Installing the AP

If you’re connecting your first computer with your ISP, the ISP should have
supplied you with all the information we list in the preceding section except
for the physical address of the network card (which isn’t needed if you aren’t
already connected).
Before you install your wireless gear, buy a 100-foot Ethernet cable. If you’re
installing your AP at a distance farther than that from your router or Internetsharing
PC, get a longer cable. Trust us: This advice comes with having done
this a lot. You need a wired backup to your system to test devices and debug
problems. To do that (unless you want to keep moving your gear around,
which we don’t recommend), you need a long cable. Or two. Anyone with a
home network should have extra cables, just like you have electrical extension
cords around the house. You can get good-quality 100-foot CAT-5e/6
patch cables online at places like Deep Surplus (www.deepsurplus.com) or
a host of other online retailers for around $15.
When you’re ready to do the AP installation, follow these steps:
1. Gather the necessary information for installing the AP (see the preceding
bulleted list) by following these steps:
In Windows XP:
a. Choose Start➪Programs➪Accessories➪Command Prompt.
This step brings up the command prompt window, which is a DOS
screen.
b. Type IPCONFIG /ALL and then press Enter.
The information scrolls down the screen. Use the scroll bar to slide
up to the top and write down the networking information we list
earlier in this chapter (physical address, IP address, default gateway,
subnet mask, DNS servers) and whether DHCP is enabled. You
use this information to configure the AP in Step 4.
In Windows Vista:
a. Choose Start➪Network➪Network and Sharing Center.
The Network and Sharing Center appears, which gives you access
to all network adapters and their properties.
From the Network and Sharing Center, click the View Status link.
A pop-up status window appears with all the information you need.
2. Run the setup software that accompanies the AP or device containing
your AP, like a wireless or Internet gateway.
The software probably starts when you insert its CD-ROM into the CD
drive. In many cases, this software detects your Internet settings, which
makes it much easier to configure the AP for Internet sharing and to configure
the first computer on the network. For example, Figure 6-1 shows
the Linksys Wireless-G Setup Wizard that accompanies the Linksys
WAP54G Wireless-G Access Point, which is a wireless gateway from
Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems, Inc.
If your computer is using Windows Vista, you will see a lot of security
dialog box pop-ups. The enhanced security in Vista asks for your permission
every time the installation software tries to do anything. As long
as you have administration rights on your user account, you can keep
saying yes to these security pop-ups and move through your AP setup.
Be sure to look at the top left of the pop-up window so you know when
you are saying yes to a security warning and when you are saying yes to
the install. Even though Vista dims the rest of the screen when a security
warning pops up, it is confusing with the number of pop-ups you can run
into. Just read the top left of the window and you will always know what
you are working in.
3. When you’re prompted by the setup software to connect the AP unplug the network cable that connects the broadband
modem to your computer’s Ethernet port and plug this cable into the
Ethernet port that’s marked WAN or Modem on your network’s cable
or DSL router or Internet gateway.
If you’re using an Internet or wireless gateway, run a CAT-5e/6 cable from
one of its Ethernet ports to the computer on which you’re running the
setup software. (CAT-5e/6 cable is a standard Ethernet cable or patch
cord with what look like oversized phone jacks on each end. You can
pick one up at any computer store or Radio Shack.)
If you’re using a separate AP and router (in other words, if your AP is not
your router), you need to connect a CAT-5e/6 cable between the AP and
one of the router’s Ethernet ports. Then connect another cable from
another one of the router’s Ethernet ports to the computer on which
you’re running the setup software.
Most new APs try to obtain an IP address automatically and configure
themselves for you by choosing the channel and setting default parameters
for everything else. In most cases, you need to manually
configure the security and some of the other information you
collected in Step 1 (so have that information handy).
4. Record the following access point parameters:
• Service set identifier (SSID)
• Channel — if you’re using an 802.11n draft 2 AP, this should be set
to Auto
• WEP key or WPA2 passphrase (see Chapter 9 for more details on
this subject), if your system doesn’t use WPS
• Router pin, if your system does use WPS (again, see Chapter 9 for
more details on Wi-Fi Protected Setup)
• Admin username and password