
Getting Started and Connecting to a Wireless Network. Table of Contents: What is Wireless? What are the Different Types of Wireless Technology? What is Needed to set up a Wi- Fi Network.
If a wireless network has been configured not to broadcast the SSID, it will not be detected and will not appear in the list of available wireless networks.
What is a Wi- Fi Network Name (SSID)? What is a Wi- Fi Security (Network) Key? How Do I Create a Wi- Fi Security (Network) Key? What are the Different Types of Wi- Fi Networks? What is the Best Place to Locate a Wi- Fi Router?
Setting up a Wireless Network. Connect to Your Wireless (Wi- Fi) Network. How Do I Find my Wireless Network Name.



Getting the Wireless Network Name Directly from the Wireless Router. How Do I Find my Wireless Network Key. Troubleshoot Problems Finding Wireless Networks. This article contains information that will help familiarize you with what wireless is, the different types of technologies that are considered wireless as well as how to set up a wireless (Wi- Fi) network and connect to it. What is Wireless? For the purpose of this document, Wireless is defined as the means to move information from one computer, Person Digital Assistant (PDA) or Smart. Phone to another by using radio waves instead of wires.

Solved How does changing Network Mode in Router to "Wireless B/G only" affect my connection to other devices in home Network? Wireless Network Watcher is a new utility that scans your wireless network and displays the list of all computers and devices that are currently connected to your. Solve Connected to the Wi-Fi/Wireless but No Internet Connection on Windows 8 and Windows 7. Edited by Daniel, Eng, Dgette, VisiHow and 4 others.
The radio wave is modulated similar to Television and FM signals to carry information along with the wave. For computer, PDA or Smart. Phone communication the distances will generally be short (less than 2. For Mobile Broadband adapters (cellular) the distance will depend on the terrain and the number of cellular towers nearby. Back to Top. 2. What are the different types of Wireless Technology? There are many different types of wireless devices you use every day without giving it a second thought. Cell phones, cordless phones and remote controls for your TV are just a few everyday devices that use wireless technology.
Wireless technology for computers, can be just as easy and carefree to use when setup correctly. For the rest of the document when referring to Wireless it's talking about wireless technology for computers. Wireless technology for computers is divided into different types. Each type of wireless technology is covered in a different section. Each technology has its own uses, processes and standards. Below is a list of the different technologies with a brief explanation that will be covered. Wireless Local Area Networking - Referred to as WLAN or Wi- Fi.
This type of wireless is used to get to the Internet and connect other devices such as computers, PDAs, Smart. Phone and printers just to name a few.
Bluetooth. This technology is used to connect devices such as Bluetooth keyboards, mice, stereo headsets, PDA's and Smart. Phone's. Many people already use this technology to connect wireless headset to cell phones. Mobile Broadband - Also called Wireless Wide Area Networking (WWAN).
Mobile Broadband uses cellular service to provide access to the Internet. Mobile Broadband technology is used in cell phones that can connect to the Internet. It requires a data enabled cellular service which is not available in all areas. Wireless USB - This technology recently became available.
It allows a wireless connection from a computer to a Wireless USB hub. USB devices are then connected to the Wireless USB hub and the hub acts as a bridge. The range is very short (1. Back to Top. 3. What is Needed to set up a Wi- Fi Network.
In order to connect to the Internet wirelessly certain hardware and services are needed which are listed below. Without any one of these items connection to the internet is not possible. The range typically will be limited (less than 2. Wi- Fi Network Adapter - This is usually a device located inside the computer. If you do not know if you have a wireless card installed contact the manufacture of the computer to find out. Wi- Fi Broadband Router - A router is used to connect all of your computers to a wireless network.
The router also provides a way to connect to the Internet. Broadband Internet Service Provider (ISP) - Telephone (DSL) and Cable TV companies usually offer Internet service. Back to Top. 4. What is a Wi- Fi Network Name (SSID)?
A Wi- Fi network name (SSID) is the name that your wireless router broadcast (like a radio station) that allows you to identify your wireless router from your neighbors. The SSID that your wireless router has when you take it out of the box needs to be changed during the initial set up using the CD that came with the wireless router, it needs to be between 1 to 3. It is case sensitive, which means when you decide on the SSID you will have to put it in each computer exactly as it was put in the router. It should not include your address, name or anything else that will identify who you are. Back to Top. 5. What is a Wi- Fi Security (Network) Key? A Wi- Fi security (network) key is very similar to a door key, it protects yourself from unknown people getting on your wireless network.
