Setup a ad hoc wireless network

A wireless ad hoc network is a decentralized type of wireless network. The network is ad hoc because it does not rely on a preexisting infrastructure, such as routers in wired networks or access points in managed (infrastructure) wireless networks. Instead, each node participates in routing by forwarding data for other nodes, and so the determination of which nodes forward data is made dynamically based on the network connectivity. In addition to the classic routing, ad hoc networks can use flooding for forwarding the data.


Setup using windows 7

An ad hoc network is a temporary connection between computers and devices used for a specific purpose, such as sharing documents during a meeting or playing multiplayer computer games. You can also temporarily share an Internet connection with other people on your ad hoc network, so those people don’t have to set up their own Internet connections. Ad hoc networks can only be wireless, so you must have a wireless network adapter installed in your computer to set up or join an ad hoc network.

1. Open Network and Sharing Center by clicking the Start button , and then clickingControl Panel. In the search box, type network, and then click Network and Sharing Center.
2. Click Set up a new connection or network.
3. Click Set up a wireless ad hoc (computer-to-computer) network, click Next, and then follow the steps in the wizard.

Notes

• If one or more of the networked computers is joined to a domain, each person using the network will need to have a user account on that computer to see and access shared items on it.
• If the networked computers aren't joined to a domain, but you want to require people to have a user account on your computer to access shared items, turn on password-protected sharing in Advanced sharing settings.

  To turn on password protected sharing

  1. Open Advanced sharing settings by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, typenetwork, click Network and Sharing Center, and then, in the left pane, click Change advanced sharing settings.
  2. Click the chevron  to expand the current network profile.
  3. If password-protected sharing is off, click Turn on password protected sharing, and then click Save changes.  If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
• An ad hoc network is automatically deleted after all users disconnect from the network or when the person who set up the network disconnects and goes out of range of the other users of the network, unless you choose to make it a permanent network when you create it.
• If you share your Internet connection, Internet connection sharing (ICS) will be disabled if you disconnect from the ad hoc network, you create a new ad hoc network without disconnecting from the old ad hoc network for which you enabled ICS, or you log off and then log back on (without disconnecting from the ad hoc network).
• If you set up an ad hoc network and share your Internet connection, and then someone logs on to the same computer by using Fast User Switching, the Internet connection will still be shared, even if you didn't intend to share it with that person.
  
  

How to set up your home wireless network

An operating system that supports wireless networking
The Windows 7 operating system fully supports wireless networking. For Windows Vista users, we recommend installing Windows Vista Service Pack 2before setting up your wireless network. For Windows XP users, we recommend installing Windows XP Service Pack 3. Use Windows Update to check whether you need the service pack and to install it. Click the Start button, click All Programs, click Windows Update, and then click Check for updates. Although the service packs for Windows Vista and Windows XP are not required for wireless networking, they can make things much easier and can help protect you against hackers, worms, and other Internet intruders.

A broadband (DSL or cable) Internet connection
To set up a wireless network, you need a broadband or high-speed Internet connection (not a dial-up connection) provided by an Internet service provider (ISP), usually for a monthly fee. Two common broadband technologies are Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) and cable technology. These require a DSL modem or a cable modem (often provided by your ISP). After you have an ISP and a modem, you're ready to connect to the Internet.

While you're looking for a wireless router or other wireless equipment in the stores on the Internet, you might notice that you can choose equipment that supports four different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. We recommend 802.11g (Wireless-G) or 802.11n (Wireless-N) because they offer excellent performance and are compatible with almost everything.

NOTE: If you do not want to buy a wireless router or if you want to connect computers or devices temporarily for a specific purpose, like sharing devices or games, you can set up a temporary wireless network without a router. This is called an ad hoc network.

• A computer with built-in wireless networking support or a wireless network adapter
  If you have a newer computer, you may already have built-in wireless capabilities. If this is the case, you don’t need a wireless network adapter. Here’s how to check whether your computer has wireless support installed:
  
  

  Windows 7 and Windows Vista

  • Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click Network and Internet. If you see any of these words listed, “Wireless,” “WLAN,” “Wi-Fi,” “802.11a,” “802.11b,” “802.11g,” or “802.11n,” your computer has wireless capability installed. 
  
  

  Windows XP

  1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties
  2. In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab.
  3. Near the top of this window, click the Device Manager button.
  4. In the Device Manager window, there is a list of hardware components which are installed on the computer. Press the Plus sign (+) to the left of the icon to open the Network adapters item in the list. The Network adapters section of the window expands to reveal a list of all network adapters installed on the computer.
  5. If you see any of these words in the list of installed network adapters, “Wireless,” “WLAN,” “Wi-Fi,” “802.11a,” “802.11b,” “802.11g,” or “802.11n,” your computer has wireless network support installed.
     
