By Mitz
Free computer Education
Why not make the most of your internet connection and setup your own wireless home network. Now days you can buy all of the equipment necessary for a wireless home network from your local computer or electronics shop.
What you will need to setup a wireless home network
- A broadband connection provided by an Internet Service Provider.
- A wireless router preferably the newer type Wireless g or N
- A wireless adapter to pick up the signal. Most laptops have an inbuilt wireless adapter.
A broadband connection
If you already have a broadband connection you will also have the modem that comes with it. The router will eventually connect to the modem and distribute its internet connection around your house.
A wireless Router
You will need a wireless router, and not a wireless access point. The router will convert the signals coming across your Internet connection into a wireless broadcast. Its a bit like a cordless phone. Read how a cordless phone can interfere with your signal.
A wireless adapter
You will need a wireless adapter for every computer or laptop you want to share the internet connection with. A desktop computer can either have a USB wireless adapter plugged into a USB port, or it can have a pci adapter installed inside it. A laptop may have inbuilt WI-FI and may simply need to be switched on. If it doesn’t have inbuilt wireless you can use the USB wireless adapter, or a laptop pci adapter card.
Connect your Router to configure it.
The next step, after you have purchased your devices, is to connect and configure the router. You will need to know the IP address of your router to do this. Please read how to find a router IP address and configure it.
After you have gone through the wizard to setup your router, leave the router plugged into your modem. If there are any computers in range with a wireless adapter installed, they will get the signal.
Installing a wireless adapter
It is really done automatically now days. When you plug anything into your computer a add new hardware wizard will appear. It will ask if you have the install disc that came with your hardware. You should insert it and let it all install. You may need to restart, but when you do, the computer should pick up the wireless internet signal that your router is sending out.
Read how to see what wireless networks are available to connect to.
Once you are connected you can not only share an internet connection, but can also share files between computers on your home network. Here’s how to setup file sharing.
Notes:
- When you buy your wireless network devices, try and make them the same brand and all compatible. For example you should get a wireless D-Link router and a D-Link wireless adapter. All compatible with 802.11g standard.
- If you run into problems, start from scratch instead of trying to find the problem.
- Make sure all your settings on your computer on are automatic.
