I
recently needed to set up a new Wi-Fi network in our home, and was totally
confused by all the settings and options. Is there a simpler way to set up a
home Wi-Fi network?
Yes, the number of settings and
options can seem totally daunting when you first try to set up your home Wi-Fi
network. Whether you use a modem/Wi-Fi combination from your ISP, or you use a
separate Wi-Fi router, every Wi-Fi vendor has made an attempt to simplify the
process, with varying results. Some vendors require you to log into a specific
Web address. Others ask you to insert a CD (although these are getting rarer,
as fewer computers include CD/DVD drives these days). Either way, even the
simplest software requires you to answer questions for which you may not have
answers.
Although there’s no way around
answering some of those questions, you can simplify the process a
little—setting up the network, adding wireless devices, and configuring
security can be made simpler through the use of WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup). Most
modern Wi-Fi routers include a WPS button, allowing you to set up your network
with just a push of the button (at least, that’s the goal—we’ve never actually
set up a network this way, but that’s the promise, anyway).
Before you even consider WPS as a
means of setting up your network, you should be aware that the technology WPS
uses can be hacked, and therefore, if you live in a dense area, or are
concerned about security (that is, you’re nervous about a dedicated hacker
breaking into your network—a casual user wouldn’t be able to break in), you
should consider not using WPS. On the other hand, in a less-dense area where
it’s unlikely that a neighborhood hacker is going to try and break into your
network, WPS should work fine.
Each Wi-Fi router implements WPS
slightly differently, so you’ll need to investigate the documentation included
with the router to determine how you can activate and use WPS. Doing so
generally involves pressing the button, and then using the WPS feature on your devices
to connect them to the network. Assuming that both the router and your devices
support WPS, you should be all set.
To be honest, neither of us has
ever used WPS, and probably never will. We’re happy to dig into the settings of
the router, and find it generally pretty simple to supply a unique Wi-Fi SSID
(the text string that identifies your Wi-Fi network to all devices attached to
the network) and password. In addition, most routers supply tons of other
options that you can modify, including things like the ability to limit access
times, share devices, and more. On the other hand, for a quick and dirty setup,
nothing beats WPS. For more information about WPS, check out this article:
http://www.7tutorials.com/simple-questions-what-wps-wi-fi-protected-setup