     

If your desktop or laptop computer does not have built-in wireless support, you need to purchase a network adapter to wirelessly connect your computer to your wireless router. If you need an adapter for a desktop computer, buy a USB wireless network adapter. If you have a laptop, buy a PC card-based network adapter. Make sure that you have one adapter for every computer on your network.

NOTE: To make setup easy, choose a network adapter made by the same vendor that made your wireless router. For example, if you find a good price on a Linksys router, choose a Linksys network adapter to go with it. To make shopping even easier, buy a bundle, such as those available from Linksys, Actiontec, D-Link, Netgear, Microsoft, and Buffalo. If you have a desktop computer, make sure that you have an available USB port where you can plug in the wireless network adapter. If you don't have any open USB ports, buy a USB hub to add additional ports.

• A copy of your router setup instructions
  Before you begin setting up your wireless network, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have the copy of the setup instructions provided by the router manufacturer or your ISP. If you do not have a copy, visit the manufacturer’s website for get instructions on how to set up your router. All routers vary, and you may need to consult the instructions to set up your wireless network using your specific router.

Shopping list

• Shop for a wireless router
• Shop for a computer with built-in wireless networking support
• Shop for a wireless network adapter

After you have everything you need, follow these five steps to set up your wireless network.

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1. Connect to the Internet

Make sure that your Internet connection and your DSL or cable modem are working. Your wireless network depends on this connection.

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2. Connect your wireless router

These are the steps for connecting a stand-alone wireless router to your DSL modem or cable modem. If you have a modem router, follow your ISP’s instructions for connecting your network.

Since you'll be temporarily disconnected from the Internet, print these instructions before you go any further.

First, locate your cable modem or DSL modem and unplug it to turn it off.

Next, connect your wireless router to your modem. Your modem should stay connected directly to the Internet. Later, after you've hooked everything up, your computer will wirelessly connect to your router, and the router will send communications through your modem to the Internet

Next, connect your router to your modem:

Note: The instructions below apply to a Linksys wireless router. The ports on your router may be labeled differently, and the images may look different on your router. Check the documentation that came with your equipment for additional assistance. Or do a Bing search on “[your manufacturer/model] wireless router setup” to find images and instructions.

• If you currently have your computer connected directly to your modem:Unplug the network cable from the back of your computer, and plug it into the port labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN on the back of your router.
• If you do not currently have a computer connected to the Internet: Plug one end of a network cable (included with your router) into your modem, and plug the other end of the network cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router.
• If you currently have your computer connected to a router: Unplug the network cable connected to the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port from your current router, and plug this end of the cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router. Then, unplug any other network cables, and plug them into the available ports on your wireless router. You no longer need your original router, because your new wireless router replaces it.
  
  
  
  
  

Next, plug in and turn on your cable or DSL modem. Wait a few minutes to give it time to connect to the Internet, and then plug in and turn on your wireless router. After a minute, the Internet, WAN, or WLAN light on your wireless router should light up, indicating that it has successfully connected to your modem.

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3. Configure your wireless router

Using the network cable that came with your wireless router, you should temporarily connect your computer to one of the open network ports on your wireless router (any port that isn't labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN). If you need to, turn your computer on. It should automatically connect to your router.

Next, open Internet Explorer and type in the URL or address to configure your router.

NOTE: Do this on the computer that you are using to set up your wireless network. The computer automatically links you to the router’s page. If you type the router’s URL on a different computer, typing the address in the navigation bar will not take you to your router’s configuration page.

On the router configuration page, you might be prompted for a password. The address and password you use varies depending on what type of router you have, so refer to the instructions included with your router or on the manufacturer’s website.

For quick reference, this table shows the default addresses, user names, and passwords for some common router manufacturers. If the address is not listed here, you can read the documentation that came with your router or go to the manufacturer's webpage to find it. There may be multiple website addresses you can use.

