The appeals of Wireless network installation are numerous. The first, of course, is a limit to the number of wires running through a home or office. A wireless network also allows for a very simple installation, since your knowledge of wiring and electrical work can be minimal, but still be adequate for installing a wireless network.

Additionally, the wireless configuration allows you to have a great deal of flexibility in how you locate equipment around the home or office.

In order to set up a wireless network that is internet ready, you will need only two primary components.

The first is wireless LAN (or Local Area Network) cards. It's important that each PC on the network have its own wireless card.

They need to be inserted into an unused PCI slot located inside of a PC. The antenna portion of the card should be at the back of the PC with the antenna extending up.

Installing the LAN card is not a complicated operation, and can be accomplished by a novice in computer installation. Simply open the computer case carefully and find the slot where the LAN card fits. There is likely only one available, but any computer that does not have a built in wireless system will have a LAN slot.

Ground yourself by touching something metal or plastic to dispel static, then screw the card into the slot with the screws provided. Make the electrical connections, replace the PC covers, then start up the computer. You'll need to intall drivers specifically for that LAN card. Repeat for each computer that will be on the network.

The second component of a basic wireless network is the wireless router. These routers allow you to share a single internet connection between numerous computers. Depending on the router's specifications, they can accommodate between four and sixteen computers on a single wireless router.

If you have internet from your cable provider, they may have supplied a cable modem, but those are rarely wireless. You'll need to plug a wireless router into the modem, then route your PCs through it. If you have a DSL or ADSL connection, purchase a DSL modem.

You'll then configure your network. Log onto your router/modem through your PC. Read the owner's manual for the router for specific directions. You'll want to direct it to automatically assign IP addresses to any PC attached to it. It's recommended that you stick to basic network configurations and use the 192.168.01 as the first IP address and the 0.9 as the ending address, which gives you the potential for eight additional devices to be installed, if you like.

You want your router to be the primary gateway and also the primary DNS, so both of these boxes should be set to the router IP (182.168.0.1). Other boxes should be blank or contain default indicators.

The next step is to go to the Network Connections screen in a PC start menu, right click on wireless network and go through properties to indicate that you want the router to obtain an IP address automatically.

Related Reading:

Reflections on teaching in a wireless laptop lab.: An article from: International Journal of Instructional MediaThis digital document is an article from International Journal of Instructional Media, published by Thomson Gale on September 22, 2005. The length of the article is 4800 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Reflections on teaching in a wireless laptop lab.
Author: William Beasley
Publication: International Journal of Instructional Media (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 22, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 32 Issue: 4 Page: 343(10)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Wireless laptops for faculty: boon or bane?: An article from: Journal of Technology and Teacher EducationThis digital document is an article from Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, published by Thomson Gale on March 22, 2006. The length of the article is 1825 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Wireless laptops for faculty: boon or bane?
Author: John R. Savery
Publication: Journal of Technology and Teacher Education (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2006
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Page: 167(6)

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Programming Applications with the Wireless Application Protocol: The Complete Developer's GuideWAP (Wireless Application Protocol) is the standard that allows for sharing of data and applications between the next generation of wireless laptops, personal digital assistants, and other handheld devices. Written with the support and cooperation of the team at Unwired Planet who created the standard, this third volume in the celebrated WAP series is the official WAP programming guide.

Technorati Tags: b, broadband, c, computer;internet, computers, e, electronics, i, internet, l, laptop, n, networks, o, onsite repair, r, recycling, t, technology, v, virtual, w, wireless, wireless laptop computer, wireless network

A wireless broadband network refers to the wireless set of technological connections that link customers to an internet service provider without the use of land based cable lines. Wireless broadband is available in Internet cafs, local entertainment establishments, businesses, homes, government buildings, hospitals, and much more.

With wireless broadband, you can access the internet without the use of traditional cable wires. It can be used by individuals and businesses that spend a great deal of time on the go traveling from one fixed location to another. It is also useful for people living in rural and somewhat isolated areas. The main use of the wireless broadband network is for connecting LANs to the internet that allows for the connection of services such as data, voice, and video, over the same pipe. Instead of linking to the device through a mesh of wires, the computer picks up transmitted signals from radio wave towers. The device receives the information and then this information is changed into a radio signal which is received by a Wi-Fi adapter located within the computer.

How does Wireless Broadband Work? Wireless broadband uses short-range radio waves to create a specified coverage area where computers can be networked without wires. The broadband network consists of a series of towers that are placed in the radio wave coverage area. This allows wireless service providers to deliver high speed internet access anywhere in the coverage area, without the use of cables and telephone lines that are normally associated with traditional broadband and dialup access.

The Wireless network installation is plugged into a wireless router. You can fit wireless cards into a computer, either by opening the computer up and placing the card inside, or by plugging it in using a cable or a port. When you fit these cards and turn on your computer, a box should pop up that asks you which wireless network you want to connect to. Your router should automatically create a network. You choose the appropriate network which then allows you to access the Internet.

Users can purchase a PC card, laptop card, or USB equipment to connect a personal computer or laptop to the Internet by means of cell phone towers. To set up the hardware for a wireless network, you will require a wireless adapter, router and switch, and a wireless broadband modem. There are cables that have to run from the wireless broadband modem to the desktop. However, the actual Internet signal is broadcasted wirelessly and can be picked up by remote computers or laptops. Since wireless broadband is transmitted via radio waves, you should make sure that you implement secure passwords to ensure that people cannot illegally connect to your network and computer. It is essential that home users install the proper security measures

Wireless Broadband Benefits Wireless broadband has all the benefits of traditional forms of broadband. It consists of high speed internet, no need for land lines to access the internet, the convenience of accessing the internet anywhere that wireless is offered, no need for a technician installation, and the price is not any different than traditional network services. You can use your broadband anywhere and enjoy high speed internet access whenever you need it. Wireless broadband access is normally not any slower than using a modem.

As computer technology evolves and people are now becoming more mobile in their everyday lives, including their work lives, wireless broadband is becoming an essential means of communication.

Technorati Tags: b, broadband, Broadband Internet, c, communications, computer;internet, computers, e, electronics, i, internet, l, laptop, n, networks, o, onsite repair, r, recycling, t, technology, v, virtual, w, wireless, wireless laptop computer, wireless network