Home Wireless Network


How to setup a home wireless network - a brief introduction

A wireless network is fairly easy and relatively inexpensive to set up especially with the prices of hardware dropping all the time and the more user-friendly programs provide additional assistance. A wireless network is a great alternative to a wired network that offers several benefits and greater flexibility. Setting one up is easier than you might think.

With a wireless network you can access your email, read blogs, and shop from almost anywhere in your house or even from outside on the porch or in the backyard by the pool.

Every wireless network begins with a main router or access point that you're going to connect through. This is going to be the "brain" of your home network. Then you'll have your notebook or wireless card sometimes referred to as a NIC card. Most laptops nowadays have them already installed. With most setups these days you can get your network setup with the "Windows network setup wizard" already installed with Windows XP Service Pack 2.

You can also use the network setup wizard to help you setup your security settings on the wireless network. That is one thing you have to worry about more with a wireless network than a wired network and that is security. One concern of a wireless network is unless you take certain security precautions, anyone with a wireless card and a laptop can use your network. Make sure you secure it. Most out-of-the-box wireless devices have their security settings turned off by default so be sure you turn these on.

The ultimate security measure for any wireless network is to shut it down, or turn off your access points when you are not using them.

Browse through this website for more tips on setting up and securing your wireless network. You'll also find some hacks to boost the performance of your network. Enjoy.