Making Life Simple With Wireless Technology

By admin on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Filled Under: Wireless Technology

Wireless fidelity , or WiFi, is an amazing technology that allows you to network your computers, office, home, etc. without the need for wires. This makes networking so much easier and less messy because wires are not used. The computers simply connect to the network via radio signals.

Because of this easiness, many businesses, schools, malls, restaurants, cafes, stores, airports and other businesses have set up wireless hot spots that allow anyone to log onto the network. This is amazing for individuals that need to be able to work from any location, however there are some disadvantages because hot spots can be used by unauthorized users if not adequately protected through different security safeguards.

Hot spots are relatively new, but are growing in acceptance and popularity because of the incredible access it gives to students, travelers, business people and the like. Some hot spots are free, while others charge an hourly rate.

These days, if you go to an airport or hotel you will see signs that say internet zone or hotspot and will either say free or how to pay. Because of this evolution, individuals are able to work and study wherever they are, which makes traveling and working much easier and less downtime which is very important.

Wireless networking can also be installed in your home, which means you can work in any room in your home or even outside if you so choose. Many individuals are starting to realize how much easier this makes their lives and are installing the equipment necessary for a wireless network.

To get started, you will need an Internet connection, a router, and then wireless cards for your respective computers. The router allows the Internet signal to be routed throughout the home and the wireless cards that each computer has picks up the signal which eliminates the use of wires. All of this equipment can be purchased in your local computer store or online if you are looking for extra discounts.

If you are interested in installing a wireless network in your home, office, or business, then you can do some research online and install it yourself if you know even a little bit about computers. However, if you have a lot of computers you want to connect or are unsure of what you are doing, then you might consider hiring a professional to handle your wireless solution for you.

Once you have the wireless network setup anyone in your hotspot will be able to log onto the server as long as they are within range. However, if you want to exclude just anyone from logging on then you can use a virtual private network, Internet Protocol Security, or other security programs that will protect unauthorized users from logging onto your network.

How To Set Up A Network In Your Home

By admin on Thursday, December 9, 2010
Filled Under: Wireless Technology

Most modern homes have any number of computers, printers, faxes, music systems and devices. These are increasingly being integrated so that each device can ‘talk’ to all the others and interact with them. While many of the possibilities are still being explored, the best place to start for the average person is with a home computer network.

Basically, if you have more than one computer in your house you can connect them, with ethernet cables or wirelessly, so that you can share your internet connection, share files and operate peripherals such as printers from any terminal.

As well as more practical advantages, having a home network is also ideal for leisure activities like gaming. As the technology advances, it is now becoming possible to hook networks up to gaming consoles, music speakers and even televisions.

However, for the purpose of this article we will just start with the basics. The two main choices when setting up a home network are a cable network or a wireless network. These are fairly self explanatory. Wireless networks are increasingly becoming the norm these days and are very handy if you have a notebook so you can connect from anywhere in the house. Wireless also has the advantages of having no cables cluttering your home. However, if you want to simply connect two desktop computers, using an ethernet cable could be a cheap and easy option if you do not have wireless.

Connecting two computers

The most basic exercise in networking is simply connecting two computers. This is very simple if you do not have an internet connection. So long as the two computers have networking interfaces you can simply connect using an ethernet cable.

However, most computers produced within the last couple of years have Wi-Fi. If so, an ad-hoc wireless network can be created between the two computers by configuring both terminals to ad-hoc mode. This is pretty simple to do in both Windows and OSX.

Similarly, if the computers have Bluetooth or infrared capabilities you can create a basic network, although transfer speeds can be slow. Of all these options, the cable network will provide the best transfer speeds. However, Wi-Fi speeds are improving all the time.

While there is only a limited amount you can do with a basic two-computer network, it is good practice if you have never set up a network before.

Setting up a network router

If you wish to incorporate an internet connection into the network, as most of us do, you will need to set up your home network with a router. This will also allow you to add more computers to the network as well as peripherals.

However, this process is a good deal more complex. Nevertheless, it is doable and is a skill that is well worth having. Once you do this once it will be will be a breeze the next time.

While cable routers are still commonly used, wireless is the way of the future so we will concentrate on wireless routers for this article. Before you start, you should have a few things to hand. Your computer and your router, of course, instructions for your wireless router, an ethernet cable, and your ISP’s contact details.

Your first steps are to plug in and turn on your router, connect it to your modem and to your computer (it is best to connect your computer and router by ethernet cable for the set-up process).

Now, you can use your browser to connect to your router’s built-in installation software. The urls http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.0.1 will usually open up your router’s administration page. You do not need an internet connection for this. If this doesn’t work, consult the router’s instructions.

Log in to the administration page using the router’s provided username and password, usually ‘admin’ and ‘admin’ by default. Now you will have to enter the following information:

* Internet connection information
* You may have to input PPPoE information
* You may possibly have to change the default MAC address

If you run into difficulty here consult your ISP’s instructions or contact them. They will be able to guide you through this process.

When all the information has been inputted, save it. You should be ready to go now. All going well, your computer should have received an IP address from the router. Try opening your browser to see if you can address to some websites, any websites will do.

