Step #1 - Before Beginning
Creating a customized home Wi-Fi® network is a great project that you can accomplish in an afternoon. However, before you dive into the wireless world, make sure you know what lies ahead of you. Make a thorough analysis of your networking needs — what you want to accomplish and what you expect to receive as a reasonable return on your investment.

When you’ve decided that a wireless network is right for you, start by assessing your networking equipment needs. Determine how many workstations you'll need to connect and where you can best utilize them.

We recommend that you have the following equipment and information:

• A Wireless Router.

 

• Wireless adapters and/or a wireless-enabled laptop or desktop PC.

 

• A Broadband connection to the Internet (typically via cable or DSL modem).

• An Ethernet cable.

 

• Pen and paper to write down current network settings.

 

• The IP address assigned to you system by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you use a static IP address.

• If you use DSL, the username and password assigned to you by your ISP.

• The MAC address for all wireless network adapters.

The foundation of any Wi-Fi network is a wireless router (also referred to as a gateway). For this demonstration we are using the D-Link® DIR-655 Xtreme N^TM Draft 802.11n router. You'll also need a wireless adapter (or wired connection) for each computer system that you are going to connect to the network. We installed two D-Link Xtreme N Draft 802.11n wireless adapters: a DWA-643 Xtreme N Notebook ExpressCard adapter for a Windows Vista notebook PC and a DWA-552 Xtreme N Desktop PCI Adapter for a secondary desktop running Windows XP Home Edition. The primary PC, connected to the router via Ethernet cable, was running Windows XP Professional.

In Windows XP

• Click Start – Settings – Control Panel – Network Connections – Local Area Connection – Properties – Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) – Properties.

In Windows Vista

• Click Start – Control Panel – Network and Sharing Center – Connection – View status –Properties – Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) – Properties.

If “Use the following IP address” is highlighted, that means your Internet access uses a static IP address. Jot down the IP address, the subnet mask, the default gateway and the preferred DNS server. Then click “Obtain an IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS address automatically.”  Click OK to apply your changes and OK again to close the dialog.

If you have a DSL connection, you'll probably need the username and the password your system requires to connect to your ISP. If you don't know the values, try looking within the software your ISP provided. You may need to uninstall the PPPoE connection software that your ISP provided. To find out, check your router's documentation.

Now is also a good time to collect the MAC address of any wireless-network adapters you'll be installing. The MAC address should be printed on the Wi-Fi PC Card or the Wi-Fi PCI adapter, and is often included on a sticker on the product package.

If you are using a PC with a wireless card installed, you can get the MAC address directly from your PC.

• Click Start – Programs – Accessories – Command Prompt
• A new text-only window opens. Type ipconfig/all and press Enter
• The numbers and letters listed on the line titled Physical Address is your MAC Address.

Turn on the modem and wait until it connects to the Internet (check the activity lights). Plug in and power on the router and turn on your PC. When Windows boots, open a browser window and try a few Web sites to test your Internet connection. If all seems to be working, go to Step #5.

Next, enter the information you collected earlier. If you jotted down an IP address, set the router to use a static IP address and enter the address and other information. If you're a DSL user, you'll likely need to choose a PPPoE Internet-connection type, then enter the username and password you selected to log on to your ISP. Leave other settings such as encryption and SSID at their defaults for now, exit your router's configuration routine, and check your Internet connection. If you can't access any Web sites, check your router's documentation for troubleshooting advice and call the manufacturer for technical support, if necessary.

• Click TOOLS  –  ADMIN
• Enter a password for the administrator
• Click Save Settings

Note: Write down the password and put it in a safe place. One suggestion is to tape it to the bottom of your router.

Step #6 - Setting the Service Set Identifier (SSID)
You’ll want to change the name of your network. This is usually referred to as the Service Set Identifier (SSID), but it is the Wireless Network Name on the DIR-655. Change the default name to anything you like. However, avoid entering values that a thief might guess such as your last name.

• Click SETUP – WIRELESS – MANUAL SETUP
• Enter a new name for your network
• Click Save Settings

Note: Write down the name of your network and put it in a safe place. One suggestion is to tape it to the bottom of your router.

Step #7 - Enable Encryption
While you are still at the Manual Wireless Setup screen, it’s time to enable encryption. If your router and all of your wireless adapters support it, use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2) encryption with a pre-shared key. This provides excellent security for most home users.

• Select WPA-Personal Security Mode
• Enter a new Pre-Shared Key
• Click Save Settings

Note: Write down the key and put it in a safe place. One suggestion is to tape it to the bottom of your router.

Tip:
Don't use a pass phrase that's easy for an intruder to decipher. Mix it up. Create one that's hard to guess, with a combination of numbers and letters.

After Windows boots, the Found New Hardware wizard should appear and begin the driver installation. If you’re using a D-Link PC Card or PCI adapter, you will need the CD included in the package. Put the CD in your drive. If the D-Link install screen pops up press exit. Return to the Windows Hardware wizard, select “Install the software automatically” and click “Next.” If you see a message warning you that the driver has not passed Windows logo testing, click “Continue Anyway.”

Install a wireless card in each desktop system you want to connect to your network.

Enter the encryption pass phrase. Repeat this process for each wireless PC.

Note: You will only need to do this once, not every time you boot your PC.

Now run the wizard on each additional system on your network.

The Network Setup wizard automatically enables sharing on any printer connected to a PC during setup, but before you can use the printer from a networked PC, you'll need to install the printer driver on that system.

Each system configured with the Network Setup wizard should also have at least one shared folder given the name SharedDocs. To access these shared subdirectories  choose Start – My Network Places or simply Network in Vista. You can easily set up additional subdirectories for sharing.