Networking with a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router

A wireless access point connects your local wired network with wireless clients. A wireless router performs the same function but allows you to share a connection to another network or the Internet with all of your local wired and wireless systems.

This is the typical configuration used for wireless hotspots that can be found in hotels, coffee shops, airports and other locations.

Before any client system can connect to a wireless router or access point, the router must be connected to the wired network and configured. You will usually find that most routers and access points are factory configured to automatically obtain an IP address and will make the wired network available as soon as they are powered on and connected. This makes it very easy to test your wireless connection right out of the box, but keep in mind, if it’s easy for you, then it is just as easy for anyone else that might be in range.

The first step with your new wireless router will be to connect a system so you can configure its settings. To do this, connect a cable between a system with a wired network adapter to one of the local area network connections. (The following steps are for Windows XP, but should be similar for other versions of Microsoft Windows. For other operating systems such as Linux, Linspire or Apple OS, check your help screens or documentation files for configuring a network.)

1. Open your network connections, and right click on the (wired) local area network adapter and select "properties".
2. Select TCP/IP from the list and click on properties. This should be set to "obtain an IP address automatically" since the router should be factory configured to provide one.
3. Once this has been done, exit back to network connections and save any changes.
4. In the Network connections window, double click on your network connection to display the status.
5. In the Connection status list, you should see that you adapter has been assigned an IP address and gateway by the router. The Gateway address should be the address of your wireless router; it is this IP address you will use to check or change the router settings.
6. Open a browser window and enter the gateway address in the address bar. A typical router might have an IP address of 192.168.1.1, in this case you would enter http://192.168.1.1 for the web address. When you press enter or the "Go" button, you should see the router’s password prompt or login screen. Check your documentation for how to proceed, since each vendor is slightly different. Some may have a user of "admin" or "root" with no password, others may have no user name, just a password.

To start, change your router’s SSID and set a password. Most of the other settings will not need to be changed until you are ready to start implementing security features on your network. I don’t recommend activating WEP, WPA or MAC address security features until you have successfully connected to your network. Once you know all your hardware works together, then you can turn on these features one at a time, making sure that the clients can continue to communicate at each step. If you activate them first, it makes it very difficult to troubleshoot communication problems. If you add additional clients later, you may need to disable these security features and then reactivate them one at a time using this same approach. The network names that show up in an "Available Wireless Networks" list are the name you entered for the SSID - all devices sharing a single network connection must have the same SSID entered. If you have a different SSID for your client, you will not connect to the wireless network until it matches what the router has (or other peer-to-peer clients.) If you need to increase the coverage area for your wireless network, such as you might want in a business environment, connect several access points throughout the building to the same wired network. All access points must have the same SSID, but should have unique transmit channels assigned, and unique network IP addresses. For example, if you have three access points on the network, you could assign local IP addresses of 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.2, and 192.168.1.3. The IP address for the router or access point becomes the gateway address used by the wireless client.

The next step will be to configure your client system to connect to the wireless router. With Windows XP managing the connections, this should occur as soon as the hardware drivers for the wireless adapter have been loaded. Your alternative to having Windows manage the wireless network is to use the software that comes with the adapter. If you are using a notebook with built-in wireless, you may not have this option. If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed, an enhanced Wireless Networking wizard is available and can be easily accessed in a number of ways, including clicking on the Wireless Network icon in the Windows status bar; clicking on Network Connections or one of the configuration wizards in the Windows Control Panel; or accessing the network adapter properties for your adapter in Network Connections.

With SP2 installed, choosing to "View Available Wireless Networks" opens the Wireless Network Connection wizard. This should show all available networks in the range of your system. To connect to your router, you should have to do little more than select the Network SSID from the list and click on "Connect". Since we have not enabled any security on the router yet, you will probably get a message box warning you that this network is not secure. If all works as it should you will be connected to your wireless router and to any wired network that it is connected to. Congratulations! You have also succeeded in creating a completely unsecured wireless connection, exposing your local network and/or Internet to anyone within wireless range...

