Building a Wireless Network

If you have multiple computers networked in your home, you can create a wireless network with a wireless access point. If you have multiple computers that are not networked, or if you want to replace your Ethernet network, you need a wireless router. It is a single unit that contains:

1. A port to connect to your cable modem or DSL
2. A router
3. An Ethernet hub
4. A firewall
5. A wireless access point

A wireless router allows you to use wireless signals or Ethernet cables to connect your computer to another computer, printer and internet. Most routers provide coverage for approximately 100 feet (30.5 meters) in all directions, although walls and doors can block the signal. If your house is very large, you can buy inexpensive range extension or repeaters to increase the number of your router.

As with wireless adapters, many routers can use more than one 802.11 standard. 802.11b routers are slightly cheaper, but because the standard is older, they are slower than 802.11a, 802.11g and 802.11n routers. Most people choose the option of standard 802.11g for its speed and reliability.

When you connect your router, it should start working to its default settings. Most routers allow you to use a web interface to change your settings. You can choose:

* Name of the network, known as its Service Set Identifier (SSID) - default setting is usually the manufacturer’s name.
* The channel that the router uses - Most routers use channel 6 by default. If you live in an apartment and your neighbors are also using channel 6, May you interference. Switching to another channel should eliminate the problem.
* Your router’s security settings - Many routers use a standard, publicly available on the sign, so it’s a good idea to put your own username and password.

Security is an important part of a wireless network at home, as well as public WiFi hotspots. If you have configured your router to create a hotspot, anyone who has a wireless card will be able to use your signal. Most people prefer to keep foreigners from their networks, though. This requires taking a few precautions.

It is also important to ensure that your security measures are up to date. Wired equivalency evaluations Privacy (WEP) security was once the standard for WAN security. The idea behind WEP was to provide a platform for wireless security that would allow any secure wireless network as a traditional wired network. But hackers have discovered vulnerabilities in WEP approach, and today it’s easy to find programs that can compromise a WEP security operation WAN.

To keep your network private, you can use one of the following ways:

* Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is a step up from WEP and is now part of the 802.11i wireless network security protocol. It uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) encryption. As with WEP, WPA security for signature with a password. Most public hotspots are open or use WPA or WEP 128-bit technology, although some still use the approach more vulnerable WEP.
* MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering is a little different from WEP or WPA. It is not a password to authenticate users - it uses a physical computer hardware. Each computer has its own unique MAC address. MAC address filtering allows only machines with MAC addresses for network access. You must specify which addresses are allowed when you set up your router. This method is very safe, but if you buy a new computer or if your visitors will use your home network, you must add the new machines’ MAC addresses to the list of addresses. The system is not infallible. A skilled attacker can spoof a MAC address - ie copy the MAC address is known to trick the computer network that he uses on the network belongs.

Wireless networks are easy and inexpensive to implement, and most routers’ Web interfaces are virtually self-explanatory