If you hate having to turn on a modem every time you use another
computer on your wireless network, get ready to be happy. There is a
way to resolve this problem, and it’s called a wireless router.
A wireless router is a small, low-power computer that does nothing but
provide Internet access to your wireless network. When you use a
wireless router, any computer on your network can be connected to the
Internet at any time, regardless of whatever other computers are turned
on. This is possible because a wireless router does only one thing, but
it does it very well. The router does not even need to be configured
before its initial operation in most cases.
When you go looking for a wireless router, there are several things to
consider. As with any other wireless equipment, you must think about
the router’s range, speed, and standards. Speed is the top issue for a
router, since it may have to provide Internet access to more than one
computer at a time. This means that it has to be fast enough to handle
this. As far as standards and range go, it is probably silly to buy
capabilities beyond what your current wireless set-up has. You won’t
get any improvements by obtaining a more sophisticated router.
We should note that the Linksys WRT54G router is the most popular
router currently available. It is also the easiest router to use. It is
more expensive than some other routers, however, so you should always
shop around to find the best deal. Also, you should make it a point to
read reviews about any product you’re considering.
Installing your wireless router is easy, since most work right out of
the box. You should just have to plug it in to the power supply and
connect your modem. In most cases, that’s all you need to do to begin
accessing the Internet wirelessly. In some cases, you might have to
perform a few other tasks. The most common issue involves an ISP that
uses special software to authenticate your identity before you can get
on the Internet. This Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet, or PPPoE,
basically allows you to have broadband access while still requiring
that you to input a username and password first. Most wireless routers
support PPPoE, but you will have to get into the manual and perform
some adjustments. You may also need to download an update for the
firmware, or on-board software, from the router manufacturer’s website.
Some of the problems that may arise when using a wireless router
involve programs that require a direct connection to the Internet to
perform some functions. These programs can be used with wireless
routers, but configuring them to do so can be a painful process.
Wireless routers may also have built-in firewalls that permit data to
come through certain ports only, while keeping other ports closed.
Programs that require this opening of ports have become relatively
rare, but you may have to make this adjustment at some point. The
router’s manual will tell you how to handle this if the need arises.