If you don't have Service Pack 2, or for that matter - Windows XP, then you will probably have to use the wireless utility that comes with your adapter. Many of these are based on a common core utility so have similar choices and features for your connection settings.
The router menus will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but there should be some common features such as:

• Setting the SSID
• Setting the password
• Setting the wireless channel
• Enabling or Disabling WEP encryption and setting the level of encryption (i.e. 64 or 128-bit)
• Generate or enter WEP encryption key
• Restricting access by MAC address
• Assigning IP addresses or an address range
• Setting the local IP address range
• Setting the Wide Area Network address or automatically obtaining one
• Other enhanced security features may include:
• Enabling or disabling broadcast of the SSID
• Enabling WPA encryption

Security Tip: While most routers and access points require configuring through a physical cable connection, some will allow you access to the setup menus through the wireless connection. For this reason, you should make it a point to change both the name (SSID) and password for your router as the first order of business. Changing the name (SSID) helps identify your specific network, which is more of an issue if there are multiple Wireless networks in your business or immediate neighborhood. Changing the password helps prevent someone from granting themselves access to your network, changing your router settings, or worst-case, locking you out of your own equipment.

Setup Tip: WEP encryption codes can be entered as a hexadecimal string (numbers 0-9 letters a-f), or generated with a text-based pass-phrase. (The pass-phrase is used to create the hexadecimal string.) If the method to generate the string is not consistent between your different clients, you may need to copy the resulting hexadecimal string from one device and then paste or manually enter it into the rest of the network configuration boxes.

1. Type your text string to generate the key on the first system
2. Click on manual key to switch to the resulting hexadecimal code
3. Copy this to a text file
4. Cancel the WEP change (remember that your network is still insecure at this point)
5. Save the text file to your shared folder where the other user can get it over the network
6. Re-enable the WEP security on the both systems and the router, using the manual configuration with the same key you generated.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Feature: The new Wireless Networking Wizard that is part of Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes a method of saving this configuration detail to a USB flash drive (or other storage media) to transfer the necessary settings to other XP SP2 systems.

Additional comments: Hiding your SSID can minimize unauthorized access to your router, but will not prevent it. Programs that monitor the data passing between your system and the router and can easily identify the SSID. Depending on your network settings, your system may be "searching" for the connection even when you are not nearby, transmitting this information even when you are not connected. Your system broadcasts the network SSID whenever you have your wireless configuration set to "connect, even when not in range."

WEP is considered to be a very simple, easy to break encryption. Computers using the appropriate (hacker) programs can break WEP security in just a few hours. WPK and other security protocols offer stronger protection, but whatever method you choose, all of your devices must support it. If you are mixing old and new computers, phones, or other wireless enabled devices, you may have no choice but to use one of the older, more vulnerable encryption modes. While this is better than not using any security, this would never be recommended for any business, or where you might be passing sensitive customer or credit information between wireless systems or exposing data files on the network. Failure to secure your customer information could expose you and your company not just to hackers, but to federal penalties as well.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Troubleshooting Tenda W311U Wireless Adapter will not connect to network

Description: This tutorial will address common connectivity issues with the Tenda W311U wireless adapter.

1. On the keyboard, hold the Windows Key and type the letter R.
2. This will display the Run dialog box. In the box, type msconfig and hit enter.
   
   


3. Click the Services tab along the top, then scroll to the bottom and look for any running services labeled Tenda or W311U (Note: This differs depending on model, software version, etc). It may also be labeled as Wireless Network Configuration and the manufacturer is Unknown
4. Once the proper services are located, uncheck the box to the left to disable it. Once disabled, click Apply in the bottom right.
5. Now, select the Startup tab along the top, and the repeat the same process as above.
   
   


6. Restart the computer.
7. Once the machine powers back up, open Component Services by holding the Windows Key and typing R, then type services.msc into the box and hit enter.
   
   


8. Scroll to the bottom and look for the Windows Wireless Service (in XP, it will be named Wireless Zero Config and in Vista/7, it is called WLAN AutoConfig)
   
   


9. Right-Click on the Windows Wireless Service and click Start. Now, use the Windows Wireless Utility to connect to the network.
   
   

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Troubleshooting USB wireless adaptor turns off or suddenly stops working

Description: This article will provide steps in troubleshooting the problem of a USB wireless adaptor that powers off and stops working.

Problem: Your newly installed USB wireless adaptor powers off or stops working. It is unable to connect to the internet and removing and plugging the USB adaptor seems to work for a while. Removing and reinstalling the software does not resolve the problem, even though the lights on the adaptor are on.

