If a household has only one Internet-enabled PC, which is fought over by members of the family, perhaps more PCs linked by an easy-to-install wireless network will help settle the arguments.
With a wireless network, everyone can connect to the Internet at the same time, anywhere in the house. Best of all, there will be no unsightly wiring to deal with.
What`s more, photographs and MP3 music files can be shared with one another over the network.
And if the stereo system is linked into the network - it takes just a few components - music can wirelessly stream to this system and favourite tunes can be heard through "proper" speakers instead of the less-than-adequate PC speakers.
For those concerned with security, a wireless network enables barriers to be set up, such as firewalls, that eliminate viruses and use password protection to keep prying eyes away from sensitive financial and other information.
What to buy?
Let`s assume two or more PCs and perhaps a printer need to be connected. A wireless router is required to connect the network to the outside world via a dial-up or ADSL network. An 802.11g wireless access point is needed to connect the router to the PCs and other devices on the network.
Each device will also have to have a PC wireless network adapter installed. This is a five minute job on most PCs.
Setting up
The wireless router is the heart of the wireless network. Setup procedures vary from product to product, but they are generally similar. Most routers will work with a cable or DSL connection.
The first step is to connect the router to a PC, so the router can be configured with the necessary Internet settings.
Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the PC`s Ethernet port and plug the other end into the "LAN port" on the router which may be numbered or colour coded.
In most cases the router will feed the necessary information to the PC, enabling the two devices to communicate.
To access the router`s configuration tool, find the router`s default IP address in the product manual and type it into the Web browser`s address block. Furnishing a user name and password may be required.
Once the router is configured with the information for the Internet service provider, the router is ready to be connected to the modem.
Plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the "WAN port" on the router - which may be specially colour coded. Plug the other end into the Ethernet port on the modem.
Check the status lights on the front of the router to make sure the necessary ports and interfaces are active.
Use a browser from a connected laptop to make sure the Internet connection is working properly.
Once the router is set up, a wireless adapter needs to be installed on the PC in order to connect to the network. This functionality can be added either through USB ports or internal PCI slots.
USB adapters are easier to install - simply plug in - while PCI adapters allow the necessary hardware to be hidden inside the case. Note that many laptop PCs come with their own integrated wireless adapters.
Once the adapter is installed it should automatically connect to the wireless router.
Optimising the network
In the wireless world, faster is better. This applies across the spectrum, from business to gaming applications.
In order to speed up data transmission across the wireless network, the first step is to look carefully at antenna placements.
The continually variable speeds of typical wireless (WiFi) transmission can change drastically depending on interference from other wireless devices such as cordless phones, and even the presence of nearby metal objects.
Extending the reach
To extend the reach of the network out to the pool area or the garden cottage, for example, then an omni-directional antenna, together with wall-mounted wireless extender will do the trick - and they`re both easy to install.
Generally, the best performance will be gained from a wireless network if the router or access point is placed near the centre of the network - in the middle of the area to be covered.
This might not always be practical from a wiring standpoint as the router has to be linked via Ethernet cable to the access point. Homes are - aesthetically speaking - generally less accepting of ad-hoc wiring installations than offices.
But a neat trick is to use the electrical wiring installation to assist. Plug a "home plug" wireless adapter into a 220 volt plug socket where the router is situated and position the access point in the centre of the network and link it via another adapter to the nearest 220 volt socket.
The results are amazing.
* Fred Lu is the MD of Corex, a leading South African distributor of computer equipment and peripheral products.
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