How do I setup a wireless network?
For those who have been contemplating setting up a wireless network in their home, there are many reasons to consider how a wireless network will benefit you. One reason that many people decide to set up a wireless network is to share an Internet connection. By setting up a wireless network, several family members can be on the Internet at the same time. As well, the use of a wireless network also make it possible to send files between different computers without having to save the information to a diskette or CD-ROM.
To begin setting up your wireless network, you will need a few pieces of hardware:
- A wireless router
- One wireless network adapter for each computer
- A cable or DSL broadband modem (if you wish to connect your wireless network to the Internet)
- An Ethernet cable (to connect your wireless router to your cable or DSL modem)
- A second Ethernet cable (to configure your wireless router from your computer)
Connect an Ethernet cable between your computer and a LAN port located at the back of your wireless router.
Next, attach another cable between the WAN port of your wireless router and the Ethernet port of your broadband modem.
After completing this, the next step is to turn on the wireless router and wait for it to initialize. Most wireless routers ship with default configurations that will allow you to connect to the Internet at this time. Check to ensure that you are able to access the Internet from your computer. If you are unable to connect, check to see if the cables are connected correctly.
The next step is to configure the wireless router. Configuring your wireless router is not as difficult as it may first appear. This may not be strictly necessary, but may be a very good idea. This configuration can be used to personalize your wireless router, or to secure it from public access. For example, you will most likely want to set the SSID on your wireless router and you will also probably want to configure WEP.
The next step is to install the wireless network adapters in each computer. These wireless cards may come in many form factors, including:
- PCI wireless cards
- PCMCIA wireless cards
- USB wireless adapters
If you have a PCI wireless card, you will need to power off your computer, open the case, and install the PCI card in an available PCI expansion slot.
If you have a PCMCIA wireless card, you will only need to slide it into a PCMCIA slot on your notebook PC.
If you have a USB wireless adapter, you will only have to connect it to a USB port on your computer.
Once the card is physically installed, you will need to install the software that came with the card. Follow the instructions in the package to do so.
You will then configure your computer for the SSID and other wireless configuration information to match the options you chose when you configured your wireless router.
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