(NC)-Have you ever packed in some late night work at a coffee shop, and were surprised by the convenience of being online? A wireless LAN (also called a Wi-Fi), or local-area network, provides a wireless link between one or more computers to share an Internet connection through a wireless router. This new technology allows users complete freedom to move around their home while still maintaining a strong Internet connection. Other benefits of using a wireless router include increased productivity, shared cost of Internet connection and the ability to share printers and files between computers using the network.
"It's easy to recognize how wireless networks can make life a lot easier, but setting up a wireless router and getting it properly secured can be a challenge for many," said Geek Squad special agent, Fritz Schuschu. The Geek Squad, for example, is a company designed to come to a house or dorm to quickly install a wireless network. If you decide to tackle setting up a wireless network yourself, here are four key steps to ensure that it goes smoothly.
• Ensure that the right equipment has been purchased before you leave the store. At stores like Best Buy, sales associates will help you select the right router, wireless network adapter for a desktop and network cables if required.
• According to your router manufacturer's instructions, connect your router to your modem.
• After making the initial connection, the most tedious part of the process is to configure the network. Remember to create a wireless network name, protect the network with a wireless encryption and create a unique router logon and password.
• The final step in at home wireless networking is to ensure that all users are able to get online.
• Success! You and your housemates are online - but where to go from here? Make sure that you continue to keep your wireless network secure by running Internet security on the individual computers in your personal network.
Credit: www.newscanada.com