How to Connect a Wireless N Home Router to a PC

As wireless technology has advanced, different signal standards have been created to signify more powerful wireless signals with faster transfer rates and a longer range of connectivity. The first of these standards was wireless B, followed by wireless G. Though G was compatible with wireless receivers and devices designed for B, they were not able to make full use of the expanded signal strength that G offered. With the advent of wireless N, the same compatibility occurred; a wireless N signal is capable of working with B and G devices, but these devices won't receive the full benefit of wireless N's improved signal strength. When setting up a wireless network with a wireless N router, the first thing that you need to do is make sure that you are using components designed to make full use of the wireless N signal.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phillips head screwdriver

1. Power down the PC that you plan on connecting to the Internet via your wireless N router. Remove the side panel so that you have access to the inside of the PC, then choose an expansion slot to install your wireless N receiver card into. Remove the small screw from the expansion slot cover using your Phillips screwdriver, setting the cover and the screw aside; plug the receiver card in to the slot securely and then use the screw to finish mounting it in place. Don't forget to attach the receiver card's antenna after the card has been installed.

2. Replace the side panel on your computer and reboot. Your operating system should recognize the new hardware that you have installed and will ask to install the drivers for the receiver card. Use the driver disc that came with the wireless card to install the drivers, then reboot your computer once again.

3. Connect your wireless N router to your modem via the Ethernet cable supplied with your modem. Plug in the power cord of the router and wait a moment as it goes through its startup routine (you should see several lights on the router flash, though the exact startup routine will depend on the manufacturer). As soon as the lights stabilize, the router will be broadcasting a signal.

4. Run your operating system's network connection wizard. The wizard will give you the option to connect to a wireless network; simply follow the on-screen prompts. If the wizard doesn't give you a wireless option, finish the wizard in order to set up your network preferences and then right-click on the wireless icon in your system tray. Select "Connect to a Wireless Network" (the exact text may differ) from the menu that opens.

5. Log in to the router using the IP address provided with the router's setup guide in order to set the router's wireless Internet options. This will give you an opportunity to create an encrypted security key (which you will need to input on your computer by going through the "Connect to a Wireless Network" step again; you will be prompted for the security key this time before you will be allowed to connect). You can also set a password for the router's administrator account to further improve network security.

6. Repeat the installation and network connection processes on any other computer that you wish to connect to your wireless N router. Remember that you will have to input your security key on each computer, so make sure that you have it written down.