Setting Up My Home Wireless Network

Created by

EDIT 6000 Student

Summer 2006

How do I get started?Recommended to stick with the same

manufacturer's products; could mean better compatibility between the components

Have someone, aka David, that knows everything you need to know about wireless to help you get started…THANKS DAVID!!

The components I needed were:

wireless router

USB adapter for my laptop

The A, B, G’s of Wireless 802.11b

first version-release date 1999now the slowest in the marketplaceleast expensive

802.11arelease date 1999even faster that b and gtransmits at 5 GHznot affected by other devices using

the 2.4 GHz frequency 802.11g

release date June 2003transmits at 2.4 GHzfaster than the b version

Pros and Cons to WirelessPROS

Mobility/Flexibility Removal of tacky

wires that often crowd desks

Easy to set up Relatively

inexpensive to set up

CONS SECURITY Interferences Installation problems Coverage Transmission

speeds can be slower

Choosing a RouterThis is the wireless router I chose:

Choosing devices for my laptopA wireless adapter card

A USB adapter

Ready to get started…

Setting It All UpEasy installation provided by the cd

Disconnecting the Modem

Connect the Modem to the Router

Connecting Power

Connecting the Router

Supplying Power to Router

Checking the Status

Configuring the Settings

Wireless Settings

Security Settings: WEP or WPA

Things got a bit confusing…

WPA Security—A Must Have! Stands for “Wi-Fi Protected Access” Created after weaknesses were found in

WEP Key feature of improvement is TKIP-Temporal

Key Integrity Protocol, the encryption method of data

Pre-shared key--Each user must enter a passphrase to access the network.

Mandatory in November 2003 WPA2—as of March 13, 2006, certification is

mandatory for all new devices wishing to be Wi-Fi certified.

And the finished product… Able to use my laptop anywhere in the house!!! Even

Amstel enjoys the flexibility…

Don’t forget to…Must continue to update the router for

new security updates that become available

USB adapters may also need to be updated

Do not update over the wireless connection It will be more secure through a wired

connection!

Resourceswww.wikipedia.comHow to Build a Wireless Home Network

Tutorial http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wirelessproducts/a/howtobuildwlan.htm

http://computer.howstuffworks.com/wireless-network.htm

David Millians