Home Wireless Network Setup is becoming common task to do recent days with the portability feature of the wireless devices offered by the networking manufacturers. The speeds of Wireless devices are getting faster with the new standards wireless –N technology and the longer distances to cover with the MIMO antenna technology. Many all-in-one modem-routers are shipped by the manufacturers to the market to allow users with lack of knowledge in Setting up Home Wireless Network feel confident in building a wireless network at home.
Setting up Home Wireless Network usually means to share the broadband internet connection with some computers within the household, share the files, share a single multi-function printer, play multiplayer games, streaming the HD video and other media, and even go XBOX Live game wirelessly from the comfort of the living room with your large and smooth HDTV. Home Wireless Network Setup is getting easier with multi-function modem-router which combines the functions of modem, router/firewall, a Switch LAN, and a Wireless access point. It is easy to setup and widely compatible with various wireless devices with the Wi-Fi Certified label.
Wireless Network Diagram
Setting up Home Wireless Network using the multi-function DSL modem router is relatively easy even by users with less networking knowledge. Locate the DSL port (typically with RJ-11 port) and connect to the phone line. Consult with your ISP to setup the WAN IP address which is commonly supplied by the ISP either dynamically assigned automatically or assigned with a static IP address.
One phone call to the ISP, then your wireless environment is ready to live. Have a look at the wireless network diagram below that will help you configure your Home Wireless Network Setup using multi-function all-in-one wireless modem routers.
Home Wireless Network Diagram
What if you use the modem and the router separately? It is common that the ISP supplied you the modem when you signup for a broadband internet services that connects to a single computer using USP connection. How to create a wireless network with the existing modem? You need to purchase a wireless router. I recommend that you purchase the wireless router that is powered by the future technology – draft 802.11n standards. If you would like to use the network mostly for gaming with your XBOX, consider the wireless router designed for gaming.
The following figure is the configuration of the wireless network diagram using separate modem and the wireless router.
Wireless router and modem diagram
Firstly you need to configure the connection diagram starting from the modem either Cable modem or DSL modem. As usual, connect the WAN port of the modem to the DSL line (RJ-11 port) or the Cable line (depends on the modem and whether you are using Cable or ADSL services). Secondly you need to connect the LAN port (RJ-45) of the modem (typically marked with the yellow port – but not always) to the WAN port (RJ-45) of the wireless router.
Connect the computer or laptop to the router and run the installation wizard CD shipped with the router on purchase. After setting up the Router with the Setup Wizard (located on the CD-ROM), the Router will be ready for use. If you’d like to change its advanced settings, use the Router’s web-based utility.
That’s all, as a minimum your Home Wireless Network Setup is completed. You can connect the computers with Wi-Fi enabled on the network coverage easily and automatically.
IP Address Assignment
By default, setting up Home Wireless Network doesn’t need to worry about the IP address assignment to the computers since mostly all the wireless routers (and all-in-one modem-routers) support the DHCP services which are enabled by default. If you know nothing about the DHCP server, just leave the default setting.
Security
Up to here, setting up Home Wireless Network is completed but your network is vulnerable to eavesdropping by people around the network coverage. Because wireless networking operates by sending information over radio waves, it can be more vulnerable to intruders than a traditional wired network. They can easily penetrate into your network and espionage everything they would like to know about your private network if your wireless network is not secured. At least they have a free Internet connection from your open wireless network.
Setting up home wireless network for secure connection can be done by enabling the wireless security encryption typically by accessing the web-based utility supported by the routers. To access the web-based utility, launch the web browser on your computer, and enter the Router’s default IP address, typically 192.168.1.1 for Linksys or consult your router manual book for the default IP address of the router.
Types in your browser http://192.168.1.1 (The default IP address) then press Enter. A password request screen will appear. Enter the user-name and password (consult with the router manual book for default user-name and password). Locate the administration management and select the wireless security management.
The Wireless Security settings configure the security of your wireless network. Depends on your router, typically there are six wireless security mode options supported by the Router:
- WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) Personal,
- WPA Enterprise,
- WPA2 Personal,
- WPA2 Enterprise,
- RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service),
- WEP
The above lists are typical wireless –N router security options available. For legacy wireless –G devices or wireless –B devices, typically there is only WEP and or WPA. For advanced setting you should consult with your manual book for more detail configuration options.
Check also wireless troubleshooting, setting up a wireless router
Suggested reading: building a wireless network, wireless USB network adapter
