| what is all this Wi-Fi wireless internet stuff they | | | | most of the routers are setup by a “web |
| are trying to confuse and torment me with? | | | | based interface “. Some will come with an |
| It is actually quite simple, useful and most of all | | | | install disc as wizard. With others you will enter a |
| convenient. | | | | web address usually 192.168.x.x and a password. |
| All you probably want to do is to share your | | | | To enter this setup interface. The instructions and |
| internet connection throughout your home | | | | passwords should be in either your instructional |
| whether it be to other computers or so that you | | | | manual or disc that came in the box with your |
| can sit in your bedroom and wirelessly surf the | | | | router. If you have a standard cable broadband |
| internet or send email. Perhaps as well you wish | | | | account then just follow instructions if you have a |
| to share files such as songs throughout the | | | | DSL type of broadband internet connection then |
| computers in your house, apartment or condo. | | | | you will need the paper the phone company gave |
| Don’t let them confuse with all this | | | | you with your internet account name and setup |
| alphabet soup - b , g , a , 11 megabytes , 54 , | | | | password. The type of connection that you set |
| 108. | | | | up in the router for DSL connections is called |
| To begin with most any of the systems are | | | | “POPE” The connection internet |
| beyond overkill. All will go faster than the even | | | | connection password is most likely different than |
| high speed broadband internet. Most use the same | | | | your email password. This internet connection |
| frequency as the standard cordless phones (2.4 | | | | password is of very little value to anyone else. If |
| GHz).. Be reassured the phones and the wireless | | | | you do not have this information phone your DSL |
| internet in most cases will co- exist and work well | | | | provider tech support. |
| with each other. | | | | Next install the wireless adapters. Windows XP |
| The most common wireless setups wireless b and | | | | has its own wireless utility program installed. With |
| g use the frequency most cordless phone use. G | | | | previous versions of windows (Windows 98, 2000 |
| wireless internet is sort of a faster b standard. | | | | and ME) you will have to install the utility program |
| What is important to know is that it is all | | | | that the manufacturer provided on the install disk. |
| standardized. B will work with G and G products | | | | Most of his install manuals have 2 different sets |
| will work with B. G is said to up to 5 times faster | | | | of instructions – one for Windows XP, the |
| than B that is assuming that you are relatively | | | | other for the remaining operating systems. |
| close. G wireless is very useful primarily if you are | | | | When you setup the router you will be given a |
| sharing large files between computers. For | | | | choice of whether to turn on the security |
| ordinary browsing b wireless is still overkill speed, | | | | features so that other people can drive up in |
| faster as said than most broadband internet | | | | front of your house and freeload your internet |
| connections. The usual stated range of these | | | | signals. It is anyone’s choice whether they |
| wireless products is 300 feet indoors range and | | | | wish to use this feature or not. |
| 1000 feet outside. The range is basically line of | | | | Believe me there will be no shortage of wireless |
| sight. Heavy dense objects – primarily | | | | internet connections for those freeloaders |
| metal, metal doors, metal foil insulation, heavy | | | | – estimate is 60 %. You can say to |
| bricks and pipes and objects such as furnaces, | | | | yourself if someone wants to waste gas to sit in |
| metal filing cabinets will block reception to some | | | | front of my home to download songs or |
| degree. As well if the manufacturer makes some | | | | whatever good for them . If you wish to turn on |
| ultra high speed claims remember that both the | | | | the scrambling to sign onto your internet it will be |
| router and wireless network adapters will have to | | | | in the advanced wireless or wireless security |
| be that brand and that special computer | | | | section of your router control panel. There are a |
| networking hardware feature to work at those | | | | number of choices. Most common is a setup called |
| high speeds and transmission rates. Remember to | | | | “WEP” (Web Enabled Protection)... |
| that wireless internet transmission speeds fall | | | | This is available in a standard 64 bit or more |
| rapidly with distance. | | | | secure 128 bit WEP settings. 64 bit setup is easier. |
| Wireless internet is basically a radio setup with a | | | | 128 bit has you enter a long string of characters |
| transmitter and receivers. The transmitter is a | | | | twice. Lots of fun with mistakes on entering |
| box that plugs into the internet to share your | | | | those digits correctly. The easier to use security |
| internet connection. This is called a “Router | | | | setup routines will allow an easy to use phrase |
| “.. Wireless routers are made by a | | | | code generator. For example in the phrase code |
| number of manufactures and the most widely | | | | generator you enter the word |