Router	Address	Username	Password
3Com	http://192.168.1.1	admin	admin
D-Link	http://192.168.0.1	admin	admin
Linksys	http://192.168.1.1	admin	admin
Microsoft Broadband	http://192.168.2.1	admin	admin
Netgear	http://192.168.0.1	admin	password
Actiontec	http://192.168.0.1	username	password

Internet Explorer shows your router's configuration page, along with the modem IP address and other information. Most of the default settings should be fine, but you need to configure three things:

• Your wireless network name, known as the SSID. This name identifies your network, and it appears in a list of available wireless networks. You should change the default SSID that your ISP provided and give your network a unique name that none of your neighbors are using. This helps you identify your network, and it can help keep your wireless network secure by preventing it from overlapping with other wireless networks that might be using the default SSID.
• Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA or WPA2), which can help protect your wireless network. It’s important to help secure your wireless network by setting up a network security key, which turns on encryption. With encryption, people can't connect to your network without the security key, and all information sent across your network is encrypted so that only computers with the key to decrypt the information can read it. This can help prevent attempts to access your network and files without your permission. Wi Fi Protected Access (WPA or WPA2) is the recommended wireless network encryption method. Wireless encryption (WEP) is not as secure. Windows 7, Windows Vista Service Pack 2, and Windows XP Service Pack 3 support WPA2.
  
  When you set up most routers (stand-alone routers and modem routers), you are asked to provide a pass phrase that the router uses to generate several keys. Make sure that your pass phrase is unique and long (you don't need to memorize it). Some routers and modem routers now come with a function called Quick Security Setup (or QSS) that automatically issues you a key when you press a button on the router.
  
  Be sure to keep a hard copy and a digital copy of your network security key and pass phrase, in case you lose or misplace them. You can recover a lost network key or reset it on your router, but these are complicated processes that are different for every router and they sometimes entail setting up your network again.
• Your administrative password, which controls your wireless network. Just like any other password, it should not be a word that you can find in the dictionary, and it should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Be sure to save a hard copy and a digital copy of this password, too, because you'll need it if you ever have to change your router's settings.

The exact steps you follow to configure these settings will vary depending on the type of router you have. After each configuration setting, be sure to click Save Settings, Apply, or OK to save your changes.

Types of Wireless Network

The types of networks are defined on the bases of their size (that is the number of machines), their range and the speed of data transfer.

• Wireless PAN - Personal area network Wireless Personal Area Networks
  Such networks interconnect devices in small premises usually within the reach of a person for example invisible infra red light and Bluetooth radio interconnects a headphone to a laptop by the virtue of WPAN. With the installation of Wi-Fi into customer electronic devices the Wi-Fi PANs are commonly encountered.

• Wireless LAN - Local Area NetworkThe simplest wireless distribution method that is used for interlinking two or more devices providing a connection to wider internet through an access point. OFDM or spread-spectrum technologies give clients freedom to move within a local coverage area while remaining connected to the LAN. LAN’s data transfer speed is typically 10 Mbps for Ethernet and 1 Gbps for Gigabit Ethernet. Such networks could accommodate as many as hundred or even one thousand users. 

• Wireless MAN - Metropolitan Area NetworksThe wireless network that is used to connect at high speed multiple wireless LANs that are geographically close (situates anywhere in a few dozen kilometers). The network allows two or more nodes to communicate with each other as if they belong to the same LAN. The set up makes use of routers or switches for connecting with high-speed links such as fiber optic cables. WiMAX described as 802.16 standard by the IEEE is a type of WMAN. 

• Wireless WANWAN is the wireless network that usually covers large outdoor areas. The speed on such network depends on the cost of connection that increases with increasing distance. The technology could be used for interconnecting the branch offices of a business or public internet access system. Developed on 2.4GHz band these systems usually contain access points, base station gateways and wireless bridging relays. Their connectivity with renewable source of energy makes them stand alone systems. The most commonly available WAN is internet. 

What's a wireless network?

A wireless network, as its name suggests, is a network in which two or more terminals (such as laptop,computers, PDA,smart phones etc.) can communicate without a hard-wired link.

With wireless networking, a user can stay connected even when moving around within a given geographic area, and this is why the word "mobility" is sometimes used when discussing them.

Wireless networks are based on a link using electromagnetic radiation (radio and infrared) instead of normal cables. There are several different technologies, which differ by the broadcast frequency they use and the range and speed of their transmissions.

Wireless networks are used to make linking remote devices easier over distances from a dozen metres to a few kilometres away. In addition, installing such networks doesn't require any major changes to existing infrastructure, as wired networks do; there's no need to drill holes in walls to drag cables through, and no need for wireways or connectors. This has caused the technology to attain widespread use.

On the other hand, there are some issues regarding the regulation of the radio spectrum. Radio waves are transmitted by many devices (including those used by the military, scientists, and amateurs), but are prone to interference. This is why regulation is needed in every country in order to define which frequency ranges and powers are allowed for each category of use.

In addition, Hertzian waves are not easily confined to a restricted geographic surface. It is therefore easy for a hacker to listen to a network if data is being transmitted unencrypted (as it is by default). Thus, measures must be taken to ensure the privacy of data traveling over wireless networks.