Below is a list of the three types of wireless security offered for home and small business users as well as their strength in relation to the others. It is recommended that the wireless network be configured with the highest level of security that the wireless devices have in common. Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)Low protection. WEP is one of the original security types. Every home wireless router supports WEP even the latest models to make it compatible with every wireless network adapter. While WEP is better than no security the network key used to encrypt the wireless data can be broken in as little as a few minutes.
Wi- Fi Protected Access (WPA)Medium protection. WPA was developed to close the security holes that WEP has. It uses several mechanisms to prevent the network key from being broken but still uses the same encryption method as WEP. Wi- Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2)Highest protection.
WPA2 has been implemented has the highest form of security for home and small businesses. It takes the mechanisms used by WPA and uses a more secure encryption method. Back to Top. 6. How Do I Create a Wi- Fi Security (Network) Key? WPA and WPA2. WPA and WPA2 uses letters (a- z, A- Z, 0- 9) that are between 8 and 6. The key can be made up from any upper and lower case letters, numbers and the special characters (~!@#$%^& *().
This will make it very difficult for someone to guess the key. WEPWEP comes in two lengths 6. ASCII and Hexadecimal. The key you create will include an additional 2. That's why a 6. 4bit WEP key is also referred to as 4.
ASCII are the numbers and letters we use every day, a - z, A - Z and the numbers 0 - 9. Hexadecimal is also known as machine code, when a computer is running a program it's being told what to do by Hexadecimal numbers. Hexadecimal uses the numbers 0 - 9 and the letters a - f. Refer to (Table 1) for the number and type of characters needed to create a WEP key.
Key Length ASCIIHexadecimal. A- Z, 0- 9)1. 0 characters (0- 9, a- f)1. A- Z, 0- 9)2. 6 characters (0- 9, a- f)Table 1: WEP Key Creation(There are free WEP and WPA key generators available on the Internet.)Once the security key is created, be sure to write it down and put it in a safe place. Back to Top. 7. What are the Different Types of Wi- Fi Networks? There are two basic types of networks they are called Infrastructure and Ad- hoc, the differences are discussed below. Infrastructure An infrastructure network is one that has a centralized device that controls the network such as a wireless broadband router.
The devices connected to it transmit data to each other through the router. This will allow both wired and wireless devices to communicate with each other at the same time. Ad- Hoc. An Ad- Hoc network is the opposite of an Infrastructure network where there is no centralized device. The devices on the network communicate with each other directly and due to there being no centralized device can only support up to 1.
This article only covers creating and connecting to a Infrastructure network. Back to Top. 8. What is the Best Place to Locate a Wi- Fi Router?
The best location is somewhere close to the middle of the house or office, as high as possible. If the DSL or cable connection to the Internet is not located close to the middle of the house or office, place the router as high as possible to bypass interference.
Back to Top. 9. Setting up a Wireless Network. Set up the Broadband Modem (your Broadband Internet Service Provider (ISP) should have provided an installation CD for the Modem, if so insert the CD into the computer and follow the instructions for setting up the Modem).(If you did not get a CD or for additional help in setting up the Modem, contact your Broadband Internet Service Provider.)Once the Broadband Modem is set up and working remove the network or USB cable that is connecting the computer to the Modem. Turn off the Modem for 3 minutes (this is necessary to make the Modem find the wireless router later). Your router should have come with an installation CD, if so insert the CD into the computer and follow the instructions for setting up the router(If you did not get a CD contact the manufacturer of your router, refer to Table 2 for links for the most popular wireless router manufactures web sites.)Table 2: Common Wireless Router User Name, Passwords and Links. After three minutes has past, turn the Modem back on. During the initial set up of the router the network name (SSID) and Wi- Fi Security (network) key needs to be changed, for additional information refer to the following sections: Back to Top. Connect to Your Wireless (Wi- Fi) Network.
Once the Modem and the wireless router are set up it is time to create a profile on the wireless computer to make a connection to the wireless network. When the wireless computer and the computer used to set up the router are one and the same, remove the network cable from the computer.
Windows 1. 0 is Installed. From the Desktop screen, touch or click the network icon () in the notification area (located in the lower right- hand corner). In the list of available wireless networks, touch or click the network with the most bars (), and then click Connect. Enter the network security key if prompted, and then click Next.