1. Installation and Setting up a Wireless LAN

2. Why would you want a Wireless LAN? Because it would take a lot of cable to set up your Internet, and a wireless router and card would be cheaper and more organized. Because it would take a lot of cable to set up your Internet, and a wireless router and card would be cheaper and more organized. Your staff uses mostly laptops and travels through the building jotting notes. Your staff uses mostly laptops and travels through the building jotting notes. Wireless LANs also are good for make resources available in buildings where you may not be able to run wires. In these buildings your only options are to run a wireless network. Wireless LANs also are good for make resources available in buildings where you may not be able to run wires. In these buildings your only options are to run a wireless network. Another great aspect to a wireless LAN is if you were to move it is easy to rework your network in a different area. Where it is difficult for someone to relocate a regular LAN. Another great aspect to a wireless LAN is if you were to move it is easy to rework your network in a different area. Where it is difficult for someone to relocate a regular LAN.

3. Once you have decided how to you go about preparing for the set up? First you want to figure out how many devices you will be putting on the network. First you want to figure out how many devices you will be putting on the network. After deciding that you must buy either a LAN card, or a USB device to insert into each device. After deciding that you must buy either a LAN card, or a USB device to insert into each device. You also must buy at least one wireless adaptor, and if you have a large network you may want to consider more than one of these devices. 15 computers is a good number to be on one access point. You also must buy at least one wireless adaptor, and if you have a large network you may want to consider more than one of these devices. 15 computers is a good number to be on one access point.

4. Another thing you need to think of You also need to think about the placement of your router. Because if you put your router on the side of the building you will make it easier for a hacker to get into your network. By putting it in the center you also have to think if the signal will carry to everyone that should be on the network. You will need to think about this as well. If your wireless cannot be accessed by everyone through a single router you may have to think about putting more than one router for the network. You also need to think about the placement of your router. Because if you put your router on the side of the building you will make it easier for a hacker to get into your network. By putting it in the center you also have to think if the signal will carry to everyone that should be on the network. You will need to think about this as well. If your wireless cannot be accessed by everyone through a single router you may have to think about putting more than one router for the network.

5. How to decide which device to use for which of your devices. A USB wireless adaptor would be a good idea for desktop computers that you would not like to tear apart. This device allows you to plug it into your USB port and access the wireless internet that way. A USB wireless adaptor would be a good idea for desktop computers that you would not like to tear apart. This device allows you to plug it into your USB port and access the wireless internet that way.

6. How to decide which device to use for which of your devices. (cont.) A wireless LAN card would be a card that you would put into a device like a laptop that would allow the computer to access a certain workgroup/your internet network. A wireless LAN card would be a card that you would put into a device like a laptop that would allow the computer to access a certain workgroup/your internet network.

7. How to decide which device to use for which of your devices. (cont.) A router is the device that you would hook up to the Ethernet port that will allow you to send the wireless to your other devices. A router is the device that you would hook up to the Ethernet port that will allow you to send the wireless to your other devices.

8. How to decide which device to use for which of your devices. (cont.) Another idea of something you might want to add to your network is wireless PDA’s. There are also adaptors available for these devices. Another idea of something you might want to add to your network is wireless PDA’s. There are also adaptors available for these devices.

9. Now that I have the devices how do I start my network? After purchasing the devices you need to either insert the LAN card, or install the USB device into the computers. After purchasing the devices you need to either insert the LAN card, or install the USB device into the computers. Next you will need to hook your router up to the Ethernet port in the wall. Next you will need to hook your router up to the Ethernet port in the wall. Lastly you will need to use the software that comes with your router, and set it up so that only the people you would like to have access to your network have access to your network. Lastly you will need to use the software that comes with your router, and set it up so that only the people you would like to have access to your network have access to your network.

10. Other thoughts when implementing a Wireless LAN. If your wireless router does not come with a disk, you may need to get drivers for the router although most of the time the routers are plug and play devices. If your wireless router does not come with a disk, you may need to get drivers for the router although most of the time the routers are plug and play devices. Next, normally you will want to open an internet explorer page and type in my.router. After doing this you should have a page come up. Next, normally you will want to open an internet explorer page and type in my.router. After doing this you should have a page come up.

11. What if the page doesn’t come up? Sometimes your computer will not recognize the router in which case it may be that you might need to go into the properties of your TCP/IP and change the settings for your IP address. Sometimes your computer will not recognize the router in which case it may be that you might need to go into the properties of your TCP/IP and change the settings for your IP address.

12. How do I know if it is working properly? If your wireless is working properly you should have an icon in the bottom right hand corner of your screen that looks like a monitor with three curved lines next to it. If your wireless is working properly you should have an icon in the bottom right hand corner of your screen that looks like a monitor with three curved lines next to it. If that is there you then need to double click on it to see if the network you set up is there. If that is there you then need to double click on it to see if the network you set up is there. Finally to see if it is properly set up you may want to see if a computer that is not registered on your network can access your network. Finally to see if it is properly set up you may want to see if a computer that is not registered on your network can access your network.

