Wireless networking first appeared on the scene in 1997, and has since become the most popular means of setting up small business networks. All you need to get up and running is an Internet connection from your local ISP, a wireless router and some wireless adapters. Knowing some details about the type of equipment on the market will help you decide what to purchase. The most common wireless standards in use today are Wireless-B (802.11b), Wireless-G (802.11g), and Wireless-N (802.11n). Wireless-B is the older protocol and is being phased out. Wireless-G is the most prevalent. Wireless-N is the newest standard for high speed Wi-Fi. Most new equipment is still backwards compatible with the older protocols.

These are the wireless networking basics you'll need to know to get your office WLAN network up and running:

1. Use Wireless-G as your wireless networking solution if you have a small office network without any large bandwidth requirements.
2. Purchase 802.11n wireless networking equipment if your network needs to handle high-bandwidth activities like VoIP or heavy downloading.
3. Secure your office WLAN network to prevent bandwidth theft and protect your business
   

Action Steps to Set Up a Wireless LAN
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose Wireless-G for business wireless networking in a small office environment

In spite of operating at a lower speed and without the range of the new Wireless-N devices, Wireless-G wireless networking products are a great choice because they are affordable and dependable. The best-reviewed Wireless-G router is the Linksys Wireless-G broadband router with SpeedBooster (WRT54GS).

I recommend: Pick up the Linksys Wireless-G router at Wal-Mart for under $50. Take advantage of the Linksys SpeedBooster technology by purchasing the matching wireless USB adapters at Newegg. You're not limited to just the Linksys adapters, however. Any Wireless-G USB adapter will work.

Use Wireless-N WLAN equipment for superior speed and range in a large office

Although more expensive, 802.11n wireless networking solutions give you 14x the speed and 6x the range of 802.11g devices. This is great if you're in a large office complex, or if your network needs to be able to handle a large number of users or heavy-bandwidth activities. One of the best Wireless-N routers on the market is the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme wireless router.

I recommend: Order the D-Link Wireless-N router from TigerDirect for around $100. You'll need Wireless-N network adapters to take advantage of the capabilities of your network, although the router is backwards compatible with older standards. Purchase the adapters online at Geeks.com.

Make sure you've secured your office WLAN network

You've chosen the right equipment for your needs, and managed to get it set up and running. Before you do anything else, you need to make sure that you correctly secure your wireless networking hardware. This is vital for the protection of your business and your bandwidth.

I recommend: Tippit has written an excellent guide describing how to secure a wireless network. In addition, Microsoft provides 10 tips for improving the range and strength of your wireless network.

Tips & Tactics for Successful Wireless Networking

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you rely predominantly on laptops to run your business, most of them still come from the manufacturer with 802.11b or 802.11g internal wireless networking hardware. If you wanted to take advantage of the increased speed over a Wireless-N network, you would have to add an external adapter. USB adapters are ungainly on a laptop, but most laptops have a PCI or ExpressCard slot. You can purchase Wireless-N Cardbus or ExpressCard adapters from any of the online retailers listed above.

It's a fact: Wireless networking at your office or home is a convenience that increases effectiveness and productivity. You can free yourself from wired connections by setting up a wireless Local Area Network (LAN or WLAN in tech-speak). Follow these steps:

1. Choose and purchase wireless LAN router that matches your needs and budget.
2. Set up the wireless router to work on your WLAN network and with your Internet connection.
3. Configure your router to require a password to restrict wireless networking to authorized users of your network. (See Securing your wireless LAN.)
4. Configure your notebook and/or desktop computer(s) to work with your WLAN network.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a wireless LAN router

The first step in your wireless networking setup is to purchase a router at your local computer store or from an online reseller.

I recommend: Visit CNET's product review site Networking section to find reviews on 802.11g routers. The editor's picks are a good place to start. A less expensive product with a slightly lower rating might serve your needs just as well as a more expensive unit with features you don't require. Visit price comparison sites such as BizRate or CNET's Shopper.com.

Set up your wireless router

The wireless router should come with step-by-step instructions to set up wireless networking that don't require reading the entire manual. Connect an Ethernet cable from the modem's port to the appropriate port on the wireless router. If the Wi-Fi router only has a single Ethernet port, then that is the port to use. However, if it has more than one Ethernet port, then the one to use to connect to the modem is often marked WAN (for Wide Area Network, meaning in this case, the connection to the Internet).

I recommend: If you have difficulties, visit the manufacturer's Web page (for example, Linksys or NetGear) to check for any wireless networking troubleshooting tips and ways to contact them.

Connect your notebook or desktop computer to your WLAN network

Most notebook computers come with built-in Wi-Fi support. You can also install a Wi-Fi card in a notebook or desktop computer if needed for wireless networking capabilities.

I recommend: The Wi-Fi setup guide on jiwire.com has helpful instructions for wi-fi configuration of different operating systems. If you need to add a Wi-Fi card to your computer, check with your computer manufacturer for recommendations of cards that are known to be compatible. Visit CNET's product review site for reviews on Wi-Fi cards.

Secure your wireless LAN network

Set up password security on your WLAN network. This will prevent unauthorized users from accessing your Internet connection and your private network. The exception would be if you are intentionally setting up a network for free public access (e.g., in a coffee shop).

