Setting up a home internet connection can be a game-changer for your entire household. With the internet, you’ll have access to email, news, shopping, TV shows, and much more. Once you have a working internet connection, you can create a wireless home network that will let your whole family connect their computers, smartphones, and other internet-ready devices.
But how do you know what type of internet connection you have? Let’s take a look at a few different types of internet connections that are available:
1. Dial-up: This connects to your phone line and is usually much slower than other types of internet connections. But in some areas, it may be the only option available.
2. DSL and Cable: These both plug into your phone line or cable TV connection and are known as broadband internet connections. They offer much faster speeds than dial-up, making it easier to watch videos, play games, or browse the web.
3. Fiber: This is the fastest type of broadband currently available, using fiber optic cables. It can provide speeds that exceed even DSL or cable, but it may not be available where you live, and it tends to be more expensive.
4. Cellular: This is sold under a few different names, including 4G, LTE, and 5G. These are types of wireless internet connections often used by smartphones, but you can also get them for your home. Depending on where you live, a cellular connection may be a good broadband alternative.
No matter what kind of internet service you choose, you’ll need to purchase it from an internet service provider (ISP). Chances are you can buy internet service from your phone or cable company, or you may want to shop around for a better price. Your ISP will guide you through the entire process of connecting to the internet. They will usually need to send a technician to your home to turn on your connection. Your ISP may also give you a modem and set it up for you, but if you prefer, you can buy a modem from a computer store and set it up yourself.
Once you have everything set up, you can open your web browser and begin using the internet. If you want to connect several devices to the internet, you can create a wireless home network, also known as a Wi-Fi network. To do this, you’ll need a wireless router, which takes the internet connection from your modem and broadcasts it throughout your home. Your modem may already have a wireless router built-in, so you may not need to buy one.
To set up your wireless connection, follow the instructions included with your router. You’ll need to choose a network name, also known as an SSID. For security, you should turn on WPA2 or WPA3 encryption, depending on what your router supports. Then make sure you choose a strong password. After you’ve set up your wireless network, go into each device’s Wi-Fi or network settings, select your network name, and type your password. If any of your devices are not wireless-ready, you can simply plug them into your router with an ethernet cable, or you can purchase a wireless card.
Setting up an internet connection and Wi-Fi network takes a little bit of work, but once you get it set up, your family will be able to use the internet without being limited to one computer.