| Imagine yourself sitting on your living room couch | | | | each of them. However, most laptops and |
| while sipping coffee or maybe a soda. Can you | | | | netbooks, especially the recent models, already |
| also imagine yourself browsing the Net at the | | | | have built-in wireless adapters. Also make sure |
| same time through the laptop or netbook sitting | | | | that you are buying a wireless router rather than |
| on your lap? A little more than a decade ago, | | | | a wireless access point; they are both wireless |
| people could hardly imagine such a scenario. Then | | | | equipment but serve different purposes. |
| came a revolution in networking that allowed | | | | Next, hook up your router to the broadband |
| people to connect to networks without using | | | | modem. This is about the only part of your |
| wires. The best router capable of creating such | | | | network setup that will involve a wired connection. |
| networks is called a wireless router. | | | | To connect your router and your broadband |
| These days, wireless home networks are | | | | modem, first make sure that both router and |
| commonplace. Every modern household | | | | modem are unplugged from the electric outlets. |
| connected to the Internet almost always has a | | | | Then, take one end of the network cable from |
| wireless network in place. The dwindling prices of | | | | the modem and plug it into the appropriate slot on |
| the required hardware and equipment have made | | | | the router. The slot will usually be labeled |
| this possible. More importantly, the struggle to find | | | | "Internet," "WAN," "WAN/WLAN," or "WLAN." The |
| the best router for a home network is no longer | | | | whole idea at this step is to make sure that your |
| that much of a struggle. Thus, the Internet and | | | | router is between your Internet connection |
| the World Wide Web have become more | | | | (represented by the broadband modem) and the |
| accessible to many homes today. | | | | rest of your home computers. |
| Setting up a wireless home network has become | | | | The last step involves configuring your wireless |
| easy, too. In the past, you would need a technical | | | | router. The procedure for doing this varies from |
| consultant or a geek to set up your home | | | | router to router. So, your best friend for this third |
| network for you. Today, however, setting up | | | | and last step is the user manual of the wireless |
| networks is something that you can do on your | | | | router that you bought. Generally, configuration will |
| own with very little help from anyone else. How | | | | require you to temporarily connect one computer |
| do you set up a wireless home network? Read | | | | to the router through a network cable. Within the |
| further for three easy steps to hook up your | | | | router's configuration interface, you can specify a |
| home computers to the online world. | | | | name for your network (also known as an SSID), |
| The very first thing to do is to acquire the | | | | enable restricted access through password |
| needed equipment, besides getting a subscription | | | | protection, and configuring the administrative |
| for broadband Internet service. For a very | | | | features of your router. |
| modest home network, you will need at least two | | | | Easy as a breeze, isn't it? Just three simple steps, |
| computers, a wireless network adapter for each | | | | and you have a wireless home network. Your |
| computer, and the heart of your network--a | | | | wireless network will serve you well if your |
| wireless router. Most desktop computers don't | | | | equipment is of top quality. Therefore, find the |
| have built-in wireless networking support, so you | | | | best router and the best wireless network |
| will need to install a wireless network adapter for | | | | adapter for your network. |