How to set up a wireless home network

A network allows you to share peripheral devices such as a printer, a router for access to the internet and access files on other computers or an external storage device. A wireless network allows you to do this without being connected to anything physically, such as an Ethernet cable.

This means that as long as you are in range of the router (highly probable in the average house in London) – you can connect to any of these devices from anywhere in the house.

For example, you can print documents from the printer in the bedroom, while watching television and surfing the internet in living room.

Or you might want to take the music files that you have downloaded from the internet while sitting on the toilet in the bathroom and upload them to your external hard drive which is sat in the living room.

Maybe you want to connect your iphone to the home network and surf the web from your bedroom.

If you have an internet ready TV, you can even stream a film or home movie from your laptop straight to it. The point about a wireless network is that it gives you flexibility.

So how do I set-up a wireless network?

OK. Things you’ll need –

1. An internet connection (obviously)
2. A wireless router that connects to the internet
3. A wireless adaptor for each computer you want to connect (this is already built into a laptop)

Now, if you have a desktop PC, you’ll need to turn off the computer, open the case and insert the adaptor into a free PCI slot on the motherboard. Now restart your computer. Windows will detect the new adapter and instruct you to install the driver on the CD-ROM that came with it. For an easy life and unless you’re an expert, follow the instructions. They are mostly idiot proof and it will most likely install quickly and simply.

If you have several Desktop PCs at home, repeat this procedure on each.

Now, unwrap your new wireless router. Follow the instructions and insert the CD ROM into your computer. Most wireless routers have videos explaining what connections you need to make to get it working. Follow the instructions for that easy life you’re looking for.

Generally speaking, the router connects to the internet. And everything else connects to the router. The router is the hub of the network. It’s centre or heart if you like. Every device connects to it either by fixed wire or wirelessly.

If you’ve followed the instructions correctly, you’ll be asked to create a name for your network. Call it something that will allow you to indentify it easily. In London and other densely populated citiess, you’ll find hundreds of wireless networks. So make yours easy to find – – if your name is Janet, call it ‘Janet’s awesome private network’. If your name isn’t Janet call it something else!

Keep following the set-up procedure and make sure that you install the encryption software and a password for your network. Otherwise anyone will be able to connect to it and use your resources. This will mean your connection will slow down. And you don’t necessarily want to be associated with what your neighbour is downloading to his computer…

So the network is set up. Your router is broadcasting its wireless signal. What now?

Well, if you have a printer, most likely it won’t have a wireless adaptor. So you’re going to need to get either an Ethernet cable or a USB cable and connect that to your router to make it available to the other devices.

Remember, when purchasing peripheral devices that you want to network wirelessly, that your average wireless router will probably only have 1 USB socket. However, it will most likely have 4 or more Ethernet sockets. So, purchase devices with Ethernet connections as well as USB connections. This is particularly important for external hard drives. It’s unlikely that you will be able to network it if you only have a USB connection on it.

Once you have connected your device to the network, you will need to go back to your computer and check that it has been recognized by Windows and that you can access it. Usually this will be automatic. If not, then you’ll need to go into My Computer – Hardware and Sound – Add New Device. And add the device manually.

Generally the later the operating system i.e. Windows 7, the easier it will be to set up a home wireless network.

And that’s pretty much it. A wireless network is easy to set up and infinitely useful. And now that you’re all connected, pick up your laptop and catch up with your friends on facebook with a lager on the balcony!

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