If you can access these websites you can unplug your cable and now connect wirelessly. Any other computers, notebooks and other wireless devices should also detect the signal and connect without any problems.

You now have a fully functional wireless home network. Be aware though that your network is most likely open and accessible from any computers in range of the signal so you should take steps to secure it. There is plenty of excellent information available on the internet on how to do this.

Networking Home Computers

By admin on Saturday, November 27, 2010
Filled Under: Technology Innovation

Networking Home Computers
Increasing Productivity With the Whole Family

Have you ever thought about networking your computers at home? If you have a small collection of computers around the house (and a small collection of computer users), you can connect each one of those computers to one another and share data, software, and hardware including a single Internet connection. There are many creative uses for home networking, however it’s an ideal situation when upgrading each computer to the same capability is financially out of the question. On a home network, each computer has access to the equipment of the better machine in the group as if that equipment were their own.

Connecting computers with either an Ethernet cable or a Wireless connection can create a home network. The easiest and cheapest method uses an Ethernet connection, which requires a series of network cards, a cable for each computer, and a router. The network card is similar to the old modems we used in the past to connect to the Internet, however in a home network, it’s used to communicate with every computer that’s connected to it.

You’ll want to first, select the computers that will connect to each other and then install the network cards inside each of them. Then you’ll connect a cable to each computer that will communicate with the server. These cables won’t connect to the server directly. Instead, they’ll connect to the router. To enable Internet access for each computer, this router will need to connect with a modem of the host machine.

Once the hardware is set up correctly (you’ll need to read the instruction manual of your equipment for details), you can then setup the network from Windows on each machine. Within Windows, you can set up a home network similar to the way that you set up an Internet connection. Only this time, you’ll set up a LAN (Local Area Network) connection.

Windows should walk you through setting up a LAN after starting the computer and once complete, you can begin to connect one of your machines to the network. You can do this through Internet Explorer by typing in the address and password required to access the router (the address and password required to access the router will be in the router manual).

Connected to the network, each computer can send files back and forth, open programs on a remote computer, play the sound files and videos located on another computer, and share a single Internet account to browse the web, download files, or chat with someone in an entirely different country. If a single printer is available on only one computer in the network, every connected PC can send documents to it and print them out. Kids will enjoy the ability to play multi-player games and adults will enjoy the ability to blast a single message to everyone at once or maintain a group schedule.

Since we’re describing a home network that will connect to the Internet, you’re strongly advised to install a protective firewall program to thwart Internet viruses, worms, or other damaging spyware code. Firewalls prevent – but they don’t repair. Only anti-virus and anti-spyware programs can reverse damage. So you should install a firewall on the computer that grants access to the computer, and then install an anti-virus and anti-spyware program on each of the remaining computers in the network.

If you have files that shouldn’t be shared (bank statements, credit card information, etc.), you can restrict their access in one of several ways. You can put them in a new folder and then remove the “read” permissions for that folder. Or you can specify who can (and who cannot) access specific files with a password from within Windows Control Panel.

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Good Reasons To Have A Wireless Network

By admin on Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Filled Under: Wireless Technology

Having a wireless network opens up many possibilities.

Wireless networks provide an inexpensive and easy way to share a single Internet connection among several computers. This means you only need one modem, and you can add additional computers to the network just by plugging in a wireless card and turning them on. The new machines are connected to the Internet immediately.

A wireless network also lets you access files and printers from anywhere in your home. It allows you to synchronize files you have on your laptop with your home computer, and you can easily send files between computers as well. Using a wireless network to transfer files is faster than sending them via e-mail or burning them to a CD! Because printers connected to one of the computers on a network are shared by all the computers on that network, you can write documents anywhere in your home, press the print button, and collect the printed files from a printer that is connected to another computer.

If you are a game player, youve probably noticed that your games often have an option to play over a local area network or LAN. Wireless networks are LANs! This means you and your family can play these games together and dont have to be on computers that are next to each other to do so. Lets face it its more fun to play against real people, and its even more fun to play against people you know instead of strangers on the Internet. Your games will also play much faster over your LAN. Additionally, you can connect game consoles to the Internet and begin playing these games online. It is much easier to experience online play through an Xbox or PlayStation 2 that is connected to a wireless network than have to use a modem!

Wireless network connections are always on. This means you can connect to the Internet whenever you want without waiting for your modem to dial in. Laptops can be carried from room to room, and they will always have access to the Internet. Since wireless networks operate without the need to log in, you dont need to set up usernames or passwords.

The single greatest thing about a wireless network is that it is, well, wireless! The biggest reason to have a wireless network is because it eliminates the need for costly, ugly, and dangerous wires trailing all over your house. You can use your computer in any room you want no more being trapped near a phone outlet or walking over that tangle of wires in your home. The cost of getting enough Ethernet cables can add up, and sometimes, you may even have to make holes in your walls to set up a wired network. If youre renting, of course, this is impossible. With a wireless network, you dont have these problems – you can even use your computer outside if you want! And if you move, there is no need to disconnect and pack up all those wires, and you no longer have to examine all the wires for damage whenever your Internet connection goes down.

