Wireless home networks are becoming more and more popular these day. The ease of installation and the practicality of being able to surf the net anywhere in the house makes wireless home networks very attractive to internet users. Setting up a wireless home network is quite easy but you need to know some basic things about wireless networks before attempting to start the set up. You can read up more about the? wireless networking protocols to help you get a better understanding of wireless networking.

To set up a wireless home network you need to have broadband internet connection with a cable or DSL modem. The common set up at home is usually that of the desk top computer being plugged directly into the modem. In this tutorial we will assume that you have a laptop that you want to connect wirelessly to the PC that is connected to the internet. You need some hardware to make this possible. First you need to have a wireless router. You also need to add a USB wireless network adapter to your desk top PC and a PC card-based network adapter for your laptop computer. For obvious reasons, it is advisable to choose the same vendor for all the additional hardware you buy. Refer to the documentation that comes with your hardware for the installation process.

When you already have all the necessary hardware installed, you can begin the set up. First you need to unplug or turn off the DSL modem then connect the wireless router to the modem. You can check the documentation that came with your hardware for assistance. When you’ve set it up your computer will wirelessly connect to your router. The next step is to configure your wireless router. With Internet Explorer you can go to your router’s configuration page.

Most of the default settings there are rather safe left alone but there are some things that you need to configure. You need to choose a unique wireless network name or SSID, this will be the name of your network. Be sure that no one around that is near you is using the same name. The next step is, if your router requires it, to provide a unique passphrase that it will use to generate some keys. Then the last step to do before you are done with configuring the router is setting your administrative password. Choose a password that is not easy to guess and not too short for security reasons. Be sure to save every setting you’ve configured. The actual steps involved in configuring these settings? vary according to the kind of router you have.

The next step is to configure your laptop’s network adapter. It is easy to follow Window’s XP’s on-screen instructions for this one. Right-click the icon for wireless network in your task bar and select “View Available Wireless Networks” in the pop up menu that appears. The Wireless Network Connection window will show and there you will see the name you chose for your wireless network listed. Click Refresh network list in the upper-left corner if you don’t see your network. You will then be prompted to enter a key, this is the key that you wrote down in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes. Click Connect. You will then see connection progress as it connects to your network. When you’re already connected you can close the Wireless Network Connection window. You’re done, you’ve set up wireless connection.

By: Pinky Mcbanon

Verizon FiOS has a bundle package you can choose, and the bundling will allow you to make sure that you are able to get a free laptop, but also that you are able to get the services that you desire. A bundled deal offers great value for the consumer and is the most popular right now.

When you are looking for something like a free laptop, a good thing to think about is the various deals that you might be able to make with companies in order to get one. With Verizon FiOS,you are going to be able to get great deals on a free laptop for numerous reasons.

Anytime someone signs up for a bundled Verizon FiOS plan such as the Double Play or Triple Play, you will have the option to choose a free labtop with your order. Now there are various packaged plans and details may differ slighlty, but getting a solid packaged triple play plan will get you that free labtop you have always dreamed of.

The Better Triple Play is a bundle that you will be able to get that will allow you to get a free laptop. With this bundle, which is priced at $119, you are still going to get the same thing, the phone and the internet and TV, but the internet will be at 25/15 mbps, and you will be able to get the computer free.

The third plan that will allow you to get a computer is the Best Triple Play. This is a service that starts at $129. It is phone, internet, and TV, but the TV is Extreme HD, and you get premium channels. You also get the internet at 25/15. The computer comes free with this service.

Verizon FiOS offers value bundle plans for consumers willing to sign up for packages that offer value and savings.

By: Russell Blanc

More and more people are using their laptop to do their daily task. Most of them use it to connect to Internet via wireless connection. Laptop wireless problems are one of the common problems that a laptop user usually faces. Here are some tips that will hopefully help you solve some common causes of laptop wireless connection problem.

One factor why laptop problems occur is different manufacturer has different ways of implementing how to use their laptop wireless systems. Laptop wireless connection problem is a big problem especially if you rely on connectivity to do your work. Laptop wireless problem can have many causes and sometimes the simplest solution to this kind of problem is by first checking your wireless network adapter to see if it is on.

Remember that some laptops will have small buttons on the side to turn its wireless network adapter on while on others brands you will need to enable it via its operating system.

The first step you should do in troubleshooting your wireless connection is by checking if your laptop’s network adapter in the Device Manager is enabled or not. You need to enable your network adapter if it is disabled. If your laptop uses a PCMIA or USB wireless adapter, remove it and insert it again. After you inserted it again you can tell if your laptop wireless problem is fixed by the lights on the adapter.

Driver compatibility is another thing that you should check if you are experiencing wireless connection problem. Making sure that the correct device driver is installed for your particular wireless Internet adapter. Checking if the right driver is installed in your system makes sure that you will not run experience all kinds of problems with your laptop wireless. You should also make sure to install the router properly.

If you are sure that your router is working perfectly then the problem that you might be experiencing with your wireless connection is due to low signal from your wireless network. Try to move closer to your access point and see if your connection will improve. If not then try placing all your cordless phones, microwaves, and other electrical equipments 1m or more away from your access point or try to reposition it where it will be accessible near you.

By: Jewel Cole

Most people have the mind set that you need to be at home, at the office, or in a coffee shop. This simply isn’t the case.

People have been using the data signal that comes off of phone towers for years to access the internet. This allows anyone, anywhere to access the internet as long as they are somewhere their cell phone could pick up a signal. In the United States the most common signals in use are EV-DO (belonging to the CDMA protocol) and HSDPA (HSPA protocol), which fit under the 3G family.

