EZ Computer Tips - Setting Up Your Own Wireless Network


	Setting up a wireless network on your own. As the internet grows so does the dependency on it. More and more people are getting online more often than ever before. Parents and kids both benefit from access to the internet, from monitoring the weather to chatting online with friends, the internet is a one-stop for all communication needs. Computers have dropped in prices in recent years and now families can afford to have more than one, which means more cords to deal with. Wireless is becoming the new wave of connecting to the net. Don't go out and pay someone hundreds of dollars to set it up for you. Just read on.
	Hardware		Setting up the Router
	Yes, there is some hardware installation necessary in order to setup a wireless network. First, and foremost, you need a high-speed internet connection using either cable or DSL. Your local cable company or telephone company will supply the high speed access. You should have the high-speed connection running on your desktop computer. From here on out I will refer to this as the "main" computer. This "main" computer will NOT be wireless. It will utilize the RJ-45, or Ethernet, cable. Therefore this "main" computer must be located relatively close to the source of your high-speed connection (by a cable outlet for cable internet or phone jack for DSL). It is also necessary for this "main" computer to be as close to the middle of your dwelling since the wireless signal will be broadcast from that area and you don't want half the house to be wireless deficient. ;-) If you have a laptop you should check whether or not it has wireless capabilities built in. Most of the new ones do, most of the older ones do not. Check the documentation that came with your laptop or check the manufacturers website for the specifications related to your laptop. If you do not have built in wireless then you will need to purchase a wireless card for your laptop. There are two different kinds of wireless cards that you can buy; PCI and PCMCIA. You will need to buy a PCMCIA wireless card for any laptop that doesn't have wireless built in. For every EXTRA desktop computer that you want on the network you will need to buy a PCI wireless card. Let me clarify this; say, for example, that you have one laptop without wireless built in, and two desktop computers. You will need one PCMCIA wireless card for the laptop and ONE PCI card for the EXTRA desktop. Why only one PCI card? Because one of your desktops will/should be the main computer connected directly to the router. Not only is this smart networking, but it will save you money by buying only one PCI card. As you may, or may not, know you will also need to buy a wireless router. MAKE SURE IT IS A WIRELESS ROUTER! Just a standard wireless router will be fine. My favorite brand is Linksys, but if there's one on sale, get it. In my opinion, Linksys provides the strongest wireless signal of all the major brands. Costs of the router should be around the $60-$70 mark, while PCI and PCMCIA cards will range from $40-$80 depending on what brand and where you get them from.		By now you should have installed the network cards in the computers that need to be wireless. You should also have one "main" computer (preferably a desktop computer) that is not going to be wireless. This "main" computer should already be connected to the internet through your high-speed network (cable or DSL). First, we will get the main computer working through the wireless router before we touch the other computers in the house. OK, go ahead and setup the router per the instructions that came with it. Basically, you should be able to follow the connection from the modem provided by your high-speed company to the router, then to your "main" computer.
			Troubleshooting
			If you're having trouble getting to the internet try restarting all three this way; unplug all three devices (computer, router and modem) don't worry, your settings will be saved automatically. Then one by one plug them back in starting with the modem, wait 15 seconds, then the router, wait 15 seconds, then finally start your computer back up. You should have internet access now. If not, check if you have any firewalls on and turn them off temporarily (Norton Internet Security is a known trouble-maker when setting up a new network, just disable it until system restart and see if you can access the internet). If Norton is the problem please consult the Symantec website on how to configure it for a new network. If you followed all the instructions when setting the router and you have internet access on your "main" computer, then your wireless network should be all ready to go! Go try it out on one of your other "wireless" computers or laptops. If you set up a password for the network you will be prompted to enter it on your other computers when they initially access the wireless network. If you need more help then you can always visit the manufacturers site of your router, or network cards. If your still having trouble access the internet from your "main" computer you may need to manually change to IP address of the router because it may cause problems with your high-speed modem or connection. Check the instruction booklet, or CD, that came with your router in order to find how to do it. When all else fails you may have to find someone to help you. At least you tried! ;-)

			"Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions. " ~~ Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC)
	Installing the Cards
	OK, now you should have at least one wireless network card (PCI or PCMCIA) and a wireless router. You must now install the network cards. Since each brand is a little different please read the installation instructions and follow them exactly as they say. PCMCIA cards will simply slide into the cardbus on your laptop. PCI cards will have to be manually installed inside the computer. If you're not mechanically inclined then find someone who is to have them install it for you. You will only need one Phillips-head screwdriver. The PCI card will fit into one empty slot then gets screwed down with one screw (some computers will not have any screws at all). Click here for a picture that may be helpful.