The Digital Doctor
Home Wireless Networks Part II
By: Ken Halbeck
Until recently, home networks were primarily the realm of technophiles most families either did not need or could not afford more than one computer. But now, one computer is no longer enough to go around for many families. In a household with multiple computers, a home network often becomes a necessity rather than a technical toy.
If you're thinking of networking the computers in your home, you have several options to explore. In last weeks article I covered steps one and two of how to setup your home based wireless network. In this weeks column I will be covering the final steps you will need to complete the setup of your home based wireless network.
Configure your wireless router
Using the network cable that came with your wireless router, you should temporarily connect your computer to one of the open network ports on your wireless router any port that isn't labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN. If you need to, turn your computer on. It should automatically connect to your router.
Next, open Internet Explorer and type in the address to configure your router.
You might be prompted for a password. The address and password you use will vary depending on what type of router you have, so refer to the instructions included with your router.
As a quick reference, this table shows the default addresses, usernames, and passwords for some common router manufacturers.
| Router |
Address |
Username |
Password |
| 3Com |
http://192.168.1.1 |
admin |
admin |
| D-Link |
http://192.168.0.1 |
admin |
|
| Linksys |
http://192.168.1.1 |
admin |
admin |
| Microsoft Broadband |
http://192.168.2.1 |
admin |
admin |
| Netgear |
http://192.168.0.1 |
admin |
password |
Internet Explorer will show your router's configuration page. Most of the default settings should be fine, but you should configure three things:
1. Your wireless network name, known as the SSID. This name identifies your network. You should choose something unique that none of your neighbors will be using.
2. Wireless encryption (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which help protect your wireless network. For most routers, you will provide a passphrase that your router uses to generate several keys. Make sure your passphrase is unique and long you don't need to memorize it.
3. Your administrative password, which controls your wireless network. Just like any other password, it should not be a word that you can find in the dictionary, and it should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Be sure you can remember this password, because you'll need it if you ever have to change your router's settings.
The exact steps you follow to configure these settings will vary depending on the type of router you have. After each configuration setting, be sure to click Save Settings, Apply, or OK to save your changes.
Now, you should disconnect the network cable from your computer.
Connect your computers
If your computer does not have wireless network support built in, plug your network adapter into your USB port, and place the antenna on top of your computer (in the case of a desktop computer), or insert the network adapter into an empty PC card slot (in the case of a laptop). Windows XP will automatically detect the new adapter, and may prompt you to insert the CD that came with your adapter. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the configuration process.
Note: The steps below only apply if you're using Windows XP Service Pack 2. If you're running Windows XP and you don't have Service Pack 2 yet, plug your computer into your wireless router and download and install Service Pack 2 from the Protect Your PC site.
Windows XP should show an icon with a notification that says it has found a wireless network.
Follow these steps to connect your computer to your wireless network:
1. Right-click the wireless network icon in the lower-right corner of your screen, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. If you run into any problems, consult the documentation that came with your network adapter. Don't be afraid to call their tech support.
2. The Wireless Network Connection window should appear and you should see your wireless network listed with the network name you chose. If you don't see your network, click Refresh network list in the upper-left corner. Click your network, and then click Connect in the lower-right corner.
3. Windows XP prompts you to enter a key. Type the encryption key that you wrote down earlier in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect.
4. Windows XP will show its progress as it connects to your network. After you're connected, you can now close the Wireless Network Connection window. You're done.
Even though they are easy and flexible, wireless networks are not for everyone. Some people simply feel more secure when using a wired network, and others want to move lots of data very quickly. In either case, a wired Ethernet network is the better choice. Ethernet networks are faster than wireless networks, and they can be very affordable. However, the cost of Ethernet cable adds up the more computers on your network and the farther apart they are, the more expensive your network will be. In addition, unless you are building a new house and installing Ethernet cables in the walls, you will be able to see the cables running from place to place around your home.
Next week Virtual Private Networks and how they work.
