Wireless technology has made building a home network much easier. Instead of running wires from one end of your house to the other, take advantage of this capability to access the Internet, share files, watch streaming video or use a common printer whether you’re working in your home office or relaxing in bed.

If you’re new to networking, picking out the right equipment for your needs can be a challenge. To gain a better understanding before you’re left scratching your head in the middle of the aisle at your favorite electronics store, review this information about wireless routers and home networking equipment:

Modems

A modem is the point of entry for your home network. This piece of equipment receives the signal from your Internet service provider, or ISP, and sends it on to the router. It also receives information from the router and passes it back to the Internet. Depending on whether your ISP provides broadband, DSL or fiber optic service, you’ll need the appropriate type of router.

In fact, the biggest ISPs have joint-branded proprietary modems to make sure their customers can easily spot the correct product in the store. Some high-speed modems also include a router with wireless capabilities. If your ISP offers this type of equipment, you won’t have to purchase a separate wireless router.

Wireless Routers

Some home networks require a wireless router in addition to a high-speed modem. A short ethernet cable provides a hardwired connection between the two pieces of equipment. From there, most routers include both wireless capabilities and up to four hard-wired ethernet ports for use with any equipment that doesn’t have a wireless adapter.

Wireless routers offer more choices than any other piece of home networking equipment. Here are some of the options to consider:

• Standards – Almost every modern router uses some version of the 802.11 standard. The important part of the standard is the letter than follows this number. The following is a list of letter/speed combinations: a/54 Mbps, b/11Mbps, g/54 Mbps, and n/100+ Mbps. Keep in mind that buying a faster router won’t increase the speed of your incoming internet transmissions.
• Bands – Modern routers use either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency to transmit signals. Although the 5 GHz band is less crowded (many wireless devices including phones use the 2.4 GHz frequency), it isn’t capable of delivering consistent signals over long distances as well as the 2.4 GHz band. Some routers can switch between bands automatically; others require the user to manually set the frequency.
• Antennas – Most newer routers feature internal antennas to reduce the risk of damage. Older routers have smaller internal antennas referred to as 2X2 antennas while newer models have 3X3 antennas. These slightly larger antennas provide a significantly higher amount of throughput for faster processing speeds.
• Security – Some routers include firewalls, secure access, restricted guest access and parental controls.

Repeaters and Extenders

Most home networks don’t need either of these devices, but it’s important to mention them. If you’re trying to cover a very large area, your home includes extra-thick walls or you have a lot of interference, repeaters and extenders can make sure you have a strong signal in every part of your home. These devices can also make it possible to extend coverage to detached garages, workshops and outbuildings.

Wireless Adapters

Every device must include a wireless adapter to connect to a wireless home network. Virtually every laptop and most peripheral devices come with this feature from the manufacturer. As wireless networks become more popular, computer makers are beginning to add wireless adapters to desktops, too. However, these items can also be purchased as add-on devices. To ensure compatibility, select external wireless adapters that match your wireless router’s brand.

Security Risks

Although wireless home networks are convenient, they do pose a security risk if steps aren’t taken to lock down the system. Hackers and identity thieves often roam neighborhoods looking for unsecure networks. Once one is detected, they may do anything from simply use your Internet signal to stealing your personal information. To combat this security issue, take the following steps to lock down your system and protect your identity:

• Install firewall software or select equipment with a built-in firewall.
• Choose a user ID and password that is hard to guess and setup restricted guest access for visitors.
• Use virus-protection programs on every computer. Keep the software up-to-date and run frequent scans.
• Resist the urge to save personal information on the computer.
• Always make sure e-commerce sites are secure by checking for the lock icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and verifying that https is part of the URL.

With this information, you should be prepared to purchase the equipment required to create your own wireless network. Eliminating those messy wires from your home will add both convenience and order to your computing system.