Setting up a new WLAN

Required equipment:

●A broadband modem (either DSL or cable) (purchased separately) (1) and high-speed Internet service purchased from an Internet service provider (ISP)

●A wireless router (purchased separately) (2)

NOTE: Some cable modems include a built-in router. Check with your ISP to see if you need a separate router.

●The wireless computer (3)

The illustration below shows an example of a wireless network installation that is connected to the Internet.

NOTE: When setting up a wireless connection, be sure that your computer and wireless router are synchronized. To synchronize your computer and wireless router, turn your computer and wireless router off and then back on.

As your network grows, additional wireless and wired computers can be connected to the network to access the Internet.

For help in setting up your WLAN, refer to the information provided by your router manufacturer or your ISP.

Protecting your WLAN

When you set up a WLAN or access an existing WLAN, always enable security features to protect your network from unauthorized access. WLANs in public areas (hotspots) like coffee shops and airports may not provide any security. If you are concerned about the security of your computer in a hotspot, limit your network activities to e-mail that is not confidential and basic Internet surfing.

Wireless radio signals travel outside the network, so other WLAN devices can pick up unprotected signals. You can take the following precautions to protect your WLAN:

●Firewall—A firewall checks both data and requests for data that are sent to your network, and discards any suspicious items. Firewalls are available in both software and hardware. Some networks use a combination of both types.

●Wireless encryption—Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) uses security settings to encrypt and decrypt data transmitted over the network. WPA uses Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) to dynamically generate a new key for every packet. It also generates different sets of keys for each computer on the network.

Roaming to another network

When you move your computer within range of another WLAN, Windows attempts to connect to that network. If the attempt is successful, your computer is automatically connected to the new network. If

6

Chapter 2 Networking (select models only)