eMachines M6809 eMachines Wireless Supplement - Page 8

2 setting up your home network When you are ready to set up your home network, you must first consider which computers or other devices you want to include. Because most home networks look like the example shown on the previous page (with a notebook computer, a desktop computer, a broadband Internet connection, and a printer), the instructions in the rest of this booklet will be based on this common setup. what do I need to get started? To set up your wireless home network, you need to obtain the following items: ❂ one access point ❂ one Ethernet cable access point recommendations If you need to purchase an access point, eMachines recommends buying one designed for the 802.11g standard. This lets you communicate at the fastest speeds possible and prepares you for the future. When buying your access point, be sure the model includes everything your network needs, including: ❂ 802.11g support - for next-generation, high-speed wireless communications ❂ Internet security features - such as a firewall to protect your network from unwanted intruders ❂ wireless security features - such as 128-bit WEP encryption ❂ 4-port switch - to eliminate the need for additional network hardware ❂ DHCP server/dynamic IP address assignment - to automatically configure network and IP addresses If you use an 802.11b access point, you will not communicate at 802.11g speeds. 11