How to Use a Router With a Wireless USB Card
USB wireless cards are small stick-shaped devices that connect to a USB port on a computer. Through this connection, a computer can access a nearby wireless router or other wireless device, such as a printer, without a physical wired connection. USB wireless cards are useful for computers that lack built-in wireless (also known as Wi-Fi) capabilities.
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Things You'll Need
- LAN access jack or high-speed Internet modem
- Wireless router
- Ethernet cable
Instructions
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1
Connect the Ethernet cable to the "Internet" port on the back of the router. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable into either the LAN network jack or the "To Computer" or "To Router" port on the back of the cable or DSL modem. Plug in the power supply of the router and wait for the lights on the front of the router to begin blinking.
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2
Insert the USB card into an available USB slot on the computer. For laptops, the USB slots are usually located on the right or left side of the laptop. For desktops, they may be located on the lower front of the computer or in the middle of the back panel. Wait for the computer to recognize the USB card.
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3
Press the small "On" button on the wireless card if one is present. Some wireless USB cards may not have a button and will automatically turn on when connected.
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4
Click the "Start" menu button located on the Windows Desktop, usually in the lower left-hand corner of the screen. Click on "Control Panel" followed by "Network Connections." You should see a new connection present. It may be named to match the brand of the USB card or the wireless router (such as Linksys), or if the wireless router was set up previously, it will show the name of the network.
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5
Click on this network to connect and select "Remember This Connection" if asked to do so. Test the connection by launching Internet Explorer, found on the Desktop of Windows.
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Tips & Warnings
Be sure to open and adjust the wireless USB card antenna upward if one is attached to the card to ensure that a signal is received.
Connecting to unsecured wireless networks can increase the risk of exposing browsing information or sensitive information over the internet. Do not access sensitive sites such as credit card sites and password accessible sites over an unknown wireless network.
