HOW-TO : SETTING UP A Wi-Fi NETWORK

Cody Goodermote
ccSCOOP News

Wi-Fi is something that most of us can't live without. Wi-Fi is short for Wireless Fidelity, and it is the most widely used wireless technology in the world. It’s found in libraries, hospitals, coffee shops, and many public places. Many of you already have Wi-Fi networks in your home. But for those of you who are a little nervous about making the switch or don't really know how to do it, I'm going to walk you through the steps of setting up and maintaining a home wireless network.

What’s required?
Wireless networks require a broadband Internet connection such as DSL, cable, satellite, or fiber. 

What do I need to buy?
You will need to buy a wireless router from a local retail store, such as Staples, Walmart, etc. Go into the computer section and look for the wireless routers. I prefer a standard Linksys router over any other brand, but most of them will get the job done. You should look for one that says 802.11b/g. This will be the most common among the types. There is a newer standard called 802.11n, but it's overkill for what most people need. Usually a router will cost you between $40 and $70, depending on the brand and type. Linksys usually runs about $45 for the WRT54G model. 

If your laptop/desktop does not already have a wireless card, you will need to purchase one for it. All of the wireless cards will be located next to the wireless routers. If you need to buy one for a laptop, a PCMIA or PCMIA express card should work, but verify what type of PCMIA slot your laptop has. For a desktop, you can use a USB adapter. You can also use a USB adapter with a laptop. A USB adapter may produce better results than a PCMIA adapter and will usually cost less. Almost every laptop manufactured within the last three years is Wi-Fi enabled and already has a card built in. Some desktops also have them built in.

What's next?
Now that you have purchased a wireless router, the next step is to take it out of the box and set it up. Take everything out of the box and make sure that nothing is missing. Most of people won’t be able to do this without reading directions. I think most directions confuse people, so here are some alternative directions.

Insert the included CD-ROM into your computer.
2. Plug the ethernet cable (it had an end looks like a telephone jack but bigger) from your broadband modem into the "WAN" port on the back of the router.
3. Plug the ethernet cable from your computer (the cable that went into the modem before step 2) into the "1" port on the back of the router.
4. Plug any additional equipment into the 2, 3, and 4 ports on the router. (If you need more ports, you will need to buy a switch.)
5. Plug the power cable into the back of the router.
6. Follow the onscreen guide that popped up when you put the CD-ROM into your computer. It's going to ask you to name the wireless network and if you would like to add security along with some other things. 

Please be aware that wireless networks are at risk because information travels over radio waves. To protect yourself please follow the options for making your network secure. If you choose to leave your network unsecure, you are putting the information that travels over the network at risk of being hacked into or stolen. 

How do I connect?
You've done the hard part, and now you’re ready to have fun!

Make sure you install the wireless adapter that you purchased earlier if your computer did not come with one preinstalled. After that is complete, you should go to the program that controls your wireless card and view the available wireless networks. (Windows will usually control the card, but some computers, such as DELL, have their own program for controlling it.) Look for the network with the name you created in Step 6 of the setup. Click on "Connect" and wait for it to connect to your wireless network. If you added security to your network, you will need to enter the "Key" before you can connect to the wireless network. After it says that you have successfully connected, you should be able to go on the Internet as you would normally, but now you have the freedom of roaming around the house with NO WIRES!

Networks have the advantage of being able to share documents and printers on the network between its users. This is just one of the advantages of wireless networks. Check back soon, because we’ll be providing the full SCOOP on how you can share printers and documents over your existing or newly created network.

If you need help with anything or have a How-To idea, feel free to shoot me an e-mail: cody@ccSCOOP.com