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Setup your own Hotspot

September 18, 2005 on 5:15 pm | In Daily News |

Step 1: Getting Started

The core of a Wi-Fi network is a wireless router or gateway,you can use the D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G 802.11g router, which sells for less than $70. You’ll also need a wireless adapter for each system that connects to the network. Or if your laptop allready has a WiFi card built in , then
you are lucky!

Step 2: Preparation

You may need a few bits of information to set up your router correctly. Double-click the Network Connections icon within Control Panel and right-click the icon for your PC’s Ethernet adapter. Then choose Properties > Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) > Properties. If “Use the following IP address” is highlighted, your Internet access uses a static IP address. Jot down the IP address, the subnet mask, and the default gateway. Then click “Obtain an IP address automatically.” Click OK to apply your changes and OK again to close the dialog.

If you have a DSL connection, you’ll probably need the username and the password your system requires to connect to your ISP. If you don’t know the values, try looking within the software your ISP provided. You may need to uninstall the PPPoE connection software that your ISP provided. To find out, check your router’s documentation.

Now is also a good time to collect the MAC addresses of any wireless-network adapters you’ll be installing. The MAC address should be printed on the Wi-Fi PC Card or the PCI adapter.

Step 3: Install the router

Before you install the router, power down your PC and modem, then disconnect the Ethernet cable from your PC and connect it to your router’s WAN port so that the Ethernet cable connects the modem to the router. Now, you’ll need to string a second Ethernet cable between your PC’s Ethernet port and one of the router’s Ethernet ports.

Turn on the modem and wait until it connects. Plug in and power on the router and turn on your PC. When your system boots, open a browser window and try a few Web sites to test your Internet connection

Step 4: Configure the router

Using the PC connected to the router, launch your browser. In the URL address field, enter the router-configuration IP address provided in the documentation–192.168.0.1 for the D-Link DI-624. You’ll also need to enter the configuration-utility ID (usually “admin”) and the default password.

Next, enter the information you collected in step 3 as instructed in your router’s installation guide. If you jotted down an IP address in step 1, set the router to use a static IP address and enter the address and other information. If you’re a DSL user, you’ll likely need to choose a PPPoE Internet-connection type, then enter the username and password you selected to log on to your ISP.

Leave other settings such as encryption and SSID at their defaults for now, exit your router’s configuration routine, and check your Internet connection. If you still can’t access any Web sites, check your router’s documentation for troubleshooting advice and call the manufacturer for technical support, if necessary.

Step 5: Configure

If your wireless systems won’t connect to the Internet, try disabling Windows XP’s wireless connection utility.
If your wireless systems won’t connect to the Internet just yet, you may need to take another step or two. On a Windows XP system, try disabling the Windows wireless-configuration feature to establish a connection. This step is also necessary if you want to use the bundled utilities. To disable this feature, click the XP Networking icon (it looks like two computer monitors) in the system tray at the bottom right of your screen. When the Wireless Network Connection dialog appears, click the Advanced button and select the Wireless Networks tab. Uncheck “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings” and click OK to accept the change. Now reboot your system to bring the connection to life.

For operating system versions other than Windows XP, a simple reboot may be all it takes to get your Wi-Fi adapter running correctly after driver installation. Move on to the next steps even if you still can’t connect after rebooting. They should solve the problem.

Security:

To secure your new Wi-Fi network, go to your wireless router’s configuration utility again by entering its IP address in your browser. Using the router documentation or built-in help, if necessary, find the option that lets you change the default password. With the DI-624, this option lives within the Tools page. Apply the change but leave the configuration routine open for the next step.

Service set Id (SSID):

The next step in securing your network is changing its name, which is usually referred to as the service set identifier (SSID). With the DI-624, you reach this setting by clicking the Wireless button. Change the default SSID to anything you like but avoid values that an intruder might guess, such as your last name. Apply the change without exiting.

Enable encryption:

Now enable encryption. If your router and all of your wireless adapters support it, use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption with a preshared key. This provides more than adequate security for most home users. If your hardware doesn’t support WPA, enable Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption.

Most routers let you create WEP or WPA keys by entering a passphrase. You’ll likely need to enter the passphrase twice for verification. Apply the changes without exiting.

If you’ve followed our instructions faithfully, your wireless systems will now be unable to connect to the router. To reestablish the connection, change the SSID within the wireless-configuration utility for each wireless adapter to match the value you entered for the router. You’ll also need to enable the same type of encryption you enabled in the router and provide exactly the same passphrase. After you apply the changes to each system, it should connect to the router and the Internet.
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