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Building your wireless network
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Building your wireless network: Step by step
Step 1: Wireless networks need broadband
You can use a wireless network without an Internet connection, but you won't be able to surf the web! So first, check your broadband. Do you get it over your phone line, or by cable? The higher the speed, the better.
Step 2: Check your range
If you have a big house or thick walls, you need to consider the range of your wireless network. Wireless equipment has either a Standard or Wide range. Standard is fine for most homes, but if your home has many rooms or you like to use your laptop in the back yard, choose equipment with a Wide range. It'll make sure your wireless network is accessible everywhere in your house – even your garden!
Step 3: Speed and Coverage
When selecting a router you will need to consider what you will be using it for and over what distances you will need to work from the base unit. In general terms speed and coverage work hand in hand, so a faster router will have a larger range.
As you look through our range of routers you will notice they have been colour coded to make choosing the right one simple. The four standards G, G+, N and N1 indicate the speed and range of the router. The table below compares these standards and their recommended uses.
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Ideal for: |
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Ideal for: | All uses – N1 gives you the fastest solution and interference free connection | |
Step 4: Connect a wireless router
Going wireless is easy, all you need is a router, then for each computer (PC or laptop) or device you want to connect to the wireless network, you'll need a USB adaptor or laptop card. Many new PCs and laptops come with WiFi already built in so you may not need an adaptor or card, just a router.
If your PC or laptop doesn't have WiFi built in then you'll need a card or adaptor. To get the best speed and range it is advisable to match the card or adaptor to the router to ensure you get the maximum performance i.e. a G+ router requires a G+ card or adaptor.
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| Cable - (Virgin Media) You need: | Phone line - (BT, AOL, Tiscali) You need: |
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You might also require:
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Step 5: Equip your devices wirelessly
Almost all computers can connect to your wireless network with a USB adaptor – a small device that fits into a USB port. But many laptops come with wireless networking built-in, so you don't need any extra equipment. You can connect other devices like printers and hard disks too – look at USB print servers or NAS (network attached storage).
Don't forget
Once your laptop's wireless-equipped, you'll be able to use it at public 'hotspots' too – areas with wireless access provided by third parties as a free or subscription service. Look for hotspots in airports, shopping centres and coffee shops.
Step 6: Prepare to print wirelessly
A wireless USB printer server brings your printer into the wireless network, letting you print documents from any computer, in any room in your house. You can share one printer between as many computers as you want.
Other features
Security – you can password protect your network while setting it up. It’s easily done with the Quick Start guide accompanying your router. This stops any other computers from ‘tapping into’ your network. Many routers also have built in firewall protection, giving you further peace of mind.
Plug & play – this feature on some routers allows simple connection and set-up with minimum fuss.
LCD display – top of the range routers now come with LCD displays to show you things like connection speeds, bandwidth usage and network status. This is great for people who are serious about their network stability and performance.
Ports – many wireless routers come with Ethernet ports allowing you to connect peripherals using a cable. Great for things such as a hard drive, allowing fast file sharing for all computers in your home. The more ports that you have, the more equipment you can connect to the wireless network.