Windows 8 : Creating a Windows Network - Installing a Wireless Network (part 2) - Setting Up a New Wireless Network

2. Setting Up a New Wireless Network

If you’re setting up a new wireless network using a wireless router or access point, the hardest part of the job is setting up security and Internet access settings in the router itself. There are three ways to configure a new router:

• Using a setup program provided by the router’s manufacturer on a CD or DVD. This is usually the quickest and easiest method, because the setup program knows exactly how to configure your router. If you have high-speed Internet service, the setup program may also be able to set up the router to connect to your Internet service at the same time. (The next two options don’t do that.)

• If your router supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), use the Set Up a Network Wizard provided with Windows 8. If your router has an eight-digit numeric PIN code printed on the bottom, or if it has a pushbutton labeled WPS, you can use this wizard.

• Manually, by connecting to the router using a web browser.

We give general instructions for these three setup methods in the following sections. The manufacturer’s instructions might be more detailed.

Whichever method you use, as mentioned in the previous section, you need to select up to five things to set up a wireless network: an SSID (name), security type, encryption type, encryption key, and possibly a channel number. A setup program or the Set Up a Network Wizard in Windows 8 might help you make these selections automatically.

Using the Manufacturer’s Setup Program

The easiest way to set up a wireless router is using a program provided by the manufacturer. Connect one of your computers to the wireless router using an Ethernet cable, and then run the program from the manufacturer’s CD or DVD.

The setup program will typically suggest default settings for the router, which you may change. As mentioned previously, select WPA2 security unless your router or one or more of your computers don’t support it.

You should write the final settings down, especially the security key. The setup program will then install the settings in the router. When your computers detect the new wireless network, you can connect to it and type in the security key.

Using the Set Up a Network Wizard

If your router supports the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) automatic configuration scheme, Windows 8 can set up the router for you automatically. You’ll need the router’s eight-digit PIN number to use this method. The PIN might be printed on a label on the bottom of the router, or you might be able to find out what the PIN is by connecting to the router using a web browser. We’ll tell how to do this shortly. Also, this method works only on a router that has all of its factory-default settings and hasn’t yet been configured. (If you have a used WPS-capable router, you may be able to use its setup web page to restore its factory-default settings.)

To use the Set Up a Network Wizard, follow these steps:

1. Connect your computer to one of the LAN ports on your wireless router using an Ethernet cable, and then power up the router. Wait 60 seconds or so before proceeding. If you are prompted about turning on sharing, select Yes, Turn On Sharing and Connect To Devices. This indicates that you are on a trusted, private network.

2. Go to the Desktop. Right-click the Network icon in the taskbar and select Open Network and Sharing Center, as shown here:

Notice that a network name is listed at the top of the window, as shown in Figure 1. If under that it says “Private network,” proceed to step 3. If it says “Public network,” click (not right-click) the network icon in the taskbar. The Network pane will slide in. Right-click the network name, select Turn Sharing On or Off, then select Yes, Turn On Sharing and Connect to Devices.

Figure 1. To use the wizard to set up a wireless router, the network location must say “Private network.”

3. Under Change Your Networking Settings, select Set Up a New Connection or Network. Highlight Set Up a New Network and click Next.

4. Wait for your wireless router to appear in the dialog box. When it does, select it and click Next.

If it doesn’t appear within 90 seconds, it might not be WPS capable, or it may already have been configured.

5. Enter the PIN code printed on your router and click Next. If the PIN is not printed, see if you can get it out of the router.

6. Click the downward pointing arrow next to Change Passphrase, Security Level and Encryption Type. Adjust the network name if you wish, as shown in Figure 2. You may also change the passphrase if you wish.

Figure 2. The Set Up a Network Wizard lets you change the default network name and security settings.

If not all of your computers support WPA2 security, you can downgrade the security level to WPA or WEP, but we strongly recommend against this.

When the settings are made, click Next.

7. The wizard will configure the router, and will eventually display the security key. Write this down and keep a copy of it in a safe place. (If your location is secure, you can write in on a sticky note and attach it to the router itself, being sure not to block any ventilation holes.)

We suggest that you also click Print These Network Settings. If you don’t have a printer set up, select Microsoft XPS Document Writer and save the resulting file in your Documents library.

When you’ve followed these steps, your computers can all attach to the wireless network, using the network key that you or the wizard selected.

Configuring Manually

If you have to configure your router manually, your best bet is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. We can’t give you specific instructions here, but we can give a general outline of the process:

1. Connect your computer to one of the LAN ports on your wireless router using an Ethernet cable, and then power up the router. Wait 60 seconds or so before proceeding. If you are prompted to turn sharing on or off, turn sharing on.

2. Right-click the very bottom-left corner of the screen and select Command Prompt. Type the command ipconfig and press Enter.

3. Look for the heading that reads something like “Ethernet Adapter Ethernet,” and under that, look for the Default Gateway setting. It should be 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 (or something similar).

4. Open Internet Explorer, and in the Address bar, type http:// followed by the default gateway numbers (for example, http://192.168.0.1) and press Enter.

5. Log on to the router using its administrative username and password. In many cases, you can leave admin for both the username and password, but this varies by manufacturer. You’ll have to read the instruction manual or search the Web to find the default password for your router.

You may wish to change the default password as your first step. If you do change it, be sure to write the new password down and store it in a secure place.

6. Use the router’s web page menus to locate the Wireless Configuration page. Enter a network name (SSID), select a security type, and enter a key.

7. Use the appropriate “save settings” button or menu choice, wait 30 seconds, and try to have one of your other computers connect to the router using a wireless adapter.

Once other computers can connect successfully, if the computer you used for setup has a wireless adapter, you can disconnect the Ethernet cable. Ethernet connections are faster and more reliable than wireless, though, so use wired connections whenever it’s convenient to do so.

When your computer can connect to the wireless router, you can have the router establish an Internet connection for you.

Setting Up Internet Service

Once your wireless network is working and your computers can connect to the wireless router, you will probably want to have the router share a high-speed Internet connection.

If you used the manufacturer’s setup program to configure your router, it might have set this up for you already. If you have to set up the Internet side of your router manually, try to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. We can give you only general instructions here.

In general terms, there are three ways to connect:

• If your wireless router’s WAN (Internet) port is connected to a network that already has a full-time Internet connection, choose the router’s “direct connection” option.

• If you use cable Internet service, most likely you’ll select the DHCP option. You may have to enter a specific hostname supplied by your cable company. Other cable ISPs key off your network adapter’s MAC address, so you may have to call the ISP to inform them of the router’s MAC address. This is usually printed on the bottom of the router.

• If you use DSL service, most likely you’ll select the PPPoE option. You’ll have to enter a username and password.

Your ISP should help you get the Internet connection working, or at least they should provide you with the information you need to get it working.