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Windows7 operating system How to set up wireless network

Imagine surfing the web on a lounge chair in your living room, or chatting online with friends in the comfort of your bed at night, or sending documents from your computer to your home office printer in the kitchen. Wireless networks offer great flexibility for networking, and setting up a wireless network is easier than you might think. This article will walk you through the steps to set up and get started with your wireless network.

Getting the right device

You need the following devices to set up your wireless network:

Broadband Internet connection and modem

Relative to dial-up connections, A broadband Internet connection is a high-speed Internet connection that has a slow dial-up connection and does not support wireless networks. Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable are the two most common broadband connections. You can get a broadband connection by contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Typically, the ISP that provides the DSL is the telephone company, and the ISP that provides the cable is the cable company. ISPs usually provide a broadband modem and are even responsible for installing it for you. Some ISPs also offer a modem/wireless router combination. These devices can also be found at a computer or electronics store.

common cable modem (left) and DSL modem (right)

Wireless Router

router with Send information between your network and the Internet. With a wireless router, you can connect your computer to the network using radio signals instead of wired signals. There are currently many different types of wireless networking technologies, including 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. We recommend using routers that support 802.11g or 802.11n because they are faster and provide stronger wireless signals.

common wireless router

Wireless Network Adapter

If your computer requires a wireless network adapter, you can purchase it from your computer or electronics store and install it yourself. It is best to choose Universal Serial Bus (USB) type adapters because they are small, easy to install, and can be moved to other computers. Be sure to purchase an adapter of the same type as your wireless router. The type of adapter is usually marked on the box and is usually marked with a letter such as G or A.

common USB wireless network adapter

wireless router placement

Securing your wireless network

Security is always important; it's more important when using a wireless network because network signals may pass outside the home. If you do not protect your network, users who use your computer nearby may access information stored on your network computer and use your Internet connection to access the Internet. To protect your network, do the following:

Protect your router by changing the default username and password. Most router manufacturers set a default username and password on the router and set the default network name. Some users may use this information to access your router without your knowledge. To avoid this risk, change the router's default username and password. Please review the information that came with your device for instructions.

Set the security key for your network. Just as a file cabinet has a key and a safe has a password, the wireless network helps protect the network from unauthorized access through a network security key. To set up a network security key, follow these steps:

by clicking the "Start" button, then click the & ldquo; & rdquo ;, the control panel to open the & ldquo; Network and Sharing Center”. In the search box, type network, and then click "Network & Sharing Center".

Click the & ldquo; set up a new connection or network & rdquo ;.

Click the & ldquo; setting up a new network & rdquo ;, then click & ldquo; Next & rdquo ;.

The wizard will guide you through the creation of a network name and security key. If your router supports it, the wizard will default to Wi-Fi Secure Access (WPA or WPA2) security. We recommend that you use WPA2 whenever possible because it provides greater security than WPA or Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). You can also use passwords in WPA2 or WPA, so you don't have to remember the encrypted sequences of letters and numbers.

Write down your security key and keep it in a safe place. You can also save the security key on a USB flash drive by following the instructions in the wizard.

Use a firewall. A firewall is a piece of hardware or software that helps protect your computer from hackers or malware. Running a firewall on every computer in your network helps control the spread of malware across your network and helps protect your computer when you're on the Internet. Windows Firewall is included with this version of Windows.

Create a network security key

to add computers to the network

If to laptop or desktop computer to connect to your wireless network, follow these steps: network icon

right-click in the notification area (or) open & ldquo; connect to Network”.