I recommend: Check out Practically Networked's Securing Your Wireless LAN to learn more about securing wireless networking. It's well worth your time to take the additional steps to protect your WLAN network from intruders.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Avoid purchasing an expensive Wireless Access Point. These devices lack a necessary feature for supporting a WLAN network with more than one computer on it, and even if you only have one computer now, the savings are so minimal it's not worth limiting yourself.
• •  A faster router that supports 802.11n (or some variation such as pre-N or N1) won't speed up your connection to the Internet, but will only be faster for transferring data on your local wireless LAN network.
• •  Many wireless LAN routers are configured using a Web browser, but some require or offer as an option a Windows-compatible program that you install from a CD-ROM included with your router hardware.
• •  Choose a wireless networking router that includes manufacturer support for your operating system.
• •  If you use Macintosh, consider purchasing one of Apple's wireless routers despite the extra cost. If you have AppleCare on any Apple computer, the protection extends to any Apple peripherals you purchase including their wireless LAN routers. You can get support from Apple on the phone or at an Apple retail store.

Small business wireless networking has become increasingly popular. Wireless networking equipment is affordable and relatively easy to install and use. Most small businesses don't have dedicated IT departments. Training at least one of your employees in wireless networking for business is a good way decrease the amount of your budget that you spend on outsourced IT support.

The following wireless networking education and training resources will help you better prepare your employees for dealing with any issues that may crop up:

1. Enroll your employees in an online wireless networking solution course.
2. Order video training on the most current wireless network technology.
3. Use free online resources to teach employees about wireless LAN for business.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Utilize online courses to train your employees in the latest wireless network technology

Online wireless networking courses, while requiring a degree of self-motivation, are an effective and well-structured way to learn. The downside to this type of education is that you have to pay per individual employee.

I recommend: Hewelett-Packard Company offers an online course in setting up a home or small business wireless network. The course focuses on selecting the right equipment, a basic overview of the technology, and troubleshooting wireless problems. Skillbox provides a Wireless Networking for Small Business online course that geared towards Windows XP.

For visual learners, order DVD training videos focused on WLAN equipment and WLAN networks

DVD training videos are an affordable way to train your employees on wireless networking products. They are great for those that learn by being shown, and they have the benefit of being reusable. Unlike an online or in-person course, training videos can be shared among employees.

I recommend: For under $100, you can order 5.5 hours worth of DVD training in wireless network administration from Hyperteach. The course covers useful and important topics such as small business networking, and best practices in wireless security. For more advanced training, geared towards securing the CWNA wireless networking administration certification, order the 15 hour video training course from Train Signal for just under $300.

Utilize the free resources available online to train your employees in wireless networking

There is an unbelievable wealth of free online resources related to wireless networking. Without spending a dime, you can find information on setting up, troubleshooting and administering your small business wireless network.

I recommend: The Small Business Learning Center at 3Com offers a free ten minute online course on the wireless advantages for small business. CNET Networks has a great free online tutorial on securing your wireless network. Microsoft offers extensive online wireless networking resources, including troubleshooting wireless networking in XP or Vista and recommendations for home office or small office wireless networks.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are vast wireless networking resources available to you. Decide what you want your employees to be proficient in, and direct them to the right resources. The more familiar they are with your office network, the better off you will be. They will learn little things (like knowing that unplugging the wireless router and plugging it back in after two minutes can solve most intermittent connectivity problems) that will save you hundreds of dollars in service calls.

Wireless networks are growing more and more popular as technology advances. A wireless network allows a user to access the network from any area as long as they are in range of the signal. This gives your employees freedom to move around the facility with a laptop and do business from any location within the wireless network. There are many acronyms and key words used in wireless networking that new users many not be familiar with. Learning wireless networking key terms gives you the information you need to shop for wireless networking products with confidence.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

DMZ port

A DMZ port, or demilitarized zone port, is a port between a computer or network and a trusted internal network. A DMZ normally contains devices accessible to Internet information, such as websites, web servers, email servers, FTP servers and DNS servers.

I recommend: The DMZ Network provides more information about DMZ ports. Cheap56K also has information about DMZ ports.

DHCP

DHCP is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. A DHCP allows a computer to access and locate information about the computer on the server. The Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is normally used to allow a user to locate and renew their IP address.

I recommend: The DHCP Handbook provides detailed information about DHCPs and how they work. TechTarget also has more information about available Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Visit XML.org to learn all about DHCPs.

PPPoE

PPPoE, or Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet, is the connection of multiple computers on one network over one router other device to that connects to the Internet. This allows the company to have one digital subscriber line, or DSL, for many users.

I recommend: Visit PC Mag for more information about PPPoEs. WhatIsMyIPAddress.com also provides information about Point-to-Point Protocols and PPPoE.

NAT

NAT, or Network Address Translation, is a process that lets a computer receive a public IP address to work inside a local area network. This process is usually carried out by a firewall. There is normally a set amount of IP addresses that the network can use.

I recommend: Learn more from the Trustees of Indiana University. Discover more about NAT at HowStuffWorks. Tech-FAQ also provides more information about network address translations.

TCP/IP

TCP/IP stands for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. TCP/IP is the communications protocol for the Internet or how the Internet sends and receives information. When a computer connects to the Internet, it receives the TCP/IP so that it can communicate with servers and other computers.

I recommend: Learn more about TCP/IP form Gary Kessler. Yale also provides information about TCP/IP through their website.

PPTP

PPTP is an acronym for Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol. PPTP is an Internet protocol that insures the security of information sent from one computer to another computer or server. PPTP also allows people to access the networks through the Internet in a secure environment.

I recommend: Visit Alliance Datacom for more about PPTP. Microsoft also has details about Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol.