Wireless Network Setup at Home or Office

Wireless Network Setup: Setting up a wireless network for the first time? Although it may seem complicated, 802.11 (Wi-Fi) networking is really very simple. All that's required is a Wi-Fi gateway (connected to your ISP for Internet access) and one or more laptop computers with Wi-Fi PC Cards or a desktop with a PCI adapter.

Before we begin, here are a few wireless network setup terms you should know:

• Access Point: Also referred to as "AP", it's the radio base station that connects wireless devices to your network. APs are available as stand-alone devices that can plug into a router, or built-in to routers.
• Wireless Network Routers: Creates and protects both a wireless and wired network. A wireless router can allow PCs and PDAs to connect to each other and to the Internet via a cable or DSL modem.
• Wireless USB Adapter: Easily connects a desktop or laptop to a wireless network through the convenience of USB.
• Wireless PC Card Adapters: Easily connects a laptop to a wireless network.
• Wireless PCI Adapter: Connects a desktop PC to a wireless network.
• Wireless D-Link CompactFlash or SanDisk SecureDigital Adapter: Connects a PDA to a wireless network.
• WEP: Wired Equivlant Privacy. The original standard for Wi-Fi security, which provides only basic protection.
• WPA: Wi-Fi Protected Access. A new, more effective way to secure a Wi-Fi network from any snoopers. Available on many new 802.11g products. These days in any network wireless system, security should be strongly considered.
• Mbps: Megabits per second, a measure of transfer speed.
• 802.11a: Despite the name, it's newer than 802.11b and supports 54 Mbps transfers. However, it runs on 5 Ghz frequencies, so it's not compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g.
• 802.11b: A 11Mbps wireless standard that runs on 2.4Ghz frequencies.
• 802.11g: A 54 Mbps wireless standard that runs on 2.4Ghz frequencies. It's backward-compatible with 802.11b, so 802.11b and g devices can talk to each other at 11 Mbps speeds.

Internet Connection: We'll assume you've already got a working connection to the Internet through a cable or DSL modem or a T-1 line. Now let's get into the meat of our network setup wireless system.

Gateway or Router: The easiest way to set up a home or office wireless network is to unplug your computer from the DSL or cable modem, then plug a Wi-Fi gateway into the modem instead. If you're adding wireless capabilities to an existing wired network, this is where you'd put a Wi-Fi router. The set up software that comes with the routers is fast and easy to use.

Wired Client: Many Wi-Fi routers and gateways include Ethernet ports, so you can continue to plug in computers via cable. This is useful if you need to extend a single connection to a desktop computer that's out of range. Wired connections are also cheaper and faster than wireless ones.

Wireless Clients: Any computer or handheld with Wi-Fi capability can connect to your wireless network once it's in range (assuming you've granted access privileges to it). If your device doesn't have built-in Wi-Fi, you'll need a wireless network card. If possible, buy from the same manufacturer that made your router or access point to minimize compatibility problems.

If you don't have a PC card slot, try these easy USB adapters:

Repeater: To extend the range of a wireless network, use a Wi-Fi repeater, which picks up a signal and rebroadcasts it. Some routers and access points can be configured to work in repeater mode, or you can buy a dedicated repeater.

Access Point: Another way to extend your network setup wireless coverage is to run wireline Ethernet cable to a remote access point, which will then create a wireless extension of your wired network.

All in all, I prefer sitting on my couch with my laptop while I'm working, as opposed to being strapped to a desk and chair. The added mobility greatly offsets the minimal expense required to achieve a network setup wireless system.

To greatly simplify the process and eliminate any hardware compatibility problems, visit our wireless deals page and see the Router/PC card bundles available from LinkSys, D-Link, and NetGear. Purchasing this way will save you a few dollars and insure you get the maximum Mbps transfer rate by eliminating component compatibility problems.