Switching to a Wireless Network
Changing from wired to a wireless Internet connection can make much of your Computing life much easier. This can be done thanks to a wireless router. With a wireless router you can free you and family members from wired downed and allow Internet access from any place in your home. It’s easy that anyone can do it.
To setup a wireless network it’s best to if you have a DSL or a cable Internet connection. With a 56k Internet connection this is not to even something to worry as wireless with a 56k Internet is not really practical at all. Your first step would be getting a wireless router and a some wireless adaptor for the number of computers you want on your wireless network.
Before you buy a wireless router you should try to understand the different kinds of wireless or Wi-Fi. There are four types, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. If it’s a 802.11a, don’t get it. They’re not really used anymore. The main types used today are 802.11b and 802.11g. They both have better wireless range than 802.11a which is why they better. The difference between wireless B and G is their data transfer rate. B has a limited at 11Mb/s while G has 54Mb/s transfer rate. Wireless G however, is generally used over B as it can work in send signals as both B or G. Wireless N is the newer of the four and has twice the range of G and a transfer rate of up to 144Mb/s and also the most expensive of the four types and decrease from G to B. The best choose is to get wireless G.
After you decide on the type of wireless router you want, you should get wireless adaptors that would work with the router.Also you should check if your computers if it has one built-in and is compatible with the router you are buying. You would need an wireless adaptor for the computers that you want access on your wireless network. Install them in and use the proper software provided with the adaptor and the manual that it came with it.
To set up the router, you should not throw the instructions out as you will need them later. Keep them in case you forget something. It is best if you follow the instruction manual but here is the simple version of it.First power down your DSL or cable modem and disconnect it from your computer. Connect the modem to your wireless router. From the purchase of the wireless router, you should have a short cable. This is your network cable. Connect the network cable to the wireless router in the port labeled as either , WLAN, WAN, or Internet. It depends on brand of router you bought. Then connect that the Internet connection cable to the modem and reconnect your computer to the wireless router and power the modem back on.
Your devices with built-in wireless and those with the wireless adaptors should be able to detect the wireless router but don’t connect any devices through wireless just yet. Open you Internet browser on computer that is connected to the router. There should be a be an address that came with the router and type it in the address bar. A window should that prompts for a password. It should come with the router as will. After entering the password it should take you to the configuration page for your wireless router.
At the configuration page you can give your network a name. Pick something the not easy to guess for security reasons but something you can remember and type this in the SSID section. There should be a section that asks for a WEP or a WPA choose one and it should prompt you to enter an administrator password or a router password. It should be remember but random or uncommon to prevent hackers from getting on to your network. There you should be done. You can unwire your computer if you wish switch to wireless. Now you can allow your other computers, laptops and other devices on your network and have wireless Internet all you have to do is type the network name and password or the the network connection page on your devices. That is it.