Resolution: The problem for the USB wireless adaptor is that Windows has control of the power management for that device and USB ports themselves. Disabling this feature in device manager should resolve this problem.

To open device manager for Windows Vista or Windows 7:

1. Click on Start, and on the search bar type in "Device Manager". Then press Enter.
   
   


2. In device manager click on the + or triangle for network adaptors.
3. Right click on the wireless adaptor (name will vary), and select properties.
   
   
   
   


4. In the properties window for the wireless card, click on Power Management tab.
5. Remove the checkmark for "Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power."
6. Click on Ok, and restart the computer.
   
   
   
   


7. The wireless USB adaptor will no longer power down or have trouble staying connected to the network.

You can also contact Technical Support here.

How to enable the Wireless Radio on an HP Mini 110 or 210 Series Netbook

Description: This article describes how to enable the wireless radio on an HP Mini 110 or 210 Series Netbook

1. On the keyboard the key used to enable or disable the wireless radio is the F12 key.
2. Press the F12 key which has the symbol . If the radio is switched on the wireless indicator will be white.
3. If the wireless radio is turned off the Wireless Indicator light will be amber.
4. If the radio is turned on or off, the Wireless Assistant icon in the system tray will display the status.

Wireless Connected

Wireless Disconnected

Wireless Disabled

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Troubleshooting no wireless activity on a Dell Inspiron 15r series

This article will provide some initial steps to troubleshoot the problem of not being able to get online wirelessly on a Dell Inspiron 15r series notebook.

Problem: Your new Dell 15r notebook computer is not able to connect to a wireless network. You get an error stating that the wireless card is not active or installed.

Resolution: This is a problem when the wireless card in the Dell 15r series notebook is disabled or not powered on. To resolve this problem we will be activating the wireless card through the function keys on the notebook.

1. Make sure the notebook computer is on and computer is at the windows desktop.
2. Hold down Fn and press F2. This toggles the power on/off for the wireless network card on the notebook. Each time the F2 is pressed, it will cycle on/off for the wireless network card.

Two status icons will appear on the screen when the function keys are pressed:

When the wireless is enabled:



When the wireless is disabled:



For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Tips for Securing Your Wireless Network

1. Set a Router Password
Failing to set or change the default password of your wireless router or access point is probably one of the most common security holes in home networks. The reason is that even if you take all the other suggested steps with SSID, WEP and WPA settings, wireless transmission of data is not 100% secure. If someone succeeds in accessing your network, the security settings in the router cannot be changed without access to the menus. Changing the password helps prevent someone from granting themselves access to your network, changing your router settings, or worst-case, locking you out of your own equipment.



While most routers and access points require configuring the device through a physical cable connection, some will allow you access to the setup menus through the wireless connection. For this reason, you should make it a point to change both the name (SSID) and password for your router as your first order of business.

2. Change the SSID - (Service Set IDentifier)
Many Operating systems and client applications give you some way to browse available wireless networks. Changing the SSID from the manufacturer's default makes it slightly more difficult to determine "known" information about the router (like its capabilities or default passwords.) But if a router is configured not to broadcast the SSID, then a casual passerby will not be able to connect without manually configuring their client settings. This means they either have to monitor wireless activity and capture network packets to analyze, or know the SSID in advance.

When the SSID broadcast feature is disabled on a router, the list of available wireless networks (on the client) will not display it in the list. To access a wireless network router that has the SSID "hidden" you must create a connection setting that has the SSID entered manually. To do this under Windows XP, click on the option to "Change Advanced Settings" in the Wireless Connection Wizard. From here you can add a new connection, specify the SSID (as it was entered in your router) and specify other settings required for the connection such as WEP and the associated encryption keys.

Changing the name (SSID) helps identify your specific network, which can be useful if there are multiple Wireless networks in your business or immediate neighborhood. Hiding the SSID won't keep "them" out, but it will slow "them" down.

3. Turn On Encryption:

WEP - Wired Equivalent Privacy
Security encryption provides a good layer of you can enable for your wireless network is WEP encryption. Although WEP encrypts your data, people using special network utilities may be able to collect enough information to identify the WEP key that is in use. Once they have the SSID and WEP key, then they can access the network. Like the SSID, WEP won't prevent a determined hacker from accessing your network, but it will prevent or discourage the casual "war drivers" and neighbors.

