Windows XP Unwired

Chapter 5. Configuring Wireless Access Points

So far you have been learning about how wireless networks work and how to connect to one. In this chapter, I show you how to deploy a wireless network yourself. I illustrate this using two different wireless access points and considering how they might be used in two different environments—one at home and another in the office. Of course, many home users will have needs that are closer to that of an office, and some small offices may have needs closer to that of a home user. For the purposes of these examples, the home environment is assumed to have consumer-level broadband access, while the office environment is assumed to have a more extensive wired network in place.

Setting Up a Wireless Network

The cost for setting up a wireless network has, over the years, been lowered substantially. Today, you can easily set up a wireless network at home for about $200. For that amount, you can get a wireless access point, a wireless PC card (for your notebook), and a USB wireless adapter (for your desktop).

Tip

In this section, I am assuming you want your wireless users to access the Internet. If your aim is to simply connect two machines wirelessly, you do not need a DSL/ADSL modem and wireless access point. All you need is a wireless adapter or card for each computer. See Section 5.5 later in this chapter.

To set up your own wireless network, you need the following:

• A DSL/ADSL or cable modem with an Ethernet connector (you may also have satellite ...