Recipe 14.2. Installing a Wireless Router

Problem

You want to install a wireless router, so that you can set up a wireless network.

Solution

Before installation, you need to decide whether to buy an 802.11b or 802.11g network. 802.11g networks are only slightly more expensive than 802.11b networks but operate at much higher speeds, a maximum of 54 Mbps, compared to 11 Mbps for 802.11b.

How you set up a wireless router varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and even among different models from the same manufacturer. Here's how to install a typical wireless router from Linksys. It assumes that you're installing it at home, to connect to a broadband Internet device, such as a cable modem, in order to share Internet access among all the computers on your network:

1. Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or DSL modem, and the other end to the router. The router will have multiple Ethernet ports, because wireless routers also let you connect PCs to it via Ethernet ports. You need to connect the cable from the broadband modem to a special port on the router it will be labeled WAN or Internet. Different manufacturers may use different terminologies, so you should check for the right connection port.

   

   When you first connect the Ethernet cable to your router, don't turn on the router.

   
   

2. After you connect the Ethernet cable, turn off your broadband modem for five minutes. Then turn it back on again, plug in your router's powercord, and turn on the power switch if your router has a power switch. After several minutes, you should see green lights flashing on your router. Check your router's documentation for details of how your router looks when it is properly connected to the cable or DSL modem.

3. Go to the Setup screen. How you do this varies from router to router. Every manufacturer has a different setup screen, and the way that you get to that screen varies by manufacturer. For a Linksys router, for example, you open a browser, type http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar, and press Enter. A login screen appears. Leave the username field blank; in the Password field, type admin and press Enter. You'll see a Setup screen like that shown in Figure 14-3.

   Figure 14-3. A Linksys router Setup screen

   
   
   

4. You shouldn't need to change any of the basic setup options. If you're connecting to the Internet via DSL rather than by cable modem, in the Internet Connection type drop-down box, you may need to choose PPPoE. Check with your ISP for details.

5. Click the Wireless tab to get to the basic wireless settings. Next to Wireless, choose Enabled. In the Wireless Network Name (SSID), type in a name to give your network. That is the name that will be broadcast to any PCs that want to connect to it.

6. Click Save Settings when you're done.

7. Your router may not yet be able to connect to the Internet. Depending on your ISP, you might have to call it in order to enable Internet access. Some ISPs require that you give them the router's MAC address, a number such as 00-90-4B-0E-3F-BD, that uniquely identifies a piece of hardware such as a router or a network card. If your ISP requires it, call the technical support line and give them the MAC address. After a few minutes, your router will be connected to the Internet.

Discussion

It's good practice, when setting up a wireless router, to choose a new network name (SSID) rather than use the default. If you use the default, it's easier for passersby to try and connect to your network. You should also set the router so that it does not broadcast its SSID. Check your router manual for details.

It's also a good idea to use wireless encryption as a way to protect your network from intruders. Your network is available wirelessly not just to your PCs, but to the PCs of anyone within range, which can be as far as 300 feet. That means that neighbors and anyone passing by may be able to connect to it. In fact, in a practice called War Driving, people drive through neighborhoods looking for wireless networks, and even create and post maps of networks, along with their SSIDS. (For details on how to use encryption, see Recipe 14.7.)

There is a great deal of confusion about what rules broadband ISPs apply toward those who want to use wireless networks and share an Internet connection. When home networks first became available, broadband ISPs said that they were not allowed to be used, then changed their rules and said that people had to pay extra. That no longer holds, although some ISPs may say there is a limit on the number of PCs allowed to be on the network. As a practical matter it is very difficult for them to know the number of PCs. In fact, most broadband ISPs now offer to set up home networks for customers, although they charge extra for it. The fees range from somewhat high, to downright affordable. For example, in the Cincinnati area, RoadRunner provides a wireless router, wireless adapters for up to eight PCs, setup, and technical support, for $4 extra a month.

See Also

For information about speeding up a wireless network, see Recipe Recipe 14.5.