Wi-Fi explained

[MrCanhaM]

I hear about Wi-Fi a lot & do use it when I'm supported public places but I wanna know if I buy a router for personal home use, do I just switch it on & connect from my laptop or do I have to sign a contract with a service provider or what exactly happens?

[DarkBlood]

I'm not sure which router you're referring to: ADSL (with a wi-fi) Router or 3G wi-fi router.

For ADSL, you get your internet connection with a service provider (forgive me if I am insulting your intelligence) and connect the ADSL line to the router. The router will have a wi-fi antenna that gives off wi-fi signal to within a particular range. You can then connect to your network (and internet) by either plugging in the cable to your laptop or connecting to your wi-fi. It goes:

1) Laptop => ADSL router via wi-fi; ADSL router => internet via ADSL line from the router to the Telkom line; or
2) Laptop => ADSL router through ethernet cable; ADSL router => internet via ADSL line from the router to the Telkom line

For the 3G one, you have a sim card that goes into the router and then you buy data bundles for the sim (like you would for the sim in your phone). The router then connects to the internet via the 3G network (Vodacom/ MTN/ Cell C) and you connect to the router (therefore the internet) via wi-fi from your laptop to the router. It goes:

3) Laptop => router via wi-fi; router => internet via 3G network.

Have I answered your question?

[chrisc4290]

When you get a router and it has a wireless capability (it will have an aerial at the back) it will allow you to connect your laptop or wireless (wi-fi) equipped PC via a LAN cable or wirelessly

You need to find out the name of the router's wireless ID (called the SSID)

To see this, log into the router using a browser with the router's address, ie http://192.168.1.1. To find the router's address, run the Command Prompt (CMD from Run) and type ipconfig /all. Look for the Gateway. This is the address

There will be a login and password, typically Admin/admin

Look for Configuration / LAN / Wireless. Look for the SSID and type in something recognisable, ie jonnys and APPLY
Then look for Wireless Security, preferably WKA and put in a PASSCODE - again some numbers you will remember - like 9876543210, and APPLY

Then your laptop should look for a wireless network with the name you gave it, so click CONNECT and enter the passcode

[MrCanhaM]

I'm not sure which router you're referring to: ADSL (with a wi-fi) Router or 3G wi-fi router.

For ADSL, you get your internet connection with a service provider (forgive me if I am insulting your intelligence) and connect the ADSL line to the router. The router will have a wi-fi antenna that gives off wi-fi signal to within a particular range. You can then connect to your network (and internet) by either plugging in the cable to your laptop or connecting to your wi-fi. It goes:

1) Laptop => ADSL router via wi-fi; ADSL router => internet via ADSL line from the router to the Telkom line; or
2) Laptop => ADSL router through ethernet cable; ADSL router => internet via ADSL line from the router to the Telkom line

For the 3G one, you have a sim card that goes into the router and then you buy data bundles for the sim (like you would for the sim in your phone). The router then connects to the internet via the 3G network (Vodacom/ MTN/ Cell C) and you connect to the router (therefore the internet) via wi-fi from your laptop to the router. It goes:

3) Laptop => router via wi-fi; router => internet via 3G network.

Have I answered your question?

Yes, thank you so much for making it so easy & clear