Setting Up a Wireless Network

Setting up a wireless network requires you to be able to install hardware components and troubleshoot problems if the wireless connection doesn't happen automatically. This section gives you a quick overview. You should consult more detailed instructions based on your particular hardware, network configuration, and software. (You can find additional information about regular networks and Windows XP's Home Networking wizard in Chapter 24.)

If you want to set up a network in your home, follow these basic steps:

1.	Purchase the equipment you need (as described in the preceding section).
2.	Install the network card(s) on your computer(s) and install the drivers for the card(s). Your network card should come with a disk with the driver as well as a program you can run to set up and install the driver. If the disk doesn't have an installation program, you can use Windows XP's Add New Hardware wizard to search for and install the driver. See Chapter 19, "Upgrading Your Computer" for more information on adding new hardware. tip You can also find cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) that provide wireless access to the Internet. These also connect using radio signals. Note that only very few Web sites are available through these types of connections. They usually only include text (because of the connection speed, as well as the size of the display area). Finally, navigating may be more difficult using these devices because you don't have as many keys to use to scroll through information.
3.	Set up your hotspot. If your computers are already networked, you can simply add a Wireless Access Point (WAP) to that network. If you are setting up a new network, you need to buy and install a Wireless Access Point Router.
4.	Configure the network. In most cases, you simply need to turn on the WAP and your computer(s). On newer systems, the network cards will find and automatically connect to the network. If the automatic connection doesn't happen, you need to run the software for the card, searching for the network connection and then accessing the connection. Check the specific steps for your particular network card and WAP.