Choices for WEP security may be presented in several ways, but the core features work out to: no encryption, 64-bit encryption or 128-bit encryption. (Microsoft and some of the wireless vendors may describe this as 40 bit and 104 bit encryption.)

WEP encryption codes can be entered as a hexadecimal string (numbers 0-9 letters a-f), or generated with a text-based pass-phrase. (The pass-phrase is used to create the hexadecimal string.) If the method to generate the string is not consistent between your different clients, you may need to copy or manually enter the resulting hexadecimal string from one device, and then paste or manually enter it into the rest of the network configuration boxes.

The Wireless Networking Wizard that is part of Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes a method of saving this configuration detail to a USB flash drive (or other storage media) to transfer the necessary settings to other XP SP2 systems.

WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access)
Some routers and clients may support enhanced security features that are stronger than WEP encryption. WPA automatically rotates or changes the encryption key, making it more difficult for eavesdroppers to determine the codes necessary to access your network. All of your devices must support the feature to be able to take advantage of this, so check your documentation. If you are using equipment from assorted manufacturers, and one piece does not support WPA, then you must decide whether to use WPA - but not with that adapter, or not to use WPA on your network.

4. Use MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering
Most routers support this feature. To determine the hardware (MAC) address for your wireless network adapter, examine the details of your wireless adapter properties or use the text IP configuration utility with the /ALL switch (IPCONFIG /ALL). You can manually enter this address into a client list through the router's setup menus. Once a list of your known adapters has been entered and the MAC filtering feature is active, only devices with these addresses will have access to the router. Again, there are ways around this, but only if the hacker is really determined to get into your equipment.

MAC filtering must be enabled in the router or access point. Once this has been done, there should be a section to select or enter the MAC Address of the wireless client that you want to have access on the network. Devices that are not in the MAC address list will not be able to connect to the network.

The MAC address for your adapter can be found on a label on the adapter itself in most cases, although if this is a wireless adapter built-in to a notebook computer, you will find it easier to just check the network connection status. To do this, open your Network Connections, either from the Control Panel or by right clicking on "My Network Places" and selecting "Properties". Double click on your wireless connection icon to open the status window. Click the "Details" button to display the current configuration details and the MAC address (Physical Address) at the top of the list.

Most routers will allow you to add MAC address from a list of devices that have recently connected to the router. Verify that the MAC address you select is the one that matches your client computer.

5. Other Network Security
Hiding the SSID, using WEP, WPA and MAC Address filtering are all features of Wireless Networking; In addition to these, you should take general Internet and networking security precautions as well. Standard security measures would include Virus Scanning, Firewalls, and restricting your resources being shared.

[caption id="attachment_218" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Antivirus applications like ESET NOD32 can catch individual threats as they get downloaded to your system."][/caption]

Virus Scanning
Virus scanners with current definition files will generally scan any file or attachment that gets saved to your computer. Most Anti-Virus programs scan the files as they arrive, even in the background, blocking or deleting threats before they can infect your system. When sharing your hard drive or directory on the network, most will detect infected files as they arrive, even from "trusted" users on the network.

[caption id="attachment_219" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Malware programs can bypass your antivirus application if the bad guys trick you into installing something. Like antivirus apps, anti-malware apps can be used to keep your system clear of threats."][/caption]

Malware
Unlike viruses, malware can bypass your firewall and even antivirus security because many of these threats are "invited in" by the user. Malware (malicious software) can take several forms, including key-loggers, anti-malware apps, addware, and spyware, just to name some of the more common ones. There has always been a risk to specific programs or browsers, and some malware can target these to attack systems across multiple platforms.

Keep in mind, that any system, Macintosh, PC, or Linux can be infected. Linux is reasonably secure, only because there are so many different versions and implementations available, making it difficult to consturct a program to attack your specific OS. This does not make it invunerable, just less likely to be on the receiving end of most malware.

[caption id="attachment_220" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="A fake security application shows up after users are tricked into installing it - on a Macintosh."][/caption]

Macintosh likewise enjoyed a similar status, being based on Unix, and having a much smaller market share. But that has been changing, and we have seen more malware and viruses both on this platform.

