Buying & Setting up your Computer for Wireless Internet

Naturally, if you are interested in purchasing a router for the first time, then we assume that you are trying to set up a network in your home or office. A router allows more than one computer to connect to the same internet connection, and in recent years, we have seen an incredible advance in wireless technology which now allows setting up with fewer cables.

A Little History

One of the first wireless connections started with Wireless A or Wireless B (sometimes seen as 802.11a and 802.11b). Unfortunately, both platforms  allowed for minimal connectivity and poor signal strength, so when the far more refined Wireless G (802.11g), and now the very recent Wireless N (sometimes seen as Wireless Draft-N or 802.11n) were released, Wireless A and Wireless B pretty much vanished. As a result, what will be discussed in this guide will be centered around Wireless G and Wireless N routers, as they are the most up to date, provide the best performance, and are the easiest to find.

Since wireless routers, as well as routers in general, are designed for a broadband connection, the one requirement in order to get a fully functioning network is to have high-speed internet (cable or DSL). Those with a dial-up connection are unfortunately out of luck. However, very few internet users these days use dial-up, so hopefully this requirement is already met.

So, how do you know if your computer is wireless ready? Many if not all new computers nowadays (either a desktop or a laptop) now come prepared with the necessary hardware to connect to any wireless network. But not everybody has a brand new machine. You may have to make an additional purchase in order to connect to a wireless network. However, here is how to check to see if your computer already has a wireless adapter.

The best way to check to see if you have a wireless adapter already installed into your computer is through your Device Manager. The quickest way to access this in Windows Vista and Windows 7 is to type "Device Manager" in your Start Menu. If you're using Windows XP, choose Run and then type the command devmgmt.msc.

In the Device Manager window, scroll down and expand the Network Adapters option. This will show you a list of adapters that will allow you to connect to the internet. There should be at least one option for Ethernet (wired), but if you're not seeing a wireless adapter, then your computer isn't wireless out of the box. But this doesn't mean that you can't connect to the internet wirelessly.

If you're running on a laptop, you'll need to check to see if you have a slot for a networking card. The network card is an older means of connecting to a router, but is still widely available. They're a little bulkier in size than the more common way of connecting (such as a USB adapter), but they're still a great way of getting connected. They vary heavily in price, from about $20 to up to $90.

If you're working on a desktop, the alternative to a notebook card is a desktop card (sometimes seen as a PCI card). Unfortunately, there's no simple slot for you to insert or remove the card. Since the desktop card is a piece of internal hardware, it will need to be installed into the tower. Essentially, what it looks like when completed is an antenna that sticks out the back of the tower. Some recent computers come with a PCI card already, so check to see if you have an antenna, because there are chances that you may already have one. This is a more expensive route, as desktop cards can cost from $40 up to $150. If you wish to have it installed at a retailer, then that's even more you'll have to spend.

There is of course a far more modern way of connecting to a wireless router, and this is the use of the Wireless USB Adapter. In comparison with the network card, it's smaller, lighter, and more compact. They also cost around the same as a notebook adapter, which is roughly $30 to $90. More importantly, it's easy to install. All you need is a free USB port. Plug it in, and you're connected.

This is particularly important to know. Because wireless routers run on a 2.4GHz frequency, you need to make sure that there's nothing else within the vicinity (your home, or office) that could be sharing it. For example, if you have a cordless phone or are considering purchasing one, it's highly recommended that it has a frequency of no less than 5.8GHz. Anything less than that will cause interference with your router and your phone, resulting in frustration.

What does this mean? If you have a cordless phone and a wireless router both using the same signals (2.4GHz), that will affect the signal of both any computer you're using to connect to the router, and especially if you're using the phone. If you're using a traditional corded phone, you'll have nothing to worry about. If you have a 2.4GHz (or less) cordless phone, you should consider upgrading to a phone with a higher frequency and avoid interference completely. Of course, not everybody wants to have to spend more than they have to, so if you have to use the phone while using the internet on the wireless router, you will lose the internet connection with the possibility of your call being dropped as well. For best performance, use a 5.8GHz phone, or go corded.

What about mobile phones? Because cellular phones also function on a high frequency (hey, you're getting your signal from somewhere...but not quite that near), they will not interfere with a wireless router's connectivity.