EV-DO, which stands for Evolution Data Optimized, will handle a bandwidth of 1.25MHz, which will send data packets at a speed of 2.4 Mbit/s at its maximum speed. HSDPA supports several different down-link speeds, such as 1.8, 3.6, 7.2, and 14.4 Mbit/s, depending on which city you live in. Curiously, though most people view the Apple iPhone as being one of the most advanced data phones on the market, the current version receives the EDGE signal, a member of the older and generally slower 2G family.

To get access to these data networks you’ll have to get a data plan from cell providers such as Verizon or Sprint and will run you a monthly fee. If you are receiving these signals on a smart phone, you’ll probably be paying somewhere between $15 and $25 or so. If you want to use this signal on a laptop computer, your provider will give you a PCMCIA card, an ExpressCard, or a USB module to receive their signal, and it will probably run you somewhere in the $60-80 a month range.

There is a way to pay this $60-80 dollar a month range and share your data connection with others. There are wireless routers (often called 3G routers, mobile routers, or cellular routers) out there that allow you to slip in a PCMCIA card, ExpressCard, or USB receiver. The router then translates that signal to a Wifi (802.11) signal that you can share with others. You can take a business team on a business trip and avoid expensive hotel fees for internet access as well.

As long as everyone has wifi on their laptop, they will be able to instantly connect to the router. Unfortunately since mobile data technology still has a lower bandwidth than what you are used to from a cable modem or T1 line, the amount of people that can connect to one of these routers is limited. You probably want to keep it to around 3 or 4 people.

By: Cameron Postelwait

Have you ever experienced the situation that you turned on your laptop in the cafe which provides the free wireless internet use and just find out that your laptop can not connect? By following a few steps here,you are able to get your laptop connected without needing to call somebody else coming to rescue you!

The first thing that you need to do is making certain the physical “WiFi” switch on the laptop is turned on. And if you do not know clearly where it is, lift your laptop up then look it over. It is generally indicated by one small bubble looking logo which has the word “WiFi” just in the middle of it. If you find this switch is turned off, just turn it to on position. Also sometimes there is and indicator that is built into your laptop, located normally near the place where your laptop shows you it is on, which will show one lighting up “WiFi” logo to get you know that it’s connected.

If it is still not working? Then you should make certain that your laptop does not get the wireless internet disabled. So, check the taskbar at the low right corner of the laptop’s desktop for one small row of the symbols. Check and find out if there is one small computer which has lines coming from it, normally they are green.

If you just can not find it from there, click start button at the low left corner of desktop. There you may find one small globe symbol with one cord out of it and on right side of menu which says ‘connect to…’. Hovering over that, and then clicking on the Wireless Internet Connections. While you reach that screen, just make certain the wireless is already enabled, or you may enable it once you make a click on it.

By: Mike J Howard

Being flexible in business is an essential factor these days. The wireless solution, a cost-effective and secure technology, allows for building mobility and versatility.

Wireless technology is the same as the technology used in a mobile phone. It uses radio waves to carry data from one point to another. However, one disadvantage with the wireless is that the user must be in the access range. Wireless LAN uses a radio communications device called an access point to connect to the network computers. Access points are small and lightweight, with an antenna attached to send data back and forth over the airwaves.

Wireless networks are usually inexpensive and easy to maintain. Wireless networks eliminate the cost of setting up a wired network, which typically means running Cat-5 cable through the ceiling and walls of the office to each workstation or computer. It is also cost effective and saves the time required for the cable installation. One major advantage is that shifting is easy with a wireless network.

Some of the major advantages of wireless networks are increased productivity, security, easy set up, faster access, efficient collaboration, and industry solutions provided by the companies.

Since wireless network provides convenient access to local network resources and Internet connections, the laptop or the notebook computer can be taken anywhere inside or outside the office, increasing productivity.

It is important to understand that the security level in wireless network technology is the same as the type of security existing on wired networks in conjunction with existing network security technology.

Wireless network provides quick access to the network server. Also, it is easier to share files or exchange e-mails with the team on-site or off-site. It makes it easier to connect to the company intranet.

For a wireless network connection, the user needs a wireless router, Wi-Fi ready computers and LAN capability or a wireless add-in card. Wireless laptops can be used from a broad range of locations like cafes hotels, and airports. These places would have a “hotspot” that can be detected by the wireless laptop. Hotspots are usually free or fee based.

While using wireless laptops in public places, it is suggested to turn off file sharing and avoid sending or receiving sensitive email or personal data. Users should activate a firewall if possible. Always use VPN to connect to work or school from public places.

By: Jimmy Sturo

The use of Laptop is increasing day by day and so is increasing the Attack of Viruses on the Laptops. As these Laptops are portable ones and easy to configure anywhere to connect to the Internet it has become more and more prone to the Virus Attach than the Desktop which we use as a stationed machine rather. As the Wireless technology or having the facility of an inbuilt Wireless LAN configure to your Laptop one can easily access and can connect to the Internet anywhere the need arises. Now this becomes the loopholes for most of the Virus as well as the Hacker attack. Here are some of the listed tips which one should follow before connecting your wireless network from the Laptop.

1. Always go for having a secure surfing when the needs arise for you to have the access of the Internet through wireless. Never be in a habit of login into the WebPages such as your bank account or many of such login websites while you are not sure about the network security.

2. Always go for having a proper Firewall installed on your system as this will prevent any of the hacker threats or Virus attack from entering your Laptop.

3. Never install any ActiveX components if you are not fully secure about a particular webpage. Always be very attentive of surfing while you are being connected to the network of which you are not 100% sure about its security.

4. Always keep both your firewall and Anti Virus up to date. As this will install the latest updates and protect your system from any of the threats which arises.

These all things will help you prevent from any of the Hacker or Virus attack when you are not very much sure about the network which you are connected with. Be very much aware of the network which you are connecting with the Wireless LAN of your laptop.

By: Didier Pradel