• Creating a secure password
  
  
• How to protect yourself against identity theft
  
  
• Wireless networking basics
  
  
• How to create mp3s and burn CDs using media players
  
  
• How to protect your computer from power surges
  
  
• Know when to upgrade your video card
  
  
• Know when to upgrade your memory or hard drive
  
  
• How to choose your next computer
  
  
• What is broadband and do I need it
  
  
• What is VoIP and should I choose it

Wireless networking basics

Take a look inside today's wireless home

• Bedrooms
• Master bedroom
• Home theater room
• Living room
• Kitchen
• Home office
• Backyard

Wireless networking isn't just for PCs anymore. Take a look around your home. Many of the electronic devices you see can be networked together wirelessly. Every time you bring a new device into the network, you expand your opportunities to enjoy what you have. Adding your home theater to the network, for example, lets you bring all of the games, movies, and music on your PC into the living room. You can use a wireless network to bring a webcam into the family room and the Internet radio into the backyard. You can share files, hard drives, printers, and even an Internet connection.

Once you go wireless, all of your networked devices in your home will be free, and you'll be free to share, work and play wherever you like. Below ComputerGeeks2Go and our partners show you how to set-up a wireless network and suggest some products for you.

Bedrooms

This is the room where our broadband connection is. As a result of the connection being in the bedroom our wireless router is also here. The router is the key to a wireless network and is the building block for all other devices to connect to (for example a Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster ) is being used. Most wireless routers are designed for two main purposes: to join you to your ISP and to connect all devices to each other directing data to whoever needs it.

Many networks today are a combination of wired and wireless networks. You may have a PC next to your router and this would probably be connected to the back of the router via a wired connection. Routers have the ability to convert wired signals to wireless and back again. The Internet is also a wired network connection that routers can convert to a wireless signal. All of the wireless devices on the network are able to use this wireless signal to share the Internet.

Wireless routers also ensure that data (such as a print request from the PC in the office) heads directly for its destination. One of the most important things you must always do when installing a network is to ensure you configure your security settings. Routers have built in firewalls, lock out machines that you don't recognize, and can encrypt your data. Not all manufacturers give detailed and clear information on how to secure your network, so if you need help please contact us and we'll be happy to assist you.

Master bedroom

Adding another PC to your wireless network is easy. Instead of running cables into another room, all you need to do is add a wireless adapter to your PC. There are two types of adapters to choose from: PCI wireless adapters and USB wireless adapters (for example Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter with Speedbooster ). Both types work equally well, if you are using a desktop PC ComputerGeeks2Go reccommend a PCI card as this is internal and frees up a USB port. You may have to open your machine up to install a PCI card, again if you need assistance please contact us. Installing a USB wireless adapter is even easier. With USB adapters, going wireless is as easy as plugging the adapter into a USB port. Once you configure your settings, you'll be ready to go.

Living room

If you already enjoy digital music, movies and pictures on your PC, you'll love moving these to your big screen TV and Hi-fi. Imagine the fun you could have if you could liberate your multimedia, bringing it into the living room and super-sizing it on your home theater system. You can even create slide shows with your favourite pictures and music.

A wireless media adapter can make this happen. Once you connect the adapter to your home stereo and television, you can use it to browse all of the PCs in your network for your favorite tunes and images. Your media adapter will find your files easily and pull them into the living room to enjoy.

Maybe you enjoy gaming and have an X-box, perhaps you have tried online gaming. Now imagine moving this to your big screen TV in the living room and connecting your X-box to the internet. How do you get an internet connection ? Easy you can use a Linksys Wireless A/G Game Adapter - WGA54AG to move the game wherever you like, no more wires!! With two adapters, you can wirelessly connect two consoles for battles that span opposite sides of the house-turn your home into a gaming zone!

Kitchen

In the wirelessly networked home, you can turn your kitchen into your own organizational command center. Instead of using magnets on the fridge or a calendar to stay organized, you can use a notebook or pocket PC to share notes, files, address books, and calendars.

If you want your notebook to link to your Bluetooth-enabled pocket PC, you can add a USB BLUETOOTH ADAPTER to your notebook. Thanks to easy USB connectivity, you'll be able to network with the pocket PC as well as any other Bluetooth-enabled devices like your cell-phone. Sharing and synchronizing address books, calendars and other info will be a snap.

You can also choose to connect your pocket PC to your wireless network. If your Pocket PC doesn't already have a wireless connection , simply slide a WIRELESS G COMPACT FLASH ADAPTER into your Pocket PC's Type I or Type II slot. Once your pocket PC is configured, you'll be able to share everything from printers to hard drives to the Internet-just like your other networked devices.

Home office

If your printer is located far from the PCs in your home, a wireless connection can make printing much more convenient. With wireless, you'll be able to print with a click or two of a button-without having to move and load your documents onto the PC attached to the printer.

You can start printing wirelessly in one of two ways. If your printer and PC are already connected via Ethernet, simply adding the PC to the wireless network will also give you remote access to the printer. If you don't mind keeping printer and PC attached to each other, and making sure the PC is turned on whenever you print, this is a good option.

Another option is to use a wireless print server to free your printer from its wired connection to a PC. Once you connect the Linksys Wireless G Print Server to your printer, you'll no longer need to dedicate the PC to the job. Both printer and PC can be moved wherever you need them. And you can print day or night without having to worry about whether or not an adjacent PC is turned on.

Backyard

If you fancy having a drink in your backyard and surfing the internet while getting a suntan, a wireless network can give you the freedom to enjoy the outdoors while staying completely connected. Want to read e-mail, print files or surf the Internet while working on your tan? You can do just that-if you have a wireless network and a notebook with wireless capability.

Even if your notebook doesn't have built-in wireless, you can still join in the fun. Adding wireless capability to your notebook can be as easy as sliding a card into a slot. A Wireless-G Notebook Adapter slide right into the PC Card slot on the side of your notebook. Once the adapter is inserted and the settings are configured to your home network, you'll be ready to surf the Web anywhere within wireless range. You'll also be able to interact with all of the other devices on your network.

Maybe you want nothing more than put the notebook away and relax outside with your favorite music-you can still put your wireless network to good use. Use a wireless music system to enjoy one of thousands of Internet radio stations or play MP3s from every computer in your wireless network. Some systems will even let you create custom playlists or burn music mixes on a CD. You can enjoy a HomePod Wireless Network Music System indoors or out-as long as you're within range of your wireless signal.

If you have a large backyard, or simply a large home, you might find that you get dead spots in your wireless reception. If so your wireless signal needs a little boost. You can get the extra signal range you need with a Wireless-G Range Extender . The expander can be placed where you need it, without the need for wires, anywhere within range of your access point or wireless router. The expander will relay your signal, bouncing it out to wireless devices in hard-to-reach places-like the hammock on the other side of your pool.