Setting Up A Wireless Network

I got this information from Dell's Website. This could be helpful though if you're trying to setup a wireless network:

1. Connect Your Wireless Router and Broadband Modem





To successfully complete the steps below:

• Ensure that you can access the Internet using a "wired" connection to your broadband modem before attempting to establish a wireless Internet connection.
  


• To complete the installation process, use the order of restarting your wireless equipment as described below, or the connection could fail.
  


• Your wireless router might have been shipped with an installation CD. Such CDs usually contain installation and troubleshooting information. Load the required software according to the manufacturer's instructions.
  


• If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) requires a user name and password for Internet access, such as DSL providers do, this information will need to be placed within the wireless router's configuration pages.

Disconnect the power from the broadband cable modem or the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem. Leave the broadband modem disconnected for at least 5 minutes

Power off all of your computers.

Disconnect the power from the wireless router.

Connect one end of a network cable to the broadband modem, and then connect the other end of the network cable to the Internet or WAN port on the wireless router (Figure 1).

click this icon to visit dell's website

Figure 1:
Wireless Network Numbers reference image above

1. Internet
2. Broadband Modem
3. Wireless Router
4. Wireless-Enabled Desktop
5. Wireless-Enabled Notebook

Verify that no other cables, such as network cables, USB cables, or serial cables, are connected to these devices.

Connect the power to the broadband modem. Wait for at least 2 minutes for the broadband modem to initialize.

Connect the power to the wireless router. Wait for at least 2 minutes for the wireless router to initialize.

Turn on the computer and try connecting to the wireless router.
If you wireless router shipped with a setup CD, run the CD in your computer now.

Choosing Wireless Cards

How to choose A Wireless Card

Most laptops and some dekstops haave built in wireless card as part of the package when you bought the computer.Usually for laptops they use internal wireless card which has an antenna that looks like hin wires found inside the system.Laptops have options to have external wireless card too: PC card type, Express Card type or wireless USB adapters ( Mobile Broadband cards are quite different although the functionality let's you go online too: i'll add it on my next post though).For desktops there could be internal PCI cards with an antenna connected outside to get the signal or you can connecta wireless USB adapter too.

The speed of connection will again depend on the standard being used by your wireless card:

Wireless B : 11 mbps
Wireless G : 54 mbps
Wireless N : 270 mbps maximum
***take note that all ofthese will depend also on the speed of wireless router.

Some Wireless Cards I know

LAPTOPS:

could be internal wireless card/usb adapter

1. Intel Wireless Cards:

2. Dell Wireless Cards:
3. DLINK
4. Linksys
5. Belkin

What Is Wireless Networking

Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is wireless, and is commonly associated with a telecommunications network whose interconnections between nodes is implemented without the use of wires.[1] Wireless telecommunications networks are generally implemented with some type of remote information transmission system that uses electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, for the carrier and this implementation usually takes place at the physical level or "layer" of the network.[2] **this is the technical side though**

Wireless networks provides freedom and flexibility to work and play without hunting for a phone jack, network cable, or plugging in a special card. Get connected through wireless LAN networks in your home, in the office, and in wireless LAN hotspots in airports, hotels and coffee shops. Deploying WLAN technology in your home and business increases productivity, efficiency and flexibility by enabling faster decision making, reducing down-time, and enhancing employee satisfaction. -INTEL-

Types of Wireless Network

Wireless PAN

Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) is a type of wireless network that interconnects devices within a relatively small area, generally within reach of a person. For example, Bluetooth provides a WPAN for interconnecting a headset to a laptop. ZigBee also supports WPAN applications.

Wireless LAN

Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a wireless alternative to a computer Local Area Network (LAN) that uses radio instead of wires to transmit data back and forth between computers in a small area such as a home, office, or school. Wireless LANs are standardized under the IEEE 802.11 series.

Wi-Fi:
Wi-Fi is a commonly used wireless network in computer systems to enable connection to the internet or other devices that have Wi-Fi functionalities. Wi-Fi networks broadcast radio waves that can be picked up by Wi-Fi receivers attached to different computers or mobile phones.

Fixed Wireless Data:
This implements point to point links between computers or networks at two locations, often using dedicated microwave or laser beams over line of sight paths. It is often used in cities to connect networks in two or more buildings without physically wiring the buildings together.

How to Set Up a Wireless Router

Well i'ts as easy as 1 2 3....

Most of the routers are user friendly. There will be instructions that comes with it. For firsttime setup here's what you should do.

Turn off everything first. Modem, Computer and Router
If you're modem is currently connected to your computer then disconnect it first (usually it's color yellow)

1. Connect the wire from the modem to the internet port of the router: the internet port of the router normally is the port not in line with all the other ports.

2. Then connect another ethernet cable from the ethernet port of the router ( usually named port 1,2,3,4) directly to your computer.

3. Turn on the modem first. After awhile turn on the wireless router. Then turn on the computer.

4. Insert the disc that came with the router and it should normally let you follow the steps to set it up: It should be all automatic so just click next and next and next until it will be done. Please note that for anything that you'll type on the router setting: you should always remember or you might want to take note or print it out for future reference. I'll give you details on a different post on how to manually setup a router.

5. Normally after doing this you shouldbe online.



***For manual checks if this will not go through i'll give you the steps on another post.
hope it helps though.

Choosing a Wireless Router

You should be careful when choosing a wireless router. You have to check the specifications of the wireless router and your wireless card to have beter performance. Let's talk about the standards.

Wireless cards
1. Wireless B - you can get only a maximum of 11 mbps for the speed of connection
2. Wireless G - you can get a maximum of 54 mbps for the speed of connection
3. Wireless N - you can get a maximum of 270 mbps for the speed of connection

But this will change depending on the speed of your wireless router

If your wireless router is only using B standard then you can only get the maximum speed of 11 mbps using any wireless card standard.

If your wireless router is G but your card is B standard then you can only get 11mbps.
If your wireless router is G and your card is G then it will have 54 mbps.
If your wireless router is G and your card is N; you can only get 54 mbps

If yourwireless router is N but your card is B you can only get 11 mbps
If yourwireless router is N but your card is G you can only get 54 mbps
If yourwireless router is N and your card is also N you can get a maximum of 270 mbps

Setting Up a Wireless Network

What are the things you needed to setup a wireless network at home

1. Modem

You need to contact a local internet service provider in your area ( Verizon, AT&T,Sprint, Smart, Globe, PLDT). They will usually setup a DSL or a cable modem in your house and you will be able to connect one computer to the internet right away. But this will only let you connect using a hardwired connection thus you cannot bring your laptop from your room to the kitchen.

2. Wireless Router

You can just buy a wireless router at any local computer shops near your area or sometimes you can order it through your internet service providers. Some brands that i know are
1. Linksys
2. Netgear
3. DLINK
4. Buffalo
5. Belkin

I'll explain on my next post regarding different standards a routeri s using ( b, g, n ) type. Speed does matter to the type of wireless router and the speed that you applied from your ISP ( internet service proider ).

3. Ethernet Cable/ RJ 45

Usually this is included when you buy a router. This will let you connect a computer directly to the router so that you can set it up according to the setup that you like. This is much bigger than the RJ 11 being use by phones/dial up connections.

4. Wireless Cards/ Wireless USB Adapters

Mostly laptops are using different types of wireless cards. Internal / External. I'll give you more details on a different post. Internal wireless cards are mostly built in to your laptops when you bought it. External wireless cards is an add-on to your laptop: can be usb adapter , pcmcia card or express card. These wireless cards serves as the receiver of the wireless signal coming out from the router. Thus once it can get the signal from the router successfully then it will enable the communication/ internet connection.