How to Set Up a Wi-Fi

Whether you are accessing Internet at home or at your workplace, Wi-Fi networks are always a preferred choice. These networks offer convenience by decreasing the hassles of dealing with convoluted wires and increasing mobility. If you are a bit familiar with computers and its applications, it will be quiet easy for you to understand how to set up a Wi-Fi.

Steps to Set Up a Wi-Fi Network

To set up a Wi-Fi network at your home or workplace, you just need to follow some simple steps. The first step is to make sure that you have the equipments and peripherals required for the Wi-Fi setup. There are various equipment in the market which support three different wireless networking technologies namely 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. Out of which, 802.11b is an older wireless technology whereas 802.11a is a faster and more efficient one. You'll need a wireless router, broadband Internet connection and a computer with inbuilt wireless network adapter. The wireless router is a device which acts like a base station and converts the signals coming across the Internet connection, into a wireless broadcast. Network adapters are used to connect the computer to a wireless router and is useful only if the computers, which have to be in the Wi-Fi network, do not possess inbuilt wireless capabilities. There are many brands of USB wireless network adapters available in the market, which can be used in case of such desktop computers and laptops.

The next step is to configure the router, for which the computer should be temporarily connected to one of the open network ports on the wireless router. Insert one end of the cable (that came with the wireless router) into the network or Ethernet jack on the computer, and the other end into any one of the open ports on the backside of the router. Switch on the router and wait until the WLAN light turns on.

Next, open Internet Explorer on your computer and type in the default address for that particular router. In most of the cases it is http://192.168.0.1, http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.2.1, depending on the brand of wireless router you are using. You may also be asked for a user name and password, which can easily be obtained from the instruction manual which comes with the router.

As soon as you enter the user name and password, Internet Explorer will display the router configuration window. The three important things which need to be configured at this stage, are as follows:

• Name of the Wireless Network: Name of the wireless network or the SSID, is used to identify a particular network. A unique name helps to differentiate between two wireless networks, working side by side.
• The Wireless Encryption (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) Password: A WEP or WPA password helps to protect the network from virus attacks and data theft. This password gets recorded, and it is needed to log on to the Wi-Fi network (Wireless Internet Access).
• Administrative password: An administrative password is the one used to change the router settings, when the need arises.

Apply the settings on the configuration window and disconnect the computer from the router. Now when searched for the available wireless networks, wireless card of the computer must be able to detect the network, by the given SSID.

Sometimes it happens that the connection doesn't work initially. This is because of the firewall settings which should be disabled and reconfigured in order to connect to the wireless network. Some precautions like checking the firewall and finding out the SSID, channel, mode etc., should also be taken while accessing Internet on a Wi-Fi network. This helps to make the network and users more secured against the threat of hackers and viruses, and ensures Wi-Fi security.