The Problem:
Let's consider a very typical scenario: You're a parent of two children. You have a computer or multiple computers in your house and only one of them is connected to the Internet through your high speed broadband connection. Your children are computer savvy and rather than going to the local library, they go to the Internet to do research. You still want be able to access the Internet without being tethered to the desk and the kids want to be able to get online to do research or play those online games. You probably won't want to run a world wide web of wires in your house; so what should you do?
The Solution:Create a wireless network at home, also commonly known these days as a "Wi-Fi" connection. If you're not computer savvy, you may want to just hire a qualified technician to help you acquire and configure the necessary components to build your wireless network. In any case, here are a few things that are needed to successfully build your own Wi-Fi network at home.
- Buy a wireless router. You can pick one up for about $60 - $100. There are many different brands and types. You will see things like 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and now 802.11n. These basically indicate the different ways that the wireless devices communicate and the speed at which they can communicate. The current standard format is 802.11g. This allows for best combination of compatibility, price, and speed. Follow the user manual to configure the router for your needs. You can change in the software the name of the wireless network to identify it as yours. You will also need to purchase a wireless adapter for the computer that will access the wireless network. The adapter must be able to communicate with the same format as your router (e.g. 802.11g). Many new laptops already have a wireless card built-in, but if your computer does not have wireless capabilities built-in, the easiest type to get and install would be a USB (Universal Serial Bus) wireless adapter. This type plugs into an open USB port on your computer. Be sure to purchase a wireless adapter and router that supports WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption which provides the best security.
- You will usually setup the router near the location of the broadband connection, but keep in mind that the wireless signal will degrade when going through walls and floors. The signal is also affected by the type of building materials that are used in your house, radio broadcast interference, TV broadcast, as well as some wireless home electronics including telephones. The general range of a wireless router is approximately 100 meters indoors and 300 meters outside without obstruction. Multiple wireless routers can be configured together to cover larger areas.
- It is highly recommended that you change the Administrator password which allows you to configure the router's settings. Most hackers already know the default password for the different routers and can take over your router with ease. Refer to the manual on how to change this password.
- Be sure to check the manual for the steps that are necessary to encrypt the wireless data to prevent unauthorized persons from tapping into your wireless network and allowing them to gain access to your personal information. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA and WPA2) encryption allows you to assign a password that will be necessary for anyone to gain access to your wireless network.
- Another great advantage of having your home computers networked is you will be able to share files as well as share your printer over the network, when configured to do so. Check out www.theeldergeek.com and click on the "Guide to Simple File Sharing" in the left column under the "Network and Internet" category to get a good idea on how to configure the file and printer sharing over your new Wi-Fi network in Windows.
