Wireless networking; is it worth getting expert help?

Question

I am planning on making my internet connection wireless. Im currently on aol silver package. I don't have a clue how to go about this, i have read some information on the subject and got lost in the jargon. Is it true that PC World offer a wireless networking service? What help do they provide? How much does it cost?

Answer 1

Hi, will start at the beginning as not sure where you are with set up. Best way to configure your router is it plugged in to your laptop/pc so plug the router into the mains, telephone socket and the ethernet cable into your laptop. Now don't know if your laptop has got vista and I only have xp so lets hope this works.

Switch everything on and install the installation cd. Follow the instructions on screen to the letter. You are now installing the router on your laptop. Hopefully all you will need to enter is your user name and password for your aol boradband. You may need to know the telephon number your router connects to. For example, my broadband provider's 'telephone number' is 1,50 The 1 represents VPI and the 50 VCI under adsl settings.

To access your router you have to open up internet explorer and type in 192.168.0.1 hit enter. A little box should appear and ask you for user name and password. PLEASE NOTE this is NOT you AOL user name etc. By default most routers user name is admin and password maybe admin or password depending on the make. If it is a netgear I can give you better instructions.

The installation cd will tak you through various steps. Most important for wirless are in wireless settings such as SSID. For this you can put in anything you like. This is the name of your home network so call it HOME. Make sure enable wireless access point and broadcast name of SSID are ticked.

For security you can set up an access list. This is better than encryption in my opinion. All you need to do is put the mac address of your laptop in the allow list. If you click on attached devices your laptops mac address will be displayed but note this is your wired mac address. It will also have a wireless one. See if you can access the internet. Should be able to.

AT THIS POINT MAKE SURE ACCESS CONTROL IS SWITCHED OFF. Unplug the ethernet cable from your laptop.

On your laptop got to control panel and use the wizard to create your wireless network. It will ask you the name for your SSID (Carole), enter this and for time being leave encryption/security disabled. Now try and connect to the internet wirelessly. Hopefully you will connect fingers crossed. If you can then type your router address in explorer and go to attached devices. Make a note of your wireless mac address. Go to set up access list in wireless settings and add your laptop to the list and tick TURN ON ACCESS CONTROL.

Now the only pc that can connect to your router is your laptop. Change your router's user name from admin to something else and change password too.

If for any reason the above doesn't work thing to check are.

1. Router, make sure it is set up as dchp server.
2 Go to start, settings, network conections, right click your LAN, properties, scroll down list to tcp/ip, right click on tcp/ip click properties. Make sure where it says obtain IP and DNS address automatically that it has a dot in.

Hope this helps and good luck

Answer 2

You shouldn't need any expert help, it's pretty simple.

You just need to buy a wireless router, which you plug into your phone line in place of your modem. The next step depends on your computer - if you have a laptop that's fairly recent, it will almost certainly have wireless built in, so it should pick up the signal from your new router. If you have a desktop, you will need to buy a wireless card - the easiest thing to do is to buy a 'dongle' that plugs into the USB port.

Answer 3

IMHO PC World 'professional' services are not that good. I know of 2 people that used their services and got their PCs wiped out.

Follow the instructions manual that comes with your wireless router... they are meant for ordinary people to use and they mostly provide an at-cost phone help service who wil be cheaper than paying a PC World 'professional'.

Answer 4

Seriously, get expert help. Yes it is VERY easy to set up a home network and get it working, but making it secure is another matter. And bear in mind that you are legally responsible for any IP traffic that crosses your network. That means if you have a wireless net connection and someone else accesses it (because you have not made it secure) and this other person downloads kiddy porn from your connection, YOU will be legally liable.

Get expert help to secure your networks. If you don't, you are also helping hackers and other scum create more and more drone machines to launch DOS attacks and virus attacks from.

Answer 5

You just need a wireless router. Once you get one, just plug in your broadband modem into the WAN port on the router and the computers into the LAN ports. The router will automatically route the computers to the Internet.

Answer 6

The prompt community adapter is carefully properly worth it for me, by fact my Xbox 360 is a room and 3 feet faraway from my prompt Router. The Xbox 360 console isn't meant to stand upright. It places tension on issues, and for the time I had my console replace, the cost of scratches for disks replaced into larger.

Answer 7

You still have to have a company providing the broadband for you. A wireless connection is only really needed if you have more than one computer. Try cable company like Virgin, they are really good and it doesn't 'hold' the phone, it's connected by cable.

Answer 8

please use your manuals.they are quite idiot-proof.avoid paying money for simple wireless networking