Tech guide: Wireless home networks

BY CLAIRE MCENTEE

Wireless internet connectivity is built into almost every gadget you buy today. Claire McEntee explains the basics of setting up your own wireless home network.

Wireless internet networks - also known as WiFi networks - let you surf the web, share files and print without cables and multiple users can be connected at once.

Wireless networks are handy if you want to roam about while still being connected to the web, but they can be susceptible to interference from devices such as cellphones and can be less reliable than wired networks. The prospect of setting up your own wireless network may be a daunting one but it's actually quite straightforward.

THE GEAR

You will need a broadband connection into your home, a wireless router and a computer/gadget with wireless networking built in or a wireless network adapter.

There are different wireless technology standards (called 802.11 standards) so make sure the equipment you get supports the same standard. 802.11b is the slowest standard - meaning it transfers data the slowest - and less common, while 802.11n is the newest and fastest standard with the widest range.

It is up to you which standard you use, but experts generally recommend 802.11n for best performance. It can also be a good idea to purchase equipment made by the same supplier as this can optimise your network speed.  

Wireless routers convert the signals from your home internet connection into a wireless radio broadcast that can be picked up by your computer or gadget, and direct traffic on your local and external networks.

Talk to your computer store about which router will best suit your needs - some have longer ranges while others provide faster speeds for multiple users.

Make sure you get a router and not a wireless access point - which can convert your connection into a wireless signal but will not direct traffic on a local network, such as traffic between computers.

You can also get wireless routers with modems - which receive your internet connection through your phone line or cable - built-in.

Each device you want to access the network will need wireless internet capability built-in or a wireless network adapter. Adapters connect computers and gadgets to your wireless router. Wireless adapters plug into your PC or laptop. They usually look like USB sticks with an LED light to indicate they are working.

Gadgets, particularly laptops, with wireless capability already will have a built-in wireless network card. These cards can be replaced - for example if you want to upgrade to a more advanced wireless standard - but unless you're tech-savvy that job is best left to your local computer repair store.  

GETTING STARTED

Each router is slightly different and should come with instructions for setting it up. As a general rule, you'll need to connect your router to your modem.

You will then need to configure your router. This usually involves temporarily connecting your computer to your wireless router with the supplied cable, opening your web browser and entering the router's address (this will usually be a number beginning with 192.168 or 10.1), and hitting enter to reach the router's home page.

The home page will ask for a username and password - these should be in the supplied documentation.

Most routers have a 'wizard' users can follow that allows them to easily configure the router and set up wireless network security.

To hook your router up to the internet you'll need to enter your internet connection information into the home page - this is your internet username and password or IP address set up through your internet service provider.

It's a good idea to change the router's default wireless network name - sometimes called the SSID. This identifies your network, so you should choose something unique. The SSIS can be hidden altogether to increase security.

Check to see you're connected to the web by opening your browser and navigating to a few sites.

Your router will have a 'pool' of IP addresses that let other computers and gadgets connect to the network, called the DHCP server. It's a good idea to leave this on so you don't have to manually configure the addresses yourself.

To connect additional computers you need to open their network menus (Network Connections if you're using a Microsoft operating system) and select your wireless network from the list of available networks.   

SECURITY

Security is important with wireless networks. Networks based on the 802.11n standard have a range of about 180 metres - meaning people outside your house will be able to tap into your network if it's unsecured.

Older wireless standards have smaller ranges - but range depends on various factors such as house construction, local terrain and external interference.

If someone can access your network they can use the bandwidth you're paying for and potentially steal sensitive data and redirect traffic to fake and malicious sites.

For these reasons you should use software with second generation WiFi Protected Access security (WPA2) that should be supplied with your router to encrypt all communications on your network - so they cannot be understood by "eavesdroppers" on your network.

The software will also prompt you to set up a password for your router that all users will need in order to use the network. Make sure it is a strong password - for example, with numbers, different characters and letters in lower and upper case.

It is important to note that this software will not encrypt your traffic on the internet, but just the traffic travelling on your home network.

Sources: WiseGeek, About.com, PCStats, Microsoft, PCAnytime.

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