Setting up a home network- basics

Today we will learn a little bit about networking.....if you have more than one computer and you want to connect them all together off of one modem (which is where you signal comes in from your ISP provider) you have to get a "router"....be it "wireless" or hard wired-(which is kinda outdated now)

when you get a wireless router make sure it is at least a "g"--the newest is "n"

now you take your ethernet cable from your modem and hook it into the wireless/hardwired router in the WAN in the back of the unit..then you take another ethernet cable and hook it from the router -usually 4 port- and stick that into one of those ports and then into your computer ethernet jack (for desktops) ...now the network is rigged up right...that's the first step....your wireless laptops don't need a physical cable...

then you have to turn off everything, computers, modem, and router...this allows it all to "set" properly and see everything once it boots up.....now the process is this......and must be followed exactly....

turn on the modem...wait for all the lights to come on and connect to ISP
turn on router....wait for all the lights to come on and connect to modem
then turn on computer and let it see the network.....Call your ISP and have them record the MAC address on that router otherwise all is in vain....make sure you do this...most people don't and can't understand why it doesn't work!

once all is up and running you should see your wireless router and connect to it via your browser...read instructions that came with your router....and make SURE you secure it with WPA/PS2 security....

make sure all the computers on your network have the same "network name"....if not they will not link together...to do this go into >control panel>network setup wizard> and from there follow the steps...if you want to share your files and printer check that too....make sure all the computers have the same name as I mentioned....you put that in yourself....after doing this network setup you will have to reboot all the computer to make them see each other...Happy Networking!