| Expand Your Home Office Into Your Living Room | | | | and features can be overwhelming at first. Don't |
| Do you have too many wires behind your | | | | be discouraged, simply compare brand names and |
| computer collecting dust and creating a tangled | | | | features side-by-side as you would any store |
| mess? If you're like me, the answer (was) yes. | | | | purchase. Large retail stores usually have |
| That is until I set up a wireless network in my | | | | knowledgeable staff (geeks) ready to field your |
| home office. The advantage to having a wireless | | | | questions. A few of the top selling brand names in |
| home network is the ability to add or remove | | | | wireless networking are Belkin, Netgear, D-Link |
| any number of computers and wireless devices | | | | and Linksys. |
| without drilling holes or running cable from room to | | | | First, you will need to purchase a wireless router. |
| room. After just one day of wireless home | | | | The wireless router will connect to your existing |
| network set up, you can network desktop | | | | cable, DSL or Satellite broadband internet modem. |
| computers in different rooms and carry your | | | | This connection will be made through one RJ-45 |
| laptop computer from room to room or even | | | | port with a Cat-5 or Cat-6 cable, or a printer |
| outside. Setting up a wireless network is much | | | | style USB cable connection. Purchase price range |
| easier now that stores are flooded with | | | | for a wireless router is about $40 to $200. Most |
| name-brand products at very affordable prices. | | | | often a home wireless network setup only needs |
| Here is an overview of what you need to set up | | | | the $40 model, because the additional features |
| your wireless home network. | | | | such as 108 Mbps speeds become meaningless on |
| Checklist For Setting Up A Wireless Home | | | | today's 2 Mbps broadband internet connections. In |
| Network | | | | other words, the latest features are well beyond |
| Setting up a wireless home network does require | | | | existing computer and broadband internet |
| that you purchase some hardware. The computer | | | | connection processing speeds. I recommend that |
| hardware you will need is similar in function to the | | | | you look for a top brand name, signal distance, |
| existing computer hardware creating your wired | | | | value added security features, and four or more |
| jungle. Each desktop computer on your wireless | | | | RJ-45 ports to allow for wired computer, printer |
| home network will need a wireless network | | | | and future adapter connections. |
| adaptor, and assuming you're already connected | | | | Second, you'll need a wireless network adaptor |
| to the Internet, you'll need a central processing | | | | for each computer that will become part of your |
| point like a Linksys or Belkin wireless router to | | | | wireless home network. While shopping for your |
| manage data transfer between each computer, | | | | wireless network router, you will see wireless |
| printer and the Internet. | | | | adapters in the same isle. It makes sense to |
| Before running out to Circuit City or Best Buy, | | | | purchase like brand names which tends to make |
| check and see if your desktop computer has a | | | | installation easier. For example, if you purchase a |
| wireless network adaptor pre-installed. If you don't | | | | Netgear wireless router consider purchasing a |
| have your purchase receipt handy, simply look in | | | | Netgear wireless adapter. Imagine the technical |
| the back or your computer for a thick plastic | | | | support nightmare you would have calling two |
| wireless antenna. If you only see large telephone | | | | companies instead of just one if you run into an |
| input connections (called RJ-45 ports), then your | | | | installation problem! |
| desktop computer is probably not set up for a | | | | While making your wireless network adaptor |
| wireless network. If no wireless network adaptor | | | | purchase, you're likely to run into such computer |
| is pre-installed, there are a couple of things you | | | | terms as dual-mode, multi-mode and tri-mode. |
| can do. | | | | Dual-mode and multi-mode equipment generally |
| If your desktop computer has a free PCI | | | | refers to wireless network adapters that support |
| (Peripheral Component Interconnect) slot, you can | | | | both 802.11b and g standards. Briefly, 802.11b is |
| purchase and install an internal wireless network | | | | older than the g standard and wireless g routers |
| adapter. If you don't see PCI listed on your | | | | provide farther reaching signals. Tri-mode |
| computer purchase receipt and you're not | | | | equipment is compatible with all three commonly |
| comfortable fumbling around inside your | | | | used 802.11a, 802.11b and g standards. Your |
| computer, don't worry. It's probably easier to buy | | | | primary concern should be to match wireless |
| an external wireless g USB network adapter. USB | | | | router specifications with wireless network |
| means you can just plug it in like any other USB | | | | adapter specifications. Again, I recommend that |
| device, "g" we will discuss shortly. Have comfort in | | | | you chose the same brand name for product |
| knowing that Windows XP will do most of the | | | | purchases when setting up a wireless network at |
| wireless network adapter installation for you | | | | home. |
| thanks to something called "Plug and Play." | | | | Broadband Wireless Network Installation |
| Today, most laptop computers are already | | | | Wireless home network router and wireless |
| geared for a wireless home network. To see if | | | | adapter manufacturers boast about signal range. |
| your laptop computer has an internal wireless | | | | While it might be true that wireless network |
| network adaptor, Windows XP users can click | | | | products function in a range exceeding 150 or 300 |
| 'Start' and select 'Settings' then go into 'Control | | | | feet, this range assumes no walls or interference. |
| Panel.' In the Control Panel, click the icon called | | | | Plan on putting your home network wireless |
| 'System' to open the System folder and click the | | | | router in a location within the room you will work |
| 'Hardware' tab. Look for a button called 'Device | | | | most often. My wireless router is set up in my |
| Manager.' After you select the Device Manager | | | | home office upstairs against an exterior wall, for |
| you will see a list of hardware installed on your | | | | example. This way my wireless network signal is |
| computer, scroll down to 'Network Adaptors' and | | | | strong enough for me to connect down stairs in |
| open the sub-folder by clicking on the 'plus' sign. If | | | | my living room directly below the router, and |
| one of the adaptors is wireless, then you're | | | | outside on my patio. The closer your laptop and |
| good-to-go. If your laptop computer doesn't have | | | | desktop computers are to the wireless network |
| a wireless network adaptor pre-installed, don't | | | | router, the better performance you will realize. |
| worry. You can easily install a PC-Card wireless | | | | Expanding your home office with a wireless |
| network adaptor, or the same external wireless g | | | | network is now as simple as purchasing a wireless |
| USB network adapter that a desktop computer | | | | router and USB wireless adapter. Thanks to |
| would use. | | | | Windows XP and simplified wireless router |
| Purchase A Wireless Home Network Router And | | | | installation instructions, your home wireless |
| Adapter | | | | network can be installed in just one day. Enjoy |
| As I mentioned in the introduction, stores are | | | | your wireless expanded home office work space |
| flooded with wireless home network products. | | | | - and don't forget to keep your feet off the |
| The high number of wireless networking products | | | | couch! |