How to Setup a Wireless Network

Wireless networking is actually associated with a telecommunications network. The interconnecting nodes of the telecommunications network are implemented without the use of wires. The remote information transmission systems are generally used in the implementation of the wireless telecommunications networks. Radio waves, which are a form of the electromagnetic waves are used for the waveform method of conveying information. The implementation of the wireless telecommunications networks generally happens to be at the physical level or the layer of the network. There are many types of wireless networking, such as the Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks, etc. The Mobile device networks are also an example of wireless networking.

Applications of wireless networking
The principle application of wireless networking is to transmit information. The concept and application of wireless networks dates back to World War 2 and since then it has been developing on the lines of transmitting information. Nowadays, wireless networking is applied in many fields, such as cellular phones and its use by the police department in emergency situations so as to enable the communication of important information instantly. The developing countries use it to stay connected with the Internet. Wireless networking actually proves to be a cost-effective method and a quicker way of Internet connection in these countries.

How to set up a wireless network?
Wireless networks are set up for many purposes, some might set it up in order to share an Internet connection, which would enable many people to be on the Internet at the same time. Wireless network also enables one to send information to the other computers.

Requirements to setup wireless networking
A wireless network adapter for connecting the wireless network to the Internet, a cable or a DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) modem, an Ethernet cable that would be required for a connection to the DSL modem or the cable, a wireless router and a second Ethernet cable also will be required for the configuration of the wireless router from the computer.

Wireless network setup wizard

1. The first step to connect the Ethernet cable in between the computer and the LAN (Local Area Network) port that is situated on the rear side of the wireless router.
2. The second step is, to connect the other cable between the WAN (Wide Area Network) of the wireless router and the Ethernet port of the broadband modem.
3. Now, once done with the connections, we need to turn on the wireless router and wait for its initialization. Wireless routers generally come with some default configurations that would enable the user to get connected to the Internet at the initialization stage itself. It is necessary for us to ensure whether we are able to access the Internet from our computer. In normal circumstances we would be able to connect to the Internet, but if we are not able to do so, we need to perform a check on the cable connections.
4. In order to privatize the wireless router, we need to configure the wireless router. For instance, we would desire to set the SSID (Service Set Identifier) on the wireless router and also set up the configuration of the WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy).
5. Next comes the installation of the wireless network adapters in the computer. PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) wireless cards, USB wireless adapters and the PCMCIA wireless cards are some of the form factors that these wireless cards come with. Each of these works in a different way and needs to be treated in a different manner. If we have a PCI wireless card, then the procedure is to shut down the computer, open the case and there is a PCI expansion slot in it, wherein we need to install the PCI card. If there is a PCMCIA card available, then we need to slide the PCMCIA wireless card into the PCMCIA slot that is present on the notebook PC. In case, we have a USB wireless adapter, the only thing we need to do is to connect the USB wireless adapter to a USB port available on the computer.
6. Once we are done with the manual installation of the card, we have to install the software that comes with the card. The software installation procedure is available on the instructions booklet
7. The final step is the configuration of the computer for the Service Set Identifier (SSID) and the other wireless configuration information. This configuration is done in order to match the options that we chose when the configuration of the wireless router was done.

Security of Wireless Networking
Wireless networks have proved to be helpful in the instant exchange of information, but yet the disadvantage of these wireless network is its vulnerability. Any person can attempt breaking into a network that is broadcasting a signal, which would cause interruption and might even lead to loss of data. Therefore, the configuration of the WEP (Wireless Equivalent Privacy) that is mentioned above would prove vital, as it blocks any person trying to enter the system illegally. An even better option for the security of wireless network setups is the WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). Wireless networks have recently been linked to some environmental hazards. These linkages have emerged on account of long-term exposure to electromagnetic radiations that are emitted out of the wireless networks. However, not much evidences are found in this regard.