Firewalls
Firewalls are software that monitor and block suspicious network activity. Windows XP has a basic firewall that can be enabled for any network connection, including Wireless connections. Starting with Service Pack 2, a more robust version that allows you more configuration options is installed. Vista and Windows 7 both have more aggressive firewalls than XP.

The main feature of the Windows Firewall is to block external threats from accessing your computer over your network. Third party Firewalls can expand on the features to monitor activity generated by the various programs on your computer, alerting you to suspicious behavior as it occurs. This has the advantage of detecting (and blocking) Spyware and Adware types of software, that are attempting to report your activity or sending personal information out to the Internet.

Resource Sharing
As with any network, you can share printers and files on the network. But without some sort of security, anyone connecting to your network can access these resources. For this reason, sharing your files on the network can be a risk to either privacy or the security of the system itself.

If you share your C: drive for example, you are allowing people on the network access to all of the files on the drive, and not just ones that might be in your pictures or documents folder. There would be network access open to your system files, to the hidden boot files, and to your programs and data files as well.

If an unknown someone were to alter or delete one of the critical system files, it is possible that your system would not be able to start the next time you power on. If a program directory were deleted, that application would have to be re-installed before you could use it again. And if you lose the only copy of your report or thesis paper, you could be out of luck in more ways than one.

What can you do to prevent this type of issue? The easiest way to avoid problems like this is not to share printers and files on the network, but if you need to do so, only share the folder that contains files that you want others to be able to access. In simple terms, share individual folders and not drives.

You can also restrict access to files that are being shared by creating a read-only share. When you share a folder, one of the options is to "Allow others to make changes to the files." By leaving this check box blank, others can access your shared folder and the files you place inside, but they cannot delete or change the files themselves.

If you want to get really paranoid under Windows XP Professional (sorry, not supported with the Home version), or you just like the level of control that was standard in Windows NT or Windows 2000, then turn off "Simple File Sharing" under the folder options. When this feature is disabled, you can set security and access permissions for folders or individual files. Additional levels of security can be set, allowing you to allow one user read-only access, and another full-modification access. You can prevent the folder directory from being shown, but allow access to a file if they know the name.

To enable or disable simple file sharing under Windows XP, open My Computer, select "Folder Options" from the Tools menu, select the "View" tab and scroll to the bottom of the checkmark list. To be able to grant permissions to a specific user, you will have to add users from "User Accounts" in the control panel. If you get thoroughly confused after looking at this, change it back by replacing the check mark next to "Use Simple File Sharing".

Tenda W268R Basic Setup and Configuration

This How-To Guide will walk you through installing your Tenda W268R router for basic internet access.

1. Unplug all network cables from the modem, computer and router (if applicable).
2. Unplug the power from the modem and the power from the router, and shut down the computer.
3. Take one end of the existing Ethernet cable and plug it into the modem in the Internet port, then plug the other end of the same cable into the blue WAN port on the router.
   
   
   
   
4. Take the Ethernet cable that came with the router and plug one end into one of the four yellow numbered ports on the router and plug the other end of the same cable into the computer.
   Though the intent may be to use the router wirelessly a hard wired connection is required for setup.
   
5. Plug the power back into the modem and wait one full minute, then plug the power into the router. Wait one full minute, and then turn the computer back on.
6. Click on the Start button, choose All Programs and click on Internet Explorer.
7. In the address bar at the top of the Internet Explorer window, type “192.168.0.1” (without the quotes) and press the Enter key.
   
   
   
   
8. In the window that appears requesting a username and password enter the username “admin” (without the quotes) and the password “admin” (without the quotes) and click OK.
9. Once the setup wizard is displayed click Next to proceed with setup.
   If the type of internet connection is unknown it can be determined by contacting the internet service provider.
10. Once setup is complete, click on System Tools on the left, choose Reboot, and then click the Reboot The Router button.
    
    
    
    
11. Once the router has been rebooted on the left side of the screen click on WLAN Settings.
12. On the right there will be an option for SSID which will by default be either “Tenda” or “WIRELESS_N.” Clear that text and change the SSID to whatever the desired network name is and click Save Settings.
    
    
    
    The SSID is the name of the wireless network that will be broadcast wirelessly.
    
