How To Share Broadband/Cable Internet Connection Using A Wireless Router and Set up Wireless Encryption

You can use a wireless network to share Internet access, files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard. Plus, it's easier to install than you think.

There are 6 steps to creating a wireless network and sharing internet connection, files and printer: Note first - Very first step is to make sure you turn off firewall on all pcs while you configure the internet. Once internet is established you can then turn it back on. (this process needs to be done because many firewalls will block even a home network from the internet)

You will need the Wireless Zero Configuration tool but it should already be installed and you should only need to download if you ahve problems.

• Choose your wireless equipment
  
• Connect your wireless router
  
• Configuring wireless security WEP/WPA and SSID on the router
  
• Connect your other computers or laptop to the wireless network
  
• To setup permanent preferred wireless connection to connect automatically when computer starts
  
• To turn wireless internet on in laptop/notebook
  
• How to share files and printer on your new wireless network

• Choose your wireless equipment

  The first step is to make sure that you have the equipment you need. As you're looking for products in stores or on the Internet, you might notice that you can choose equipment that supports three different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. 
  Shopping list 
  • Broadband Internet connection
  • Wireless router (The router converts the signals coming across your Internet connection into a wireless broadcast, sort of like a cordless phone base station. Be sure to get a wireless router, and not a wireless access point. Make sure your PC has an available Ethernet port)
  • A computer or laptop with built-in wireless networking support or a usb wireless network adapter (Network adapters wirelessly connect your other computer to main computer using your wireless router. If you have a newer computer you may already have wireless capabilities built in. If this is the case, then you will not need a wireless network adapter. If you need to purchase an adapter for a desktop computer, buy a USB wireless network adapter. If you have a laptop, buy a PC card-based network adapter. Make sure that you have one adapter for every computer on your network. (You do not need one for your main pc as this will use your original modem and new wireless router) 

• Connect your wireless router

  Since you'll be temporarily disconnected from the Internet you should save or print this page.  First, locate your cable modem or DSL modem and unplug it to turn it off.
  
  
  
  Next, connect your wireless router direct to your modem by Ethernet cable to the port labelled either Internet, WAN, or WLAN on your modem. Your modem should stay connected directly to the Internet. Later, after you've hooked everything up, your computer will wirelessly connect to your router, and the router will send communications through your modem to the Internet.  You then attach another Ethernet cable to any of the available ports and plug the other end into your main PC.   Next, plug in and turn on your cable or DSL modem. Wait a few minutes to give it time to connect to the Internet, and then plug in and turn on your wireless router. After a minute, the Internet, WAN, or WLAN light on your wireless router should light up, indicating that it has successfully connected to your modem.
  

• Configuring wireless security WEP/WPA and SSID on the router

  First, let's log on to the router you may need to your google to search for your routers settings. Here is an example and instructions below.

  

  1. Open your internet browser and type the address to access you router's settings linksys router's address is 192.168.1.1
  2. In the login box that appears type in the router's username and password for linksys it is admin and admin for both
  3. You are now looking for the SSID that should be displayed on the first page. Write it down for later reference. You should change the SSID from the default to something easier for you to remember and to keep your router more secure
  4. Now you want to setup wireless security. An example is below of the settings you are looking for. Select WEP in the security mode dropdown menu. Set the Default Transmit Key to 1. Select 128 bits hex digits from the WEP encryption dropdown menu. Enter any phrase or word in the Passphrase field and press the 'generate' button. The passphrase is just used to generate keys. It has no other purpose. Write down the first key that is generated as this is your WEP security key and needed with your SSID.
  
  

• Connect your other computers or laptop to the wireless network

  If your other computer or laptop does not have wireless network support built in, plug your wireless network adapter into your USB port, or insert the network adapter into an empty PC card slot (in the case of a laptop). Windows XP will automatically detect the new adapter, and may prompt you to insert the CD that came with your adapter. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the configuration process.  Windows XP should show an icon with a notification that says it has found a wireless network.
  
