(MS) -- Hard to believe that as recently as 15 years ago most people had never heard of, let alone used, the Internet. Nowadays, the Internet has become such a big part of most people's personal and professional lives it's hard to fathom how we ever lived without it.
One significant impact of the Internet is that it's helped to make lots of people more tech-savvy. It's also revolutionized how we do things at home. Whereas home computers were once used primarily for bookkeeping, homework assignments for the kids, or playing games, many homes now have their own networks that aren't much different from the ones they use in the office. One of the growing trends in home networking is setting up a wireless network. For homeowners looking to do just that, it's not as hard a process as it might seem, but instead takes just four relatively easy steps.
1. Get your wireless equipment. Setting up a wireless network will require a wireless router and a wireless network adapter. The router converts the signals coming from the Internet connection into a wireless broadcast.
Once you've settled on a wireless router, it's time to get a wireless network adapter. Many of today's computers, especially laptops, already have these built in, so the chances you'll need to buy one are probably pretty slim. However, if you're planning to connect several computers throughout the household, you'll need an adapter for each computer. So even if you have one or two newer computers, if you want that old dinosaur computer in the den connected as well, you'll likely need an adapter for that.
2. Connect your wireless router. The first step to connecting your wireless router is to unplug your existing cable or DSL modem. A cable modem will be connected to the wall in much the same way your television is connected to the cable television outlet, while a DSL modem will have a phone cable connected to it. Once you've removed the cable or DSL modem and turned the port to off, you can connect your wireless router to your modem. It should take a moment or two for the light on your router to go on, so be patient. Once it does, your router has been successfully connected to the modem.
3. Configure your router. Chances are you won't need to do much to configure your router. In the past, configuring a wireless router was a genuine hassle. However, if your computer is running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and you have Connect Now-compatible devices, you'll only need to answer a few questions in a wizard (it will appear upon installation), and you can then use a USB flash drive to transfer those settings to the other computers on your network.
If you do need to configure your router, it will be a little more difficult. To get started, use the network cable that came with your wireless router and temporarily connect your computer to one of the wired network ports on your wireless router (any port that isn't labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN). Then turn your computer on and it will automatically connect to your router.
Your next step is to go online and type in the address to configure your router. The address will look like a typical URL, but instead of letters and words will be a series of numbers. This address will be in your router's manual. A prompt will then appear asking for a password, which should be included in the instructions that came with your router.
Once you've done that, your router's configuration page will appear. The default settings should be fine, but you'll need to configure three items -- the wireless network name (make it unique and impersonal, not including your name or address); the Wi-Fi protection access (this prevents outside users from accessing your network and WPA-2 is considered the more secure option); and the administrative password (again, make it memorable but not personal like your name). When entering any configurations, be sure to click "Save Settings" before moving on.
4. Connect your computers and devices. Again, this is something that will most likely be done for you, as built-in wireless network support will take care of it. To begin, right click on the wireless network icon in the lower right corner of your screen and then click "Available Wireless Networks." When connecting each computer, simply choose your network, which will require you know the administrative password and network name you just created. You should be able to choose your network as your primary network, so the next time you go online you simply connect directly to your network.
Keywords: wireless home network internet tech-savvy home computers home networking wireless equipment wireless router wireless network adapter dsl modem cable modem usb flash drive wlan
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