13. Click on WLAN Settings on the left, then beneath WLAN Settings click on Security Settings.
    
    
    
    
14. Under Security Mode select WPA2 Personal.
15. In the Pass Phrase field enter a password of at least 8 characters that includes at least one letter and one number. Write down this password as it is required to connect to the wireless network.
16. Click Save Settings.
17. In the address bar at the top of the Internet Explorer window type “www.microcenter.com” (without the quotes) to verify internet connectivity.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Troubleshooting Wireless Network Settings in Windows 7

This article will help you troubleshoot the Windows 7 error message "The settings saved on this computer for the network do not match the requirements of the network." It is typically a result of a wireless profile being created for the network incorrectly or connecting to a wireless network of the same name with different security settings.

1. Click on the Wireless Icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click on the Open Network and Sharing Center option.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on Manage Wireless Networks in the top left.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click on the name of the network you are trying to connect to and then click Remove just above the networks.
   
   
   
   
   
5. When prompted for verification of removal, click Yes.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Close out of the Manage Wireless Networks window and click on the wireless icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
   
   
   
   
   
7. Click on the wireless network you want to connect to and choose Connect.
   
   
   
   
   
8. When prompted, enter the security key to connect to the wireless network and click OK.
   
   
   

The wireless network should now connect correctly.

How to Connect an iPad to a Wireless Network

1. Start at the "Home" Screen on the iPad and select the Settings icon.

2. Next Select "Wi-Fi" on the left to check if wireless is turned on.

3. If "Wi-Fi" is off, Slide the Wi-Fi button to the right until it states "On".

4. Once the Wi-Fi is on, the iPad will display all the networks within range.

5. Select the network to connect to and once the connection is established, push the "Home" button. Now all the iPad applications can access the wireless network and the Internet.

How to Change your Router Password

It's important to keep your computer and your network secure. When connecting to the Internet through a router, one of the steps you can take is replacing the default router username and password with one that is unique to you. This helps to prevent unauthorized changes to your network, and creates an added layer of security. This document contains information specific to Linksys routers but the steps are largely the same. If you have questions that are not answered in this document, we recommend you look in the manual that came with your router.

This guide will show you how to change the Username and Password used to log in to your router.

1. Make sure your computer is connected to the router via cable or wirelessly.
2. Open Internet Explorer.
3. In the address bar located at the top of the screen, erase whatever address is in the bar and replace it with "192.168.1.1" without the quotes. Note that some routers use the address "192.168.0.1" so if it does not work right away, try the second option.
   
   
   
   
   
4. When prompted for a username and password, enter "admin" without the quotes for both the username and the password. Note that some routers differ in their default username and password. If that fails, check the manual that came with your router.
5. Once logged in, choose the Administration tab on the top, seen selected in the figure below. Note that in some routers it may be on a "Setup" or "Configuration" screen. The example seen here is on a Linksys router.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Erase the existing Router Password and type in the new one. Re-Enter your password to Confirm. We recommend you write this information down and store it in a safe place.
7. Click the Save Settings or Apply button on the bottom to finalize.
That's it! The new username and password are entered. Test it out by restarting your computer and then following steps 1-3 and then entering your new username and password.

How to Setup a Home Network

A network can give you the ability to share files between computers, share hardware like printers, share a single Internet connection, or get your game console online without having to swap cables.

The most basic home network involves connecting two computers with an Ethernet cable. Using a router provides convenience, expansion, and easy maintenance should your network grow.

This guide will provide the basics to setting up a home network.

Depending on the type of network you are setting up, the connections the computers and devices make could be wired or wireless. Wireless routers are very convenient because you don't have to worry about running wires through walls or around rooms. Wired routers are usually faster and are not subject to interference from cordless phones or other items that create RF interference. No matter what type of router you have selected, it will require power and when it is powered on, various LEDs let you know devices are connected or the device is working.

Setting Up a Router:

1. Find a convenient location to start the process. It doesn't have to be the permanent location. You may need to move it around to accommodate cables or signal strength.

2. Connect the power and follow the instructions on powering the router.

3. Connect the router to your modem. This is usually a network cable that goes from a port labeled WAN, Internet, or Uplink on the router to a port on the modem.

4. Power cycle the modem (turn it off, then turn it on) to make sure the router recognizes the modem.

5. Connect one computer to the router. You only need to connect one at this point so you can configure the router settings.

6. Open Internet Explorer.

7. In the address bar located at the top of the screen, erase whatever address is in the bar and replace it with "192.168.1.1" without the quotes. Most routers use this address or "192.168.0.1". Consult your router documentation to determine the exact address for yours.

