Setting up a Wireless Network (to access internet)

If you are planning to setup wireless network at your home, you have following two ways:

1) Setup a Wireless Network with a router

Wireless router is connected to the internet via a modem. Wireless router enables computers within the range to connect to each other or internet.
Note that, computer is required to have Wireless Network Adapter to connect to wireless router. This could be one of the following. If you have a newer portable computer, you might already have wireless capabilities built in.

1. A wireless internal network card
2. USB network adapter
3. A wireless CardBus
4. CF network adapter.

Just follow the instructions specified in the following link to setup a Wireless Network.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/wireless.mspx


2) Setup a Wireless Network without a router

Without a wireless router, we can create Ad hoc wireless network. Here, one of the computers is designated to work as a router. The chosen computer which is to be designated as a router must already have a wired connection to the Internet.

This approach has following disadvantages:

1. If the computer connected to the Internet is shut down, all computers that are part of the ad hoc network lose their Internet access.
2. To connect to the Internet, one computer always needs a wired network connection.

Follow the instructions specified in the following link to setup a ad hoc wireless network:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/setup/adhoc.mspx


Further Info:
http://it.toolbox.com/wiki/index.php/Setting_a_Wireless_Network_on_Windows_XP_server_without_using_a_router