How do I set up a wireless router for my laptop?

Question

I have a dell Inpriron 1150 laptop with a wi-fi card, and I have cable internet at home. My laptop is my only pc and I want to set up a wireless router so I can move around my house, but I don't know what I need to buy besides a router or what kind. Please help.

Answer 1

You just need the router.

They come with good instructions for installation, so just follow those to get it set up.

Once it is set up:

Change the administrator password on the router.
Make sure the firewall is enabled.
Enable ping blocking.
Change the default router IP address. Only change the third number in the sequence. (I.e. change it from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.xxx.1 where xxx is a number between 1 and 255)
For the wireless, change the SSID
On your laptop snoop around to see what other wireless networks are there. Check to see which channels they are on. Set your channel to be at least 2 away from the stronger signals.
Enable encryption on the wireless. WEP is O.K. WPA is better.

Doing the above will make your computers much harder to attack from outside, will give you the best wireless signal and will stop anyone 'borrowing' your wireless. (People using your wireless slows down your download speed. Also if they go anywhere they should not, your ISP will come knocking on your door not theirs!)


If most of the above is jibberish to you right now, do not worry, it will be clearer after you go through the router set up.

Answer 2

Didn't say which OS you have on your laptop, but my guess is WinXP, right ?? Anyway all you need is router. Get a name brand router that can support up to g speed and you'll be fine. Connect the router to your modem and follow the router manual to setup for wireless. You router need to connect to your modem with the ethernet cable. Your router manual will cover all of that and it's not hard to set up the wireless.