Wi-Fi Goes Mainstream: Setting Up Your First Wireless Network

You finally got broadband. You've got that DSL modem or cable modem humming away, and the internet is glorious at megabit speeds. There's just one problem: you're tethered to it with a 6-foot Ethernet cable, and your spouse wants to check email from the kitchen.

Welcome to the year wireless networking goes from corporate luxury to household necessity. 802.11b Wi-Fi equipment has dropped to prices that regular humans can afford, and setting it up is no longer a feat reserved for network engineers. Mostly.

What You Need

The shopping list is short:

A wireless router — This is the central hub. It connects to your DSL or cable modem via Ethernet and broadcasts a wireless signal throughout your home. The two most popular choices right now:

• Linksys BEFW11S4 — A combination 802.11b wireless access point and 4-port wired router. Street price: about $130. This is the unit you'll see recommended on every tech forum, and for good reason — it works reliably and the web-based setup interface is reasonably intuitive.
• Netgear MR314 — Netgear's equivalent, offering similar features at a similar price point. Some users report slightly better range than the Linksys, though your mileage will vary depending on your home's construction.

A wireless network card for each computer — If you have a laptop, you'll want a PC Card (PCMCIA) wireless adapter. For a desktop, you'll need either a PCI card or a USB adapter. Budget $50 to $80 per computer.

• Linksys WPC11 (PC Card for laptops) — ~$60
• Linksys WMP11 (PCI card for desktops) — ~$70
• D-Link DWL-120 (USB adapter, works with both) — ~$55

Total cost for a basic setup (router + one wireless card): roughly $180 to $210. Each additional computer adds $50-80.

The Setup Process

Here's the step-by-step for getting a Linksys BEFW11S4 working with your broadband connection. Other routers are similar.

Step 1: Connect the Hardware

Unplug the Ethernet cable that goes from your broadband modem to your PC. Plug it into the router's WAN port instead. Then connect a new Ethernet cable from one of the router's LAN ports to your PC. Power on the router.

Your PC is now connected to the router via wire. You'll use this wired connection to configure the router before going wireless.

Step 2: Access the Router's Admin Page

Open Internet Explorer and go to http://192.168.1.1 (the Linksys default). You'll be prompted for a username and password. Leave the username blank and enter "admin" as the password. (Change this immediately — more on security below.)

Step 3: Configure Your Internet Connection

The router needs to know how to talk to your broadband modem. For most cable modem users, select "Obtain an IP Address Automatically" (DHCP). For DSL users with PPPoE, select that option and enter your username and password from your ISP.

Click Apply. Give it 30 seconds. Your router should now be connected to the internet.

Step 4: Set Up the Wireless Network

Navigate to the Wireless tab. You'll see a field for SSID — this is the name of your wireless network. The default is usually "linksys." Change it to something you'll recognize, like your last name or "HomeNetwork." Avoid anything that identifies your exact address.

The channel is set to 6 by default. Leave it unless you experience interference (more on this later).

Step 5: Install the Wireless Card

Shut down your laptop, insert the wireless PC Card, and boot up. Windows should detect new hardware. Install the drivers from the CD that came with the card. Once installed, you'll see a wireless network utility in your system tray. It should find your network's SSID and connect automatically.

Open a browser. If the internet loads, congratulations — you're wireless.

Security: Don't Skip This

Here's the uncomfortable truth: out of the box, your wireless network is completely open. Anyone within range — your neighbor, someone parked on your street — can connect to your network, use your internet, and potentially access your shared files.

You need to enable WEP encryption. It's not perfect (security researchers have already identified weaknesses in the protocol), but it's dramatically better than nothing.

In the router's admin page, go to the Wireless Security section:

1. Enable WEP
2. Select 128-bit encryption (stronger than 64-bit)
3. Enter a passphrase and click Generate to create the encryption keys
4. Write down the WEP key (that long hexadecimal string)

On each wireless computer, you'll need to enter that same WEP key in the wireless network card's configuration utility. Yes, it's a pain to type a 26-character hex string. Do it anyway.

Also: change the router's admin password from the default "admin" to something strong. And consider disabling SSID broadcast so your network name doesn't appear to casual wardrivers (people who drive around looking for open wireless networks — this is a real thing).

Range and Performance

802.11b operates at a maximum theoretical speed of 11Mbps. In practice, you'll see about 4-6Mbps of actual throughput — still more than enough for a DSL connection (typically 384kbps to 1.5Mbps) or a cable connection (1-3Mbps). The wireless link won't be your bottleneck.

Range depends heavily on your home's construction:

• Wood-frame house: Expect good signal throughout, up to about 150 feet
• Brick or plaster walls: Signal will degrade significantly. You might lose connection two rooms away
• Multi-story homes: Signal travels vertically poorly. Place the router on the floor where you use wireless most

If you need more range, a higher-gain antenna (about $30-40) can help. Positioning the router centrally and elevated — on a bookshelf rather than on the floor — makes a noticeable difference.

Troubleshooting the Common Problems

Can't connect at all: Make sure the wireless card's SSID matches the router's exactly, including capitalization. If WEP is enabled, verify the key matches character-for-character.

Connected but no internet: The router might not be connected to your modem. Try rebooting the modem, then the router, then your PC — in that order. Some cable modems need to be power-cycled to recognize a new device (the router) connected to them.

Slow speeds: Check for interference. Cordless phones operating on 2.4GHz (very common) will destroy your Wi-Fi signal when in use. Microwave ovens are another culprit. Try changing the wireless channel to 1 or 11 to avoid interference.

Intermittent dropouts: This is often a range issue. Move closer to the router and see if the problem resolves. If so, you need better antenna placement or a range extender.

Is It Worth the Money?

Absolutely — if you have more than one computer or a laptop you want to use around the house. The freedom of untethered internet access throughout your home genuinely changes how you use your broadband connection. Checking email from the couch, browsing the web at the kitchen table, doing research from a home office upstairs while someone else is on the PC downstairs — it's the kind of convenience that becomes indispensable fast.

At under $200 for a basic setup, Wi-Fi is one of the best tech investments you can make right now. Just please, for the love of all that is sacred, turn on WEP.