Setup a home wireless network: A short tutorial.

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Author: Wallace Renckers

For homes with more than one computer, it would be wise for
you to setup a wireless network and share your high speed
internet connection, as well as the scanner, printer, and
other computer devices.

Wireless networking, "wireless fidelity", or Wi-Fi, is
gaining popularity nowadays because it is just so darn
easy and very straightforward.

So, for those who want to use Wi-Fi technology in their
homes, here's a short tutorial to guide you through the
process and answer some of the most frequently asked
questions. To setup your home network you will need a
wireless router and wireless PCI cards.

1. Get the equipment you will need.

A wireless or Wi-Fi router. This will allow you to share
your internet connection. You will be able to connect to
the net without having to use any networking cables.

Next, you will need Wi-Fi cards, or wireless PCI cards,
for desktop or notebook computer. Most laptops nowadays
have these already installed. This, in turn, enables your
PCs to receive the connection being broadcast by the Wi-Fi
router.

Optionally, you can buy a wireless antenna. This will
boost the signal put out by your wireless router.
Depending on how wide of a net you want to cast around your
house will determine if you need to buy a wireless antenna.
One word of warning though is that your neighbors can
borrow your wireless network if you have a strong enough
signal for them to tap into.

2. Choose what standard you will implement.

Wi-Fi has different standards that have evolved through
time. The most popular is 802.11b, or "B" for short, which
can carry data at 11 megabytes per second or mbps.

The next generation Wi-Fi is the "G" devices that can
transmit data at 54mbps. The G standard is backward
compatible with the B standard.

3. Connect to your wireless router.

Be sure that when you attempt to connect to your wireless
router, you have shut down all your devices. With an
Ethernet cable, hook up to the LAN of the other computer
or to the WAN port if you are using an Ethernet port of
the modem's cable. Then, make use of a second Ethernet
cable and attach it to the computer's Ethernet adapter.

After which, hook up the other end of the cable to one of
the Ethernet's four individual port router. It is strongly
recommended that you use port 1 as the default port area.
Then, plug in the power adapter to the power port of your
router and then attach it to an electrical outlet. You can
immediately use your computer after configuring the
settings of your router.

4. Install the Wi-Fi cards on your desktop PC or laptop.

Installing a wi-fi card might involve opening the casing
and installing a card inside your desktop. This can be very
complex so it is best to ask for some professional help
regarding this one especially if it is your first time.

For notebooks and even desktop PCs you could use a USB
Wi-Fi dongle in place of installing a wi-fi card. A
wireless dongle is a USB network adapter that plugs into
your notebook or PC to enable access to a LAN, or
peer-to-peer networking without the need of any wires.

5. Turn on your computers and get surfing.

Once you've installed your wireless router and network
cards you are on your way to surfing anywhere in your house.

This just goes to show that since the proliferation of
wireless fidelity, networking had never been the same
again and Internet connection within your household is
now open to a wide array of virtual possibilities.

Copyright 2005 by Home Wireless Network and Wallace Renckers.

This article may be used freely in ezines, newsletters,
websites, to offer as free bonus or part of a product for
sale as long as no changes are made and the byline,
copyright, active links and this resource box is included.

About the author:
Wallace Renckers is a wireless networking fanatic who offers
a free course on how to setup a home wireless network and
wireless networking tips and troubleshooting articles