14. If it isn’t working properly what do I do? If you are still having troubles setting up your wireless LAN you may want to call the company that makes it, and ask them if there is anything that you are doing wrong. Sometimes the company will walk you through the process of setting up the router. If you are still having troubles setting up your wireless LAN you may want to call the company that makes it, and ask them if there is anything that you are doing wrong. Sometimes the company will walk you through the process of setting up the router. You also might want to find someone who has set one up before, and ask them if they had the same difficulties, because chances are if you are having a problem someone else has had the same problem at one point or another. You also might want to find someone who has set one up before, and ask them if they had the same difficulties, because chances are if you are having a problem someone else has had the same problem at one point or another.

15. If it isn’t working properly what do I do?(cont.) Another thing to check if your wireless is not working right is if you are too far away from your router. If you are too far away from it your computer may not be able to pick up the signal from the router. Therefore inhibiting you from being able to access the internet through your wireless devices. Another thing to check if your wireless is not working right is if you are too far away from your router. If you are too far away from it your computer may not be able to pick up the signal from the router. Therefore inhibiting you from being able to access the internet through your wireless devices.

16. Disadvantages for Wireless LAN’s vs. LANs Yes, cordless phones, radios, and other nearby wireless LANs can also interfere or degrade the operation of a wireless LAN. “External sources of RF energy in the 2.4GHz band periodically block users and access points from accessing the shared air medium. As a result, the performance of your wireless LAN will suffer when RF interference is present. So obviously you should strive to minimize sources of RF interference and possibly set the access point channels to avoid the interfering signals. (Geier)” Yes, cordless phones, radios, and other nearby wireless LANs can also interfere or degrade the operation of a wireless LAN. “External sources of RF energy in the 2.4GHz band periodically block users and access points from accessing the shared air medium. As a result, the performance of your wireless LAN will suffer when RF interference is present. So obviously you should strive to minimize sources of RF interference and possibly set the access point channels to avoid the interfering signals. (Geier)”

17. Disadvantages for Wireless LAN’s vs. LANs (cont.) Security is also another disadvantage for Wireless LANs. Because wireless LANs are transported over radio signals through a broad area there is a big risk of intruders getting into your information. Security is also another disadvantage for Wireless LANs. Because wireless LANs are transported over radio signals through a broad area there is a big risk of intruders getting into your information.

18. How to deal with the security risks for Wireless LANs “First, the business can program a special coded number into each access point and every authorized wireless device.” “As further protection a business can encode data transmitted between the access point and the wireless device in such a way that only the recipient can decode the message using a special electronic “key.” (Ciampa, 20)” “First, the business can program a special coded number into each access point and every authorized wireless device.” “As further protection a business can encode data transmitted between the access point and the wireless device in such a way that only the recipient can decode the message using a special electronic “key.” (Ciampa, 20)”

19. What else will I need to finish my Wireless LAN? You also want to make sure you have a/an: -virus protection software -virus protection software -pop-up blocker (normally included with a good virus protection) -spy-ware/spam-ware -a good security policy in place

20. What if an unauthorized user can access my network? If you find that a computer that you did not authorize can get onto your network you may want to go back and try to reconfigure your settings on your router to make sure this will not happen in the future. If you find that a computer that you did not authorize can get onto your network you may want to go back and try to reconfigure your settings on your router to make sure this will not happen in the future.

21. Can you mix both Wireless LANs and regular LANs? Yes, some of the routers you may find might actually have places in the back of it for outgoing lines that way you can hook up not only your wireless to the router, but you can hook up a Cat 5 cable to it to use on your desktop. This can be beneficial, because many desktops do not come with a wireless card, and this way you can be able to access the internet with your desktop and your laptop with the same set up. Yes, some of the routers you may find might actually have places in the back of it for outgoing lines that way you can hook up not only your wireless to the router, but you can hook up a Cat 5 cable to it to use on your desktop. This can be beneficial, because many desktops do not come with a wireless card, and this way you can be able to access the internet with your desktop and your laptop with the same set up.

22. At the conclusion of setting up your Wireless LAN. At the end of setting up your wireless LAN you are going to want to document what you have done. That way if someone needs to go back and change/fix something they know what you have done. This way also if something happens and you cannot go back to look at the problem, one of your co-workers can figure out what you did wrong or differently that may not have been working (Geier). At the end of setting up your wireless LAN you are going to want to document what you have done. That way if someone needs to go back and change/fix something they know what you have done. This way also if something happens and you cannot go back to look at the problem, one of your co-workers can figure out what you did wrong or differently that may not have been working (Geier).

23. Sources “Solutions-how-to guides.” Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. 2006. 25 Sept. 2006. “Solutions-how-to guides.” Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. 2006. 25 Sept. 2006. “Wireless Networking Guide.” 25 Sept. 2006. “Wireless Networking Guide.” 25 Sept. 2006. Geier, Jim. “Maximizing Wireless LAN Performance.” Wi-Fi Planet. 2002. 7 Oct. 2006.. Geier, Jim. “Maximizing Wireless LAN Performance.” Wi-Fi Planet. 2002. 7 Oct. 2006.. Ciampa, Mark. Guide to Designing and Implementing Wireless LANs. Canada: Course Technology Thomas Learning, 2001. Ciampa, Mark. Guide to Designing and Implementing Wireless LANs. Canada: Course Technology Thomas Learning, 2001. Geier, Jim. “Wireless LAN Installation Steps.” Wi-Fi Planet. 2003. 9 Oct. 2006.. Geier, Jim. “Wireless LAN Installation Steps.” Wi-Fi Planet. 2003. 9 Oct. 2006..

24. Questions?