Wi-fi howto

If it's turned on, turn it off to enable the wireless network card. The Wi-Fi adapter can also be enabled in the Control Panel , click the Network and Sharing Center option, then click the Change adapter settings link in the left navigation pane.

Right-click the Wi-Fi adapter and select Enable. Access the Device Manager by right-clicking with your mouse on the My Computer icon on your desktop or in the Windows Start menu.

Select Properties from the pop-up menu, click the Hardware tab in the window that opens up, and click the Device Manager button. In Windows Vista and later, there is no Hardware tab. Click the Device Manager link in the System window. Find the Wi-Fi adapter in the list of hardware devices.

Right-click the adapter name and select Enable from the pop-up menu. It is usually found on the front of the laptop or above the keyboard. Find the button or switch and make sure it is disabled.

When disabled, the button should not be illuminated or illuminated as orange or red, or the switch should be in the Off position. As seen in the picture, some laptops use Fn and F12 key to enable and disable Wi-Fi, and shows an orange LED when disabled and blue when enabled.

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Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Acquire a wireless router. There are a variety of factors that will determine which router is best for you. These include distance, interference, transfer speed, and security. One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a router is the distance between the router and the devices that you are wirelessly connecting. More expensive routers generally have more antennae, which can lead to a more stable connection at further distances.

Another factor to consider is the amount of signal interference. If you have multiple devices that operate on the 2. Newer routers can operate on the 5 GHz band, which is much less crowded and thus less prone to interference.

The drawback is that 5 GHz signals do not travel as far as 2. Transfer speed is a feature to consider. Newer routers claim to be able to transfer data up to Mbps. While this may be helpful when moving data between two computers over a network, it will not increase your general Internet speed, as this is set by your ISP.

There are three main router speeds available: It is important to note that these speeds are virtually impossible to attain in any environment other than a clean room free of signal interference.

Finally, make sure that the router you are purchasing has the latest form of wireless encryption, WPA2. This is pretty much standard in all new routers, but is something to consider if purchasing an older, second-hand router.

Older encryption algorithms are much less secure; a WEP key can be cracked in just a few minutes. Connect the router to your modem. Once you've purchased your router, you will need to connect it to your modem. Connect this port to the modem using a standard Ethernet cable. Make sure that the router is properly powered and turned on. Connect a computer via Ethernet cable. This step is not always necessary, but can be very useful if you want to set up the wireless router before connecting any wireless devices to it.

Connecting a computer through a physical cable will allow you to tinker with the wireless settings without losing your connection to the router. For optimum efficiency while setting up the router, plug it in next to your computer while you adjust the settings. After you are finished configuring the router, you can move it to where it will normally stay.

Part 2. Install the router software. Not every router comes with software to install, but if yours did, then install it on a computer that is connected to the router via an Ethernet cable. Using the bundled software makes setting up a router much more convenient than going in to the configuration menus. Using the software, designate the name of your wireless network, and the type of security that you want to use.

Choose WPA2 for the most secure network. An Authentication Required dialog box should pop up, simply put in your User Name: default: admin and Password: default: password and click on OK. From here you will be able to access the log data, which outlines security events and also shows you who has or is currently logged into the router.

How can I see who is on my WiFi network, well from the log data, you will be able to determine who has access or is accessing your router, in addition to the attempted hacker probes. However, if you want to know which computers are currently accessing the internet through your router then do the following.

From here you will be able to see the IP and MAC addresses of all the computers that are currently connected to your router. Securing your network is not as complicated as it sounds, as there are a number of ways that you can do it, choosing the best WiFi names for your network is crucial, yet can be a very clever way of disguising your network to the outer world.

If you only have a WEP password on your connection for example, hackers may be able to hack into your network by guessing your password, there are also programs developed by these same individuals that are able to figure out passwords by using possible numeral and alphabetic combinations.

To follow are a number of methods that you can use to secure your network. If, every time you connect to your wireless network you are not prompted for a passphrase, password or key, then it means your network is open. To close your network, do the following.

After enabling this security option, any new device that wants to attach itself to your router will be required to enter the key you created, so be sure to make a note of it. If you don't know the password to the Wi-Fi network , contact your network administrator. Connect to Wi-Fi on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch Learn how to connect your device to a Wi-Fi network, including open, secure, public networks, and networks that you've connected with in the past.

Turn on Wi-Fi.