How to Set Up a Wireless Router

If you are considering buying a wireless laptop, or already own one, here's how to connect it to your computer through a wireless router to share your internet connection.

You can also add another desktop computer to your home network by installing a wireless card in the second computer. That way, no wires need to be run making this a quick and easy way to network your computers together!

Note: these instructions are written for Windows XP systems only. Others are more difficult to implement and you will have to play with it yourself to make it work, if it will at all. OnALot.com only supports XP based systems.

Note: Your desktop computer must have an ethernet port, sometimes called a Network port or NIC port. It looks like a phone jack, but has 8 wires inside it and it a bit wider than the ports found on a modem card. The ethernet port is often found next to the USB ports on the back of the machine.

If you don't have an ethernet port, you can purchase a 10/100 PCI ethernet card at Radio Shack, Wal-Mart or other retail outlets. Or give us a call, we keep them in stock and can come by and install it for you.

Note: Since you are sharing your internet connection, it's important to understand that for your wireless laptop to get the internet, your main desktop computer must be turned on. The internet comes into your desktop, then out and into the wireless router, then to your laptop. Turning off your desktop prevents your laptop from getting onto the internet. If you want all your computers to be totally independant of each other, there are ways to do that, and we can help you with that one.

What you will need

1. A Linksys WRT54G, or WRT54GS Wireless Router, or a Belkin F5D7230-4 Wireless Router
2. A Crossover Cable - Get one that's as long as you need or we can make one up for you - see the note below.
3. A Straight Cable - these are usually blue in color and they come with the router.

OnALot.com uses two types of wireless routers: the Linksys WRT54G and the Belkin F5D7230-4 unit. You can also use the Linksys WRT54GS, but it costs more and doesn't offer anything we need.

Basically the Linksys and Belkin routers are quite similar, but the Linksys router has removable antennas which makes it easy to add a larger external antenna for greater range. If you want to build a link between your garage and your house, for example, get the Linksys router and call us about a high gain external antenna.

These routers can be bought at Radio Shack, Wal-Mart or other similar superstores. Or call us, we keep them in stock!

Cable Costs: You will also need a CAT-5 Crossover Cable. The above routers ship with a Straight Cable (usually blue in color) which you'll need to program the unit, but you will also need a crossover cable to make it all work. If you can't find one, Onalot.com makes these up for $5 for a six-footer, and $1 / foot for longer ones.

Click HERE to program using a Linksys WRT54G router.

Click HERE to program using a Belkin F5D7230-4 router.

We'll Do It For You

If the programming instructions just made you dizzy, we can come by and do the full installation for you. We charge $70 for the router if you don't have it already, $20 for the service call and the cable costs per the note above. Cable installation may be extra if you plan to locate the router in another room or building. Just give us a call.