| known are the Linksys and D-Link brands. All | | | | Badgerlinux. The number / character code will |
| routers are fairly good now. Tech support may | | | | then be generated that you must enter both the |
| be something to consider for setup ease. Routers | | | | router and wireless adapter ends of your system. |
| are often sold on sale at big box stores as a | | | | WEP is considered by purists not as secure as a |
| means of drawing customers who already have | | | | newer system called WPA. Not all of the older |
| at least one computer into their stores. It is | | | | hardware supports WPA. You may look at it as |
| reasoned that if a customer wants to buy a | | | | – if someone in my area can break into |
| router the odds are good that he or she has | | | | my WEP protected wireless system then that is |
| more than one computer and once in the store | | | | the least of my troubles. |
| will make additional purchases .Perhaps they will be | | | | Lastly the biggest problem with wireless internet |
| even so fed up with the older computer as the | | | | networks in neighbors. That is right neighbors. It is |
| kids have taken use of the newer faster model | | | | estimated that 40 % of wireless products are |
| that the customer will even buy a additional new | | | | returned to big box stores. There are 12 available |
| computer from the store.. The routers that you | | | | channels available in the wireless router settings. |
| will find on sale will most likely be the newer g | | | | For convenience and to aid setup most brands of |
| standard routers which will work with your B or G | | | | routers place the default channel of their routers |
| wireless network adapters in your computers. | | | | as channel 6 right in the middle of the 12 channels |
| Secondly you will need a receiver to receive the | | | | available. It does not take much a signal at all to |
| wireless internet signal at the computer end. You | | | | confuse your wireless adapter. You will see signal |
| will have several options depending on your setup. | | | | strength of your wireless route signal but you will |
| If your laptop is a newer model then you may | | | | unable to get a solid internet connection. |
| have a wireless “network | | | | Worse yet this phenomenon of no internet |
| adapter:” already built into your laptop. If | | | | connection may be sporadic. In many cases you |
| you have an older laptop you can install a PCMCIA | | | | will not be able to even spot the culprit in your |
| wireless network adapter into the credit card | | | | wireless configuration software. |
| sized slot on your laptop. If you have a desktop | | | | Remarkably wireless internet signals can travel a |
| computer you will have several options. If you | | | | fair distance and may even appear to come out |
| have the abilities and are allowed by your | | | | of nowhere. Worse yet the interference may be |
| warranty to open your computer case then you | | | | on sporadic. And as said it does not take much of |
| can install a standard PCI wireless card. The | | | | a signal at all to leave you with no internet |
| advantage of the PCI cards is that they almost | | | | connection. |
| always work, are screwed in so that they cannot | | | | The answer is simplicity itself. “Change the |
| be dislodged to stop working. The disadvantage is | | | | Channel “. There are 12 available channels |
| that the antenna of the card is hidden behind the | | | | in your router setup control panel. The next 2 |
| metal of the computer case limiting reception. | | | | choices for wireless channel selection are at the 2 |
| Another option is USB wireless adapters. Not only | | | | ends of the spectrum – channels 1 and 11. |
| can the USB wireless adapter be installed without | | | | However it may simply be a matter of trial and |
| opening the case but as well with a USB | | | | error. |
| extension cord the YSB network adapter can be | | | | Wireless internet is rather amazing, you can surf |
| lifted away from the computer to a higher more | | | | the world, download songs, send email and |
| open place. | | | | transfer files conveniently at high speed and at |
| Several points on setup to make your life easier. | | | | some distance away from your internet |
| After all networking is often called | | | | connection. In addition you do not have to call or |
| “Voodoo Science “. First if you are | | | | pay electrician to string the internet network |
| buying both the wireless adapters as well as the | | | | wiring in your home. And if you wish to move the |
| router try to buy the same brand, There will be | | | | computers or even move just pickup and make |
| easier setup , perhaps faster speed and tech | | | | the move. |
| support will not be able to blame the other | | | | If in the end you are having troubles on setup do |
| vendor’s product for setup issues. You | | | | not feel afraid to call tech support. Someone in |
| can tell tech support even after the return period | | | | India or the Philippines will be more than happy to |
| of the store: “I guess the products are | | | | assist you. Remember in the end you have the |
| defective and have to be replaced “. | | | | ultimate threat of all , that is to take your new |
| There will be no issue of blaming the other | | | | Wi-Fi wireless products back to your store of |
| vendor’s product. Case closed. Secondly | | | | purchase. |