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Home > Wireless Internet > Wireless Home Network

Setup A Wireless Home Network

Local area networks (LAN) for the home are commonplace now. Most homes have more than one computer connected to a single cable or DSL connection, which is by definition a network. Setting this up isn't particularly hard, but managing the wires and cables going in every direction can be. The solution to this is a wireless network.

Wireless networks are as easy to set up as any other network, and with the products available today it can actually cost less. With Windows Vista or Windows XP, the network wizard alone will make the process of using Wireless Internet quite simple. This article assumes you are using a PC with one of the above operating systems.

Required Hardware

You will need to have the following in order to set up your network:

• A computer
• A broadband connection
• One wireless network adapter per computer
• A wireless router

This may sound like a no-brainer but it is easy to forget to test each component of the wireless network alone before integrating everything. This first step can save a lot of troubleshooting time. If the individual components are all new, hook them up one at a time. Turn the PC on and connect it directly to the broadband modem via a CAT-6 or a CAT-5 cable. Make sure your Internet connection is working. Once this is done you have confirmed that a large part of your network functions correctly and now can move on to the wireless components.

Setting Up Your Wireless Network Adapters

Each computer that will be connected to your wireless home network will require it's own wireless network adapter, also called a transceiver. This term makes it sound like a device used on Star Trek, but actually it's nothing more complicated than a computer card or USB device that sends and receives wireless data.

Shown below are some example of wireless adapters that can be used for connecting to your wireless home network, including an internal wireless network card, an external wireless adapter, and a wireless USB stick.

Each wireless adapter will come with its own software that contains device drivers and perhaps a special interface. Although the set up is very similar in most cases, be sure to follow the set up instructions that come with your specific adapter. Most will have you:

• Turn off your computer
• Plug in the specific device
• Restart you computer
• Install the drivers from the associated disk when prompted
• Restart you computer

As a test, I just installed my wireless adapter as I outlined above, then uninstalled it and tried two other ways. They all worked so it's probably going to be hard to mess this step up. I also removed the drivers that came with the device and let Vista install its own drivers and they worked great.

Connecting To The Wireless Router

The time has come to connect the wireless router. Your router has several connections in back. One of them runs out to your DSL, cable, or fiber optics modem.

In the picture to the right, the output jack on the far left (of the Back view) is the WAN port. This stands for Wide Area Network, and connects to your modem via a CAT-6 or CAT-5 cable (the blue cable also pictured). The WAN port could also say DSL, Cable, Output, Cable Output and so on. The port always does the same thing. Connect the router's WAN port to your cable or DSL modem, plug the router into the wall and power it up. The router lights will blink on and off for while. Just let it do its thing until the lights become stable.

Now fire up one of the computers that has a wireless network adapter installed. The computer should locate the wireless network automatically, so give it a minute or two. If the network isn't found go to the following:

Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network and Sharing

Under "Network and Sharing", click on "Connect to a Network". A window will open up that shows all of the networks in range of your wireless adapter. If there is only one, then it's probably yours. Left click on the network, then click connect. If there are several, check your ISP's documentation to see which network is yours, then select it.

If this doesn't connect you then it is likely that the router or network adapters are not set up correctly. Retrace your steps and consult the booklet that came with the adapter.

Once the wireless network is in place, any number of devices can access it -- from PCs, to laptops, to PDA's and more. This is true for you and for anyone passing by your house. It is very easy to walk down the street in any neighborhood with a laptop and connect to any number of private wireless connections. Be sure that yours is SECURE. In our next article on Wireless Network Security, you can read about some simple steps for ensuring that your home network is secure from such threats.

Also check our Wireless Signal Booster article to find out how to boost the signal on your home or small business network.

To compare the different types of Wireless Internet with other forms of Internet access, such as DSL and cable, please return to the home page.