How hard is it to set up wireless connection on one computer?

Question

My computer desk is across the room from the nearest phone jack. I purchased Linksys Wireless N Router and PCI Adapter. How hard is this to set up? How long should I allow? Do you have any good tips for setup?

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

Hi Amy,

On your router, you'll need to enable wireless.  I've found that most routers come with this disabled.  The instructions you receive w/your router will have all you need to do this.

The PCI card should have come w/the needed drivers.  It's quite possible that your OS already has this driver, so just proceed through the installation.  If the driver isn't found on the OS, just insert the CD that came w/your card and proceed.

Make sure you enable either WEP or WPA security so that your neighbors don't piggyback onto your wireless connection.

How hard?  not hard at all.  How long?  Once installed, it should be nearly instant.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Fairly easy for most people.  Make sure to read all the instructions.

You'll need to physically connect into the wifi router the 1st time using the included cable.  This allows you to configure its settings BEFORE you connect wirelessly and before you connect it to your internet connection.

You'll configure it by opening up a web browser and going to a specific website and entering a default password.

Instructions are included with the router.

An experienced person can get the whole thing up and running in about 10 minutes.  Your first time I'd budget 30minutes.

TIP#1 - Contact Linksys Tech Support and they will assist you with setting it up free of charge.

TIP#2 - enable WPA-PSK security. WPA is more secure then WEP and using PSK means you just have to remember a password to access your wireless.  Don't use the same password for your wireless as you do for email, bank accounts, computer, etc. The reason is that you may give this password out to friends and family if they bring their laptops over to your house.

TIP#3 - if you live in an apartment or your neighbors have wireless networks (which you will see when you have Windows check for available networks) then consider having your router reduce its power so it is not broadcasting at 100%.  Experiment a bit but if you are within the same room, maybe 50% or less would work.  - This reduces the Range of your signal, making it both less likely someone will hack into it AND less annoying to your neighbors. (now if they would only do the same on their end)

TIP#4 - Name your wireless connection.. by default it will say "Linksys" and if your neighbor also has a Linksys.. it might get confusing who's who.  So name yours after your last name or your address or something "cute" -- just so it doesn't say "Linksys" or "default"

Here are the basic steps you'll want to perform in no particular order, use this as a check off list when on the phone with Linksys Support....

__ Change default Admin Password

__ Make sure DHCP is enabled

__ Name Wireless Network (SID)

__ Enable WPA-PSK (may require a Windows XP update) choose a password that you can remember but NOT the same one as your email, bank, computer password, etc.

__ Reduce the broadcast strength to 50% (usually on the same screen as the Wireless Name (SID) )

__  unplug from router and move it over to the internet connection

__ Turn off the power to the internet connection and the wireless router.  Wait 10 seconds then turn the both of them back on.

__ In Windows, right click on wireless icon in bottom right and choose "view available networks"  Highlight your wireless network and click "connect"

Answer 3

Nothing to worry. U first configure ur Linksys by getting help from ur ISP. And install ur PCI card in the system and after finshing the driver installation u can check.... it will take hardly half an hour job or maximum 1 hour.