wireless Routers. You can set the router in the configuration to turn off your wireless radio at specific times in addition to QOS routing, better security, and signal power adjustment.
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Sean Phillips Says:
March 19th, 2009 at 8:37 amCheck any big box home improvement store and you should be able to find a digital timer that comes with a remote for $20-30. That would be far simpler than rigging something up yourself…
NOMA makes a bunch of them, but there are other manufacturers as well.
