With many households now owning more than just one computer, setting up a home network can make sharing files and printers more than just a convenience. Users can also share just one internet connection, in the majority of cases. Setting up a network at your home may seem like a task beyond your techy capabilities, but it is much easier than you think!

Wired vs Wireless Networking

While some newer homes are already pre-wired for high speed internet access, most are not and installing a wireless network is a much simpler choice. Wireless networks provide more mobility to a person in and around their home, and they make especially good sense for laptop networking as most laptops come with wireless network cards already installed. Networks with wires or cables, on the other hand, may perform faster and more reliably, and make good sense for desktop networking. Choosing between wired and wireless options can be difficult, but making an informed decision here can save money and increase your overall satisfaction with their home network. For the purposes of this article, we will be discussing the installation of a wireless network, since this requires the least amount of work, and in many cases, is the most affordable.

Before purchasing and installing equipment, determine your needs. The location of your computer(s), printer(s) and other devices you want to connect can affect your network design. In most cases, the signal from a wireless router can travel throughout the house, but there are instances where wall construction and location of the router can play a big factor in the reliability of your connection. Your router should function as the centerpiece of your network.

Equipment

What hardware will you need to build a wireless network? Primarily just a wireless router and as many wireless network cards as you have computers. Since most laptops have them built in, you really only need to purchase additional adaptors for your desktops that might not have them already installed. The simplest type to purchase are USB wireless network cards, as internal cards require considerably more work (and know-how) to install them.

Installing your Network

Now that you have the needed equipment, assembling the home network should be straightforward. However, the exact details will vary depending on the network's design.

As a general rule, its best to set up the network centerpiece (your router) first , then configure each of the computers and other devices to join the network one at a time. Most wireless adaptors have a pretty good range, and will pick up a signal throughout your house, depending on construction. Ideally, a central location in your home would be preferred. If you're going to be connecting the router to an existing desktop, you might be limited in your choices of where to put the router.

• Plug in the router's power source, then turn on the router by pushing the power button.
  
  
• Connect your Internet modem to the router. Most network modems connect via an Ethernet cable but USB connections are becoming increasingly common. The jack on the back of your router may or may not be labeled, but if it's not, simply plug it into the 1st port. After connecting the cable, be sure to turn the modem power off and then back on again to initialize the router and be sure the router recognizes it.
  
  
• Connect one computer to the router. Even if the router is a wireless model, connect this first computer to the router via a network cable. Using a cable during router installation ensures the maximum reliability of the equipment. Once a wireless router installation is complete, the computer can be changed over to a wireless connection if desired.
  
  
• Open the router's administration tool. From the computer connected to the router, open your Web browser. Enter the router's IP address for network administration in the Web address field and hit return to reach the router's home page. Many routers can be accessed by either the IP address "http://192.168.1.1" or "http://192.168.0.1" Consult your router's documentation to determine the exact address for your model. Note that you do not need a working Internet connection for this step.
  
  
• Log in to the router. The router's home page will ask you for a username and password. Both are provided in the router's documentation. You should change the router's password for security reasons, but do this after the installation is complete to avoid unnecessary complications during the basic setup. While you might be tempted to forgo setting up a password, I definitely recommend keeping your network password protected. This will prevent others from using your bandwidth, as many ISP's only provide a certain amount of bandwidth per month to their users. If your neighbor is "borrowing" bandwidth, it could definitely affect your monthly bill, if your family is a heavy internet user.
  
  
• If you want your router to connect to the Internet, you will need to enter Internet connection information into that section of the router's configuration (exact location varies). If using DSL Internet, you may need to enter the PPoE username and password. Likewise, if you have been issued a static IP address by your provider (you would need to have requested it), the static IP fields (including network mask and gateway) given to you by the provider must also must be set in the router.
  
  
• If this is a wireless router, change the name of your network (typically called SSID). While the router comes to you with a network name set at the factory, you will never want to use this name on your network, as this makes your network more vulnerable to hackers.
  
  
• Verify the network connection is working between the router and your computer. To do this, you must confirm that the computer has received IP address information from the router. To find your IP address (in Windows XP, 2000 and Vista), click your Start menu and in the Search bar, type "Run". Type "cmd" in the box that appears to open the Command prompt. Type "ipconfig/all" at the prompt and hit enter. Details are shown for all the computer's network adaptors. Your MAC address (or Physical Address) will be listed as well as your IP address, sometimes listed as IPv4 address.
  
  
• Verify your one computer can connect to the Internet properly. Open your Web browser and visit a few Internet sites such as http://www.theresasheridan.com!
  
  
• Connect additional computers to the router as needed. If connecting wirelessly, ensure the network name (SSID) of each is computer matches that of the router. Your laptops will find the network on their own. You just type in the network password to connect.

Happy browsing!

Web Design Trends for 2010

This article from Web Design Ledger highlights what are the modern trends in website design, as well as what is no longer considered stylish. If you've been thinking about a facelift for your website, this article might give you some great ideas. Check it out at http://webdesignledger.com/tips/web-design-trends-for-2010.

Ten Timely Tips for Time Management

If you’re like most of us, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished and still have a few minutes of sanity to yourself. There are numerous things pulling us in twice as many directions, so staying on top of your game and being efficient and organized is key to successfully juggling life these days.

Fortunately there are proven techniques to managing our time and being the most efficient…..and effective….that we can be. Here are a few of the things that absolutely work for me.......MORE »

The Copyright Mystery

It’s a fact, most people do not have a clear understanding of federal copyright law. To the average user, if an image, story or article is posted on the internet, it MUST be free for the taking, right? Not quite.

What most people do not understand is that when an individual creates a piece of work, it is automatically given copyrights. Registration with the U. S. Copyright Office is voluntary, and works are protected the moment they are created.......MORE »

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Tech Tips ~

Mail Chimp -

Shortly after I released October's newsletter about email marketing, I stumbled across Mail Chimp. This service has a FREE option for up to 500 recipients, and an easy interface to help you get your email marketing campaign underway. Go to www.mailchimp.com to learn more, or call me to see how I can help you promote your business!

Google Translator -

If you've been thinking about translating your website into another language, this free tool makes it simple. The code is easily generated and your web designer can insert it into your pages quickly. With one click, the visitor can translate your entire site into the languages that you have preselected. If you've been wanting to market your business to other countries, this tool can make it a lot easier for your site visitors from those countries to see exactly what you have to offer. Check it out at here.

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60 Inspiring Examples of Black & White Photography -

If you're needing some inspiration visit this page. It will inspire your creativity along with your humanity. http://bit.ly/1m9pvi

In Next Month's Issue ~

• Print Ad Design Techniques