You can see how having a wireless network can simplify your life.

Download Free Games & Movies For Iphone

By admin on Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Filled Under: Wireless Technology

Yes, you really can get free downloads of games and movies for your Iphone. If you’re one of the lucky folks that has got in early and nabbed an Iphone already, you are definitely going to want to know how to get your hands on some of this free media.

Before you can download anything at all for your Iphone however, there are a few things you will need. You can’t currently download directly to the Iphone, for one reason or another, so these items are a must.

The most obvious is a computer. It’s pretty hard to access the internet without one and also you will need to store the downloaded stuff somewhere before you transfer it to the Iphone, right?

Secondly, you guessed it, some form of internet connection. This is probably the easiest part, as if you have a notebook or a laptop you can probably just sit in your local Starbucks and piggyback their wireless connection or something. As always, the faster the connection you can get, the better.

Lastly, and this is the thing most people forget about you need to have the space to store all the stuff. The iphone may be pretty advanced but it’s not bottomless and it sure fills up fast once you have access to some free downloads.

Once you have all this stuff, (and let’s face it if you are reading this article the chances are you already do) you’ll need to find somewhere to download the free games and movies from. Most people at one point or another have used a file sharing or bit torrent site to get downloads, but it may surprise you to know that this is against the law it’s illegal to download things from websites like that in the most case, unless you already own a copy of whatever you download. Odd but true. Always check the laws and regulations in your own area.

There are a whole host of download sites for you to choose from these days, and they mainly work by charging you a one-off admin fee which then gives you lifetime access to their download libraries. The libraries are huge, with some having over 100 million files for you to look through. This makes it very easy to find your favourite TV show, or pretty much anything else you may be looking for. These sites are definitely recommended to get your free game and movie downloads from.

This article should give you a great idea of how to safely go about download free stuff for your Iphone.

An Easy Way to Build a Home Network

By admin on Thursday, July 29, 2010
Filled Under: Wireless Technology

If you have more than one computer at home, you are probably better off connecting them or networking them together to use the same resources and receive the same internet connection. A home network is very easy to build. Here are some tips.

There are two main types of home networks, wired and wireless. While wired home networks are popular, but they require you to run wires from one computer to another. You might have to drill holes in a wall or run wire under the carpet.

If you dont want cords running all over the place, you can easily get rid of them with a wireless home network. Wireless home networks are extremely simple to set up. You only need a wireless router and a wireless networking card for each additional computer you would like to hook up. Most wireless networks can send and receive data lightning fast at megabytes per second.

Wireless networks are extremely inexpensive, you can hook up a few computers for less than $200. The great part of wireless networks is that all computers on the wireless network can use the same internet or other resources such as a scanning machine and printer. So if you are looking for a great way to share data and resources among your home computer, choose to build a home network.

More information is available at http://www.home-00.info

Antennas Of The New Age

By admin on Friday, April 16, 2010
Filled Under: Communication Technology

Antennas have been around for a long time. Before the birth of cable television, homes would need it to just to get a signal. The person would need to put this on the roof and adjust it from time to time to get better reception. Satellite television has also changed this making these crude yet useful devices obsolete.

The computer age has followed suit. There was a time that an individual had to dial up just to get an internet connection. With the development of wireless routers that come with a WiFi antenna, work using the computer can be done without the need to connect any wires.

Another term that is used for Wifi antennas are omnidirectional antennas. Some users who have this at home have said that it is better to have this replaced with a different kind. This is because the current antenna has difficulty reaching long distances since the signaling power needs to extend in many directions.

One solution to address this problem is getting an external omnidicrectional antenna that is much more powerful than the old one. This gives internet access to people who have more than one computer located in different areas of the house.

Universities and other offices use stronger devices allowing its workers to work via the web. This can be done to send emails or other important files that are essential for the entire business operation.

A strong antenna may pose a problem for the person at home. This is because the signal could reach people who live near the house and use it to gain internet access without the knowledge of the individuals who purchased the unit. In order to solve this, one should check if the external antenna is really needed. Also, aiming it a place where people in the house can only use it.

Another way of letting people have internet access at home or in the office is by adding another access point. The person would need to connect the wireless router to one that has an Ethernet cable. This is because a wireless version and the kind that needs wires are not able to work with each other directly.

The use of a repeater and an amplifier can also strengthen the signal in ones home or in the office. This can be done by attaching it to the access point and in no time, the individual and others may enjoy doing some surfing in the net.

These devices can be bought at the nearby cyber shop or one can surf the net and buy it online. Before getting it, the individual should canvass around to get the best price available. The person should also think if it is really needed for ones home.

Antennas come in different sizes and shapes. These are used for a variety of things such as listening to a program on the radio or for people to communicate in places that do not have telephones or cellular phones.

Various instruments have also been used to amplify the signal. The person should just choose the kind that is really needed depending on the purpose then making use of it. The potential of it is endless and its use in giving people wireless internet access is another marvel that people will benefit from.