  
  
  Follow these steps to connect your computer to your wireless network:  Right-click the wireless network icon in the lower-right corner of your screen, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. If you run into any problems, consult the documentation that came with your network adapter.  The Wireless Network Connection window should appear and you should see your wireless network listed with the SSID network name you chose. If you don't see your network, click Refresh network list in the upper-left corner. Click your network, and then click Connect in the lower-right corner.
  
  
  
  Windows XP prompts you to enter a key. Type the encryption key that you wrote down earlier in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect.  Windows XP will show its progress as it connects to your network. After you're connected, you can now close the Wireless Network Connection window. You're done.  Note: If the Wireless Network Connection window continues to show Acquiring Network Address, you may have mistyped the encryption key wrong or if you can see other networks then you are in range of one of your neighbours and just ignore them.

• To setup permanent preferred wireless connection to connect automatically when computer starts

  Go to your Control Panel. Double click on Network Connections. Network Connections window will appear. Right click correct Wireless Network Connection by identifying correct wireless adapter and click Properties. Wireless Network Connection Properties will appear. Click Wireless Networks tab. Tick Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings. This will change the wireless adapter management from wireless adapter configuration software to Windows XP built-in wireless configuration tool. Click Add to create preferred wireless network. (if you have a built in wireless connection make sure you disable their software to configure the internet connection)  Note: Adding preferred networks will detect and join the added wireless network automatically if available when you restart your computer next time.
  For the preferred network setup below, type in your SSID that you wrote down from your router, network authentication open, data encryption chose whatever one you chose on the router either WEP or WPA then in the network key you need to type in exactly the key from the router that you wrote down, make sure there isn't a key in provide automatically for me, only now can you hit OK.
  
   
  
  After keying wireless network information, click Connection tab, and tick Connect when this network is in range. The computer should be able to connect to wireless network when its in range.
  
   
  
  You can create several networks and arrange the preferred network as according to your wishes or remove any unused connections from here.
  
   
  
  You should now have internet connection on all your computers and laptops. To share files and your printer too then follow the step 7.
  

• To turn wireless internet on in laptop/notebook

  Check the sides and front of your laptop for an actual switch or button for turning off/on your wireless connection. If your laptop does not have an on/off switch you may have a blue function key (lettered fn) on your keyboard, this key allows keys with blue functions on them to be used. The wireless function key is usually on the F2 key (look for a picture of a little radio tower). Pressing the FN button plus the corresponding function key together can toggle your wireless connection off/on. 

• How to share files and printer on your new wireless network

  Click on "My Network Places" and choose "Setup a home or small office network" Then click Next.
  Select "This computer connects direct to the internet" when it is your main pc connected through the router or select "This computer connects to the Internet through another computer on my network or through a residential gateway" if you are configuring one of you other wireless pcs and then click Next.  Enter a description of your computer (something like "Family Room PC" or "Office Computer"). Next, you'll have to select a name for the computer. This will be used to identify your computer on the network (like "Computer1", or "Bobs Computer"). All PCs on a network must have a unique name. Click Next when finished.  Next to Workgroup name enter the name of your workgroup. This is important because the workgroup name will also have to match the SSID of your router. A workgroup name identifies a group of computers on a network. If you plan on allowing these computers to communicate with each other, the workgroup name must be the same on all computers and match the router's SSID.  Review the settings you are about to apply. Click Next.
  Select "Just finish the wizard"  Then click Next. You now do the very same process on all other pcs or laptops you want to share printer and files with.  Your computer will need to be restarted before the settings take effect.  Once your computer has restarted you will then need to go to the pc with the printer attached and select printers in control panel and select properties and  click on sharing and enable the printers sharing properties. The same thing applies to any files you want to share. All you have to do is right click on the folder you want to share and select a name for it. I suggest you use your "my documents" folder to right click and share and most file including pics and music are saved there already. You also need to make sure that all comps are given access when sharing to be able to change files and folders.
  Once you have run the home network on all your computers and laptops then you can open "My Network Places" and click on "view workgroup computers" to see all connected computers and laptops. Your files will be automatically safe if you have setup security encryption on your router in the earlier steps.