8. Using the username and password supplied in your router documentation, log in to the administration tool.

9. Make changes to the default configuration depending on your particular needs.


Here are some basic things to look for:

1. Connection type. Are you using DSL? Most DSL providers use PPPoE. It requires a Username and password supplied by your ISP. If you are on cable broadband there are generally no settings that need to be changed just leave it on Automatic, or DHCP.

2. If this is a wireless router, change the network name from the default setting. If it's a wired router, change the username and password to something unique to you.

3. Take advantage of any other security options the router may offer. Features like WPA or WiFi Protected Access on a wireless router, Port Filtering, and Firewalls, when enabled can help protect against unauthorized access to your router and your network.

Ok, so now the router is set up and you can get one computer on the Internet, what's next?
Well, one of the main advantages to using a router is it allows you to share resources with all the computers on your network. Getting those resources on the network just requires you to connect the devices to the router either by cable on a wired router or through the WiFi technology of a wireless router.

Some of the devices you can connect are:

• Notebook or Netbook computers
• Printers
• Game consoles

Just make sure the devices you want to connect work the same way as your router whether it's wired or not and consult the manufacturer's information for details specific to that device.

Wireless Networking

For Day 3 of our Networking-focused week, we are going to discuss wireless networking. This article explains what is wireless networking and how wireless security works:

What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity is a wireless network connection used both in the home and for business purposes. All laptops and some desktops come equipped with wireless adapters to connect to Wi-Fi networks.

There are two primary types of Wi-Fi on the market today, both of which function on the 2.4GHz wireless frequency.

Wireless G, which has a maximum speed of 54Mbps and a maximum range of up to 100 feet outdoors. Indoors, the signal range can be reduced to less than 30 feet depending on the number of walls between the computer and the wireless router.

Wireless N, which has a maximum speed of 300Mbps and a maximum range of up to 300 feet outdoors. Indoors, the signal range can be reduced to less than 50 feet depending on the number of walls between the computer and the wireless router.

Wireless Security
Wireless Security prevents unauthorized access to wireless networks. The wireless signal in a home is accessible outside the walls of the residence and if a malicious user uses the network for illegal activities, the owner and operator of the network can be held accountable.

There are two primary types of wireless security, WPA and WEP. Both security measures use security keys or encryption keys to protect the network.

WEP is compatible with almost all devices, but the security can be broken by an experienced hacker given time. WEP also uses a longer security key that is typically random letters and numbers.

WPA and WPA2 is slightly less compatible but is far more secure, also uses a shorter, easier to remember security key. Most wireless devices made in the last five years support WPA and WPA2.

Reference:
D-Link. Support Glossary.
http://bit.ly/e7WjlF

Linksys. Learning Center.
http://bit.ly/gJQpdO

Networking 101

This week, we are going to focus on networking - specifically setting up your own home network and troubleshooting hardware issues.

Today, we are going to provide some frequently asked questions and solutions for setting up your router:

Q: How can I protect my router from unauthorized wireless access?
A: Wireless routers can be secured from unauthorized access and hackers by adding a wireless security key or encryption key. For more information, see the manual included with the router either in paper form or on the setup disc.

Q: Which wireless security type is the most secure?
A: WPA2 is the most secure wireless network encryption type. For additional security, use a password of at least ten characters with mixed letters, numbers and special characters.

Q: What is WiFi Protected Setup (WPS)?
A: WiFi Protected Setup or WPS is a system that allows the wireless networking function of the router to be set up without physical connection using a PIN.

Q: What is the difference between a Router and a Switch?
A: First, a router can also provide wireless network access. The purpose of a router is to join the WAN (Wide Area Network, or The Internet) with your LAN (Local Area/Home Network) for the purpose of Internet connection sharing, as well as local file sharing. A switch allows one computer to access the Internet and other machines must connect to the Internet through that machine.

Q: How can my router be reset to its factory settings?
A: There is a reset button on the back of the router in pin-hole labeled Reset. While the router is on, press this reset button for 30 seconds, then reset the router by unplugging the power and it will be back at factory settings.

Q: Does my router have a built-in firewall?
A: Yes, by default a router will not allow incoming connections unless specified by a local program or port forward setup.