Wi-Fi Network Set-Up
By: Jon Norwood | Posted: 08th August 2007
Computers, printers fax machines, powers tips, phones, and monitors. All of these devices have many things in common, including long and possibly tangled cables running across your room. As the number of devices you use increases, the more valuable a Wi-Fi network in your home or office becomes.
Wireless Internet networks are inexpensive, easy to set up, and very scalable. The days of incompatible devices and cards, or routers that cost more than your computer are long gone. In fact, an existing cable or DSL connection can be wirelessly enable with little to no change to the existing network. This extends a broadband connection to an entire dwelling or even office floor.
Set up is fast and all you need is:
• Wireless Access Point
• Broadband Internet Connection
• Wi-Fi devices (computers, laptops, PDA's, etc…)
An important step in making sure you get the most out of your new wireless network is making sure that your devices are compatible. Make sure all PDAs are Wi-Fi compatible, and all PCs and laptops have onboard wireless connectivity or a wireless card that can be installed.
Router Set-Up
The first step is connection your wireless access point to your router. Some routers actually are wireless access points, as can be seen in the Lynksys routers used by Comcast and Time Warner Cable. With these routers you need only install a wireless network connection on your PC or laptop and you are ready to go. These routers are also available for purchase from Radio Shack or Best Buy for around $90 to $150 USD.
Wireless Security
Wireless networks need security as does any Internet connection. A wireless gateway will have several security measures built in and available including:
• Firewall
• Filters (Cookie, Java, ActiveX, Muticast, Port Scan, etc…)
• Anonymous Request Blocking
• WEP
• RADIUS
• WPA
There are more options available but these are the most common. The most important thing to remember is that not all of these security measures are active when the gateway is set to default settings. Read the manual carefully and turn on the options you want. WEP is usually a standard, as are the filters.
SSI
An SSI is a Service Set Identifier, and every wireless network should have its own unique SSID. A wireless access point will be set to its default SSID out of the package, but the value should be changed ASAP after setting up the network. Once the SSID is changed, you will never accidentally log on to someone else's network, and few people will be trying to log into yours. Each device can easily be configured to access your access point and its new SSID.
Devices
First double check the Wi-Fi compatibility of all the devices you are setting up for use on your network. The packaging of each device will have this information on it. In the area of the box that show system requirements and system specs you will see something similar too:
• Wi-Fi Compliant
• Wi-Fi Compatible
• 802.11 Compatible
• 802.11a Compatible
• 802.11b or 802.11g Compatible
These are some examples, but there are many ways of communicating the same information. If you can't find the information you are looking for, visit the manufacturers website.
PCs and laptops will require a wireless card to send and receive wireless data. Many new PCs and laptops have these already installed, but make sure your computer is wirelessly enabled. Wireless routers such as the ones made available by Time Warner Cable of Comcast also come with Wireless Transceivers. These are small devices that connect to a computer via a USB port that send and receive wireless data to the router.
Make sure that your transmitters and your wireless access point all speak the same language. Match the technology by making sure your access point and transmitters use one of the following:
• 802.11a
• 802.11b or 802.11g (these two technologies speak to each other)
More advanced technologies are usually backward compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g, but not 802.11a. If you are unsure what technology your devices use, ask someone before you buy anything.
Now that all of your devices are compatible, you can begin setting up your network.
About the Author
Jon Norwood is a founder and managing partner of the directory Satellite Internet, a site dedicated to providing information on Internet Service Providers, as well as guides on how to best choose a service.
About the Author
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Tags: broadband connection, security measures, existing network, best buy, comcast, wireless networks, wireless connectivity, wi fi, wireless access point, wpa, radio shack, time warner cable, wireless security