How to Create a Wireless Network
Understand the difference between town-wide wireless broadband (IEEE 802.16/WiMAX) and a home wireless network (IEEE 802.11). This article deals only with the latter generally known as WiFi (which requires no subscription, no roof aerial, no roof mounted dish). Wireless routers are variously known as gateways, access points, transmitters, hubs and switches. They are generally external and will be known as routers for this article. Wireless adapters are also known as modems or receivers and can be internal or external.
If you want to share a broadband connection via a wireless router, plug the new wireless router into your internet connection point (filter/splitter if ADSL, directly into phone socket if DSL)
Go to your internet browser and type http://192.168.0.1 (Belkin), http://192.168.1.1 (Linksys), http://192.168.2.1 (Others) and enter your username and password for your router (often this is "admin" for username and "admin" or "password" for password)
If your operating system does not recognise the wireless adapter then get drivers from any discs that came with the adapter or, failing that, from the internet.
In Windows XP, either right click on the .inf file and click install, or enter Device Manager and Update Drivers on the Unknown Device.
Once Windows XP recognises your wireless device it should appear in Network Connections and offer you a choice of routers to connect to within range.
Choose your router (usually the manufacturer name aka SSID), the security method and enter the passkey in order to connect to it. Use Auto DHCP unless otherwise instructed.