This guide has been commissioned by the Department for Education and Skills, in partnership with NIACE (National Institute of Adult and Continuing Education), to support those working with wireless networks for Adult and Community Learning. It has been written by the DirectSupport initiative, which has been supporting UK online centres, Wireless Outreach Projects, and similar Community ICT access programmes, since 2000. DirectSupport is run by the charity ruralnet|uk, together with other community development partners.

