Setting up a wireless network to share Internet access, printers, files and more, can be very convenient and cost-effective. Setting up one in your own home or office is even better as you can surf the web anywhere most comfortable for you. Plus, all you need is a router and it's easier to install than people perceive it to be.



Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not really needed for wireless networking, but it provides the easiest method for networking. It also helps protect against hackers, trojans, worms, and other potential Internet intruders. Here are the four steps in creating your own wireless network:

1. Shop for your wireless equipment.

Of course, wireless networking presupposes the fact that you have a computer system that has wireless network adapter or a built-in networking support hardware and a broadband Internet connection. The main component to shop for is the wireless router, which is the hardware responsible for converting the signals coming from your Internet connection into some form of a wireless broadcast. The network adapter allows the computer to wirelessly connect to the router. (Note: Make sure that you get a wireless router, and not an access point.)

2. Connect the wireless router.

First, you need to locate your cable or DSL modem and unplug it. Next, you must connect your wireless router to your modem (modem must be stay directly connected to the Internet). Do this by plugging one end of a network cable into the modem and plug the other end to the Internet, WAN or WLAN port on the router. After hooking everything up, the computer will automatically connect wirelessly to the router, and the router will consequently send information through your modem to the Internet.

3. Configure the wireless router.

Using another network cable, temporarily connect your computer (through the network adapter) to one of the open network ports on your router (make sure the port is not labelled Internet, WAN or WLAN). When turned on, your computer will automatically connect to the router. Afterwards, open the Internet Explorer on your computer and type in the address in order to configure the router. The address (and password in some cases) varies depending on the brand of your router, so you would need to refer to the instruction manual.

When you reach the router's configuration page, you would need to configure the following:

- The wireless network name (SSID). This identifies your network so try to choose something unique.

- The Wireless Encryption (WEP)/Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). These two help protect your wireless network through a passphrase that you will provide. You can make the passphrase unique and long, you don't need to remember it.

- The administrative password. This password controls your wireless network, so choose one that is unique and you will not forget as this is needed to make changes in your router settings.

After filling these up, be sure that you click Save Settings, Apply, or OK to save the information. Afterwards, you may now disconnect the network cable from the computer.

4. Finally, connect your computers.

This method requires Service Pack 2, so if you don't have it yet, plug your computer into the router and download and install SP2. If your computer runs on a Windows XP SP2, it should directly notify you that a wireless network has been detected. To connect to the wireless network, follow these steps:

- Right click this wireless network icon found in the lower right corner of the screen then click on View Available

Wireless Networks.

- The Wireless Network Connection should appear shortly and you should see the network name you specified previously. If you don't see it, click Refresh network list at the upper left corner of the window. Once you see the name, click on the Connect button on the lower-right.

- You will then be prompted for the password you entered earlier in the Network key and Confirm network key boxes. Type in this key and click on Connect.

- Windows XP will then show connects the computer to your network and you will be connected shortly.

A Note for Computer Newbies

If you are a computer novice, it is best to purchase an ADSL modem with a built-in wireless router to make wireless networking easier and straightforward.

For integrated ADSL modem-wireless router system, network connection can be done in two simple steps:

1. Connect. You first need to connect the Ethernet cable to the router to the PC, the phone cord from the phone socket to your router, and the power supply.

2. Configure. Once everything is connected, switch the unit on, type the IP address of the router into the web browser, select the connection type and enter the username provided by your Internet service provider.