How to Connect Your Netbook to a Wireless Network

One of the great benefits of a netbook or mini laptop is the ease with which they can be carried as they are so small and light. It makes sense to take full advanTAGe of this by setting up a wireless network that eliminates the need for wires and allows you to connect to the Internet via broadband whenever the netbook is switched on, and to share the connection between more than one Computer if you wish.

Types of broadband

There are two types of broadband service - ADSL, which uses the telephone lines, and Cable, which uses a cable network. Both require a piece of equipMent called a "router" in order to work, and they are different for each service. Make sure you have the right type of router for your broadband service or it will not work.

Why go wireless?

If you use a wired router connection from an ADSL or cable modem you can only connect a single Computer as there is only one network (Ethernet) port leading from the router to the Computer. However, with a wireless router you can connect the Ethernet cable to the router which will than broadcast the wireless signal to as many computers as you want.

Types of Router

When you first register for broadband with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) you will be sent a router which you must install yourself so that you can connect a computer to it. Occasionally, if you have a cable service (like Virgin Media or NTL in the UK), an engineer will visit your home and fit a "cable modem" for you first. You will still have to connect the router to it yourself though.

How to Set Up a Network

To set-up a wired connection, all you have to do is follow a few simple steps; you attach a cable from the telephone socket (or cable modem) to the router and another cable from the router to the computer, power up, configure the router, set up security and you're done. Every ISP provides detailed instructions on how to set this up specifically for their service, so keep the instructions and follow them.

Each computer will need a wireless card (or adapter) to read this signal and connect to the Internet, but most modern laptops and all netbooks have this built in. If you set up a wireless network in your home or office, you can connect to the Internet, share printers and even files between any computers connected to the network - that way, any computer can send Jobs to the printer.

To set up a wireless network you need the following components:

a broadband internet connection (either ADSL or cable) depending on your ISP, a modem Filters and/or signal splitter for an ADSL phone line a wireless router and two network cables a computer with a built in wireless networking card or If it's not built in, a wireless network adapter for each computer

Setting up your Wireless Broadband Internet

Once you have everything you need, set up the wireless network as follows:

Step 1

Plug the Filter into the phone socket, then the cable from the Filter into the ADSL modem

Step 2

Plug network Cable 1 into the ADSL modem

Step 3

Turn on the power into the modem

Step 4

Plug the other end of Cable 1 into the router

Important: If you don't have a modem, connect the Filter (microfilter) to the phone socket then connect the telephone line from the filter directly into the back of your router.

Step 5

Turn the power to the router on

Step 6

Plug Cable 2 into the router

Step 7

Plug Cable 2 into the Ethernet port of the computer

Step 8

Turn on the computer and open a browser

Step 9

Type in the default IP adDress (192.168.1.1) to open the configuration panel

Step 10

Configure the router as follows:

default username is usually "admin"

default password is usually "admin"

enter the network key (SSID)

Step 11

Set security options

choose either WEP or WPA-PSK

choose the encryption type

When you finish configuring the router, unplug the Ethernet cable from the computer. You should now be able to locate available networks from the icon in the system tray in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. Locate the network you have just set up and choose connect.

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