Wireless Access Points

10/4/2008

So i've been reading alot of questions on this online help site where alot of people are asking "How do i setup my Wireless Internet ?" it really is quite simple , and i will try to generalise the steps required to successfully setting up your own wireless network but please be aware there are alot of different makes and models of wireless access points or AP's (Access Point) out on the market but the general idea is usually the same so lets get started:

In this guide I'm assuming that you have got the Internet working allready (that's why you're here reading this) and you are sick of all the cords so you have decided to either

1. Purchase a wireless access point to make your current connection wireless
or
2. Decided it's time you learn how to use your Wireless functions on your ADSL modem

Now using your wireless card in either your Laptop or Desktop computer you can enjoy surfing the web wire free but it's not a simple as plugging it in a smoke and mirrors does the rest there are a few things you should know first.

Question 1: What are the letters b/g and or n ?

These letters let you know what kind of wireless standard the AP is working on , most commonly these days you will see AP that are sold saying b/g on them these are my most recommended devices to buy and they are very common and most of all work!.

The "b" standard has a network transfer rate of only 11mb/s and a range of about 38m indoors and 100m outdoors

The "g" standard has a network transfer rate of 54mb/s much quicker then "b" a range of about 38m indoors ans 140m outdoors and is also backwards compatible with "b" standard products

the "n" standard is a much newer technology has a transfer rate of 248mb/s a indoor range of about 70m and outdoors of about 250m , one problem with "n" standard AP's is that you will need other "n" standard wireless cards to fully use the potential of the "n" standard (oh did i mention its expensive :O)

so when purchasing wireless hardware make sure that you have the right letter for the right job :)

Question 2: I have all the gear plugged in and ready to go what do i do now ?

This part of the guide is where there are a few solutions,

1. You plug it in and your computer can see the signal but you don't know the password
2. You plug it in and your computer can see the signal but there is no password and you want one (Highly recommended you put one on)
3. You plug it in and there is no signal to be found

Ok lets answerer these one by one

Number 1: you plug it in and your computer can see the signal but you don't know the password

simple it's usually stuck to a sticker on the bottom of the wireless access point and would be fairly complicated , don't worry one you input the correct password in, you wont need to do it everytime :) congratulations on your wireless Internet. If you want to learn abit more cause you like to play with things keep reading you may just learn something.

Number 2: you plug it in and your computer can see the signal but there is no password

keeping you wireless access point unsecured is like keeping the front door of your home wide open , you're just inviting unwanted people in! , so you will need to put a password on your wireless connection to do this you will need to get to the Web GUI of your AP to access the configuration and settings

1. click on the start menu
2. click on run
3. in the 'run' window type 'cmd' (without the quotes) and hit ENTER
4. in the dos window type the following 'ipconfig'

you will see something like this:

below we are looking for the Wireless Network connection and its Default Gateway
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C:Documents and SettingsNCR>ipconfig

Windows IP Configuration


Ethernet adapter Hamachi:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . :
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . :

Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:

Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : kc.ncrad.com
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.74
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.16.254

Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection:

Media State . . . . . . . . . . . : Media disconnected

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. now those four numbers on my Default gateway (192.168.16.254) are what i am looking for now go into your Internet browser be it Internet explorer on FireFox and in the address bar type those four numbers eg. 192.168.16.254 and then hit enter
5. next you will be probably prompted for a username and password , if you haven't set this yourself try one of the following defaults

Username	Password
admin	(leave blank)
administrator	(leave blank)
admin	admin
admin	password
administrator	password
administrator	administrator

if none of these combinations work , look in the user manual which was supplied with your AP and it will have it in there!
6.next you will have to click around until you can see the wireless settings , and in there put find security or similar and turn on WPA2 (if available) or WPA or WEP security WPA2 is the strongest so if you have it use it
7. next just apply the settings and save, you AP will probably reboot and you should have to enter a password now before the Internet will work

Number 3: you plug it in and there is no signal to be found

also quite simple , firstly check ti the products install guide that you have done it right , if then you still don't see any signal , do the same as above and find the AP default gateway, input that into the Internet browser and hit ENTER and then login and find the routers wireless settings, just click around till yuo see something , you may notice that by factory default the manufacturer has turned the wireless mode off , there should be and option to either enable disable or turn it on or off and then it is a simple process of applying the WPA2 password and there you go wireless Internet.

after sitting here writing this i have decided that the wireless topic can go much deeper and i have only provided a very basic look at WiFi so if by following these simple instructions you still don't understand give me an email at geordie.nufc@gmail.com also i will begin writing an in depth guide to wireless Internet as it seems to be a very popular topic.