With everything going wireless, computer networking also had to go with it. With broadband Internet access becoming very affordable and home and small office networking becoming popular, there had to be technology that will allow several computers to linked together easily to allow sharing of resources.

The Wireless Router

A wireless router works the same way as a traditional or wired router does, except it is much easier to setup, configure, and use because there are no wires or cables required to network computers.

A router is a networking device that is used to connect one computer network to another network. Just like one office department to another department. It can also be used to provide Internet connectivity to a computer network by sharing one connection.

Routers today are actually all-in-one networking devices because they have modem, switch, a firewall, and a routing function.

Now if you have two or more computers at home and a broadband Internet access, and you always wanted that every computer be linked, sharing the Internet connection, then a wireless router is your best bet.

All you need is a wireless router, a wireless network adapter if your computer does not have a built-in adapter, and a wireless access point if your home or office is spacious. It only requires very minimal configuration for it to work. The best part is, you don’t have to deal with messy and expensive networking cables.

Advantages of Wireless Routers

Years ago, if you wanted to setup a small home or office network to share resources and an Internet connection, you would go through the hassle of buying the equipment including the messy cables. If you don’t have much knowledge on computer networking, you will still have to hire a professional to do the installation and configuration of the network.

When there are walls and other obstacles, there was only two choices, go through it or around it. Going through it may take some time or damage the item, and going around it will leave the cables exposed and unsightly, not to mention the additional length of cable needed.

Thanks to wireless technology, you do not need extra equipment to crimp cables and drill holes. As previously said, you only need a wireless router, wireless adapters, and an optional access point. Most new operating systems automatically detect wireless networks and configure themselves automatically. In the Windows operating system, there are even wizards to assist you in setting up a wireless network and sharing an Internet connection.

Computers and laptops are not the only ones that can utilize a wireless network (Tips on how to connect a wireless laptop). Devices like mobile phones and PDAs that are compatible with the 802.11x standards can also use the network and even surf the Internet without any difficulty.

Securing a Wireless Network

One of the main drawbacks of wireless networks is it being less secure compared to its wired counterpart because it uses radio waves to send and receive data. With that, it makes prone to snooping by capturing data being sent.

Anyone within the coverage of a wireless network can snoop and read data being sent across the network can easily access an unsecured network with no complex equipment. However, there are several ways to keep a wireless networking secure, safe from cyber-snoops and criminals.

Here are some simple things you should to to secure your wireless network:

1. Enable encryption – Use either WPA or WEP. WEP or Wired Equivalent Privacy is a newer encryption method for wireless networks and is harder to crack compared to WPA. Most new models of wireless routers have WEP support. Yet if your router does not support it, you can simply use WPA first and consider upgrading to one that supports WEP soon.
2. Change the Default SSID – The SSID or the Service Set Identifier is a name of a wireless network. The default SSID name is usually the name or brand of the router. Change it into something customized. Not changing it will allow attackers to determine the type of wireless router you have and look for known exploits of it and attempt to access your network.
3. Disable SSID Broadcasting - Disabling the broadcast of the SSID adds a layer of protection from illegal access to your wireless network. When you disable SSID broadcasting, a user that wishes to connect to your network needs to know and manually input the SSID along with the password when used in conjunction with either WPA or WEP.
4. Enable MAC address Filtering – A MAC address is a unique identifier for network cards. It means that every single network card has a different MAC address. MAC filtering works by only allowing MAC addresses in a “list” to connect to the network. So if ever someone knows your network’s SSID and password, but his MAC address is not in the list, that person will not be able to access the wireless network.

Configuring your wireless network can be easily done by accessing your wireless router’s configuration page. This is done by entering its IP address in your web browser (usually 192.168.1.1). To be sure, refer to your router’s manual and other documentation materials to determine how to configure your wireless network securely.

Remember that there is no bullet-proof protection in wireless network. These things are merely serve as deterrents, making it harder to illegally access network. Anyone who is determined and has the right knowledge and equipment can hack through your wireless network. That is why to be sure, you should switch off your wireless network when not in use. Leaving it on while not in use is just like leaving your door open at night when you sleep.

Choosing a Wireless Router

Going wireless is really attractive. With prices of wireless networking devices dropping plus the convenience and ease of installation is, you are probably thinking of buying a wireless router.

There are a lot of companies that manufacture wireless routers and it is quite difficult to choose a brand since there are a number of reputable manufacturers out there. It all boils down to the features offered by the brand or model.

Since wireless routers being sold today are basically an access point, router (wired and wireless), switch, and firewall all rolled into one device, it is better that you get one that has all these features.

You may be wondering why you should be buying a wireless router that has wired ports too. Well, you can never tell when you will need a wired connection for either a computer that does not have a wireless network card, an old laptop, or a network storage device.

The firewall feature comes in handy because it keeps you secure as you browse through the Internet. It can be used along with your personal (software) firewall as long as it is properly configured.

There are a few reputable manufacturers of wireless routers. If you don’t know which one to choose, then you can start checking the ones listed here:

• 3Com
• LinkSys
• US Robotics
• NetGear
• Motorola
• Belkin
• D-Link

Another thing, you might want to buy all your wireless networking devices from one manufacturer. This is not only to ensure maximum compatibility, it also makes significant improvements in network performance (speed, latency, etc.)

Installing a Wireless Router

Though it is quite easy to setup a wireless network, there are some things you should do to ensure you get the most out of it. Here are some tips:

• Make sure your router is located at a central location in your house, room, or office. Since a wireless routers broadcast omni-directionally (all directions), placing it in the center will greatly increase the efficiency of the router’s coverage.
• If it is not possible to place the router in a central location, replace the omni-directional antenna to a high-gain antenna. A high-gain antenna focuses wireless signals into a limited direction so point the antenna towards the area you will be working. Another option is using a signal repeater, a device that further extends the range of you wireless router. Place it in an area where you find difficulty in connecting, or when you notice wireless signals are low or dropping.
• Avoid placing the wireless router near metal objects, walls, on the floor, or near devices that use radio frequency (radios, cordless phones, etc.) to reduce interference. Interference in a wireless network manifests in poor signal strength, dropped connections, and slow access speeds.
• Check your networking equipment for driver and firmware upgrades. Doing so may improve network speed, fix security bugs, or even add more features that you can use.
• If you suspect that something is interfering with your wireless network, try changing channels. Wireless networks operate within a given frequency, just like your FM radio does. Switch channels until you there is no longer interference. If you’re interested in this article, you might as well read how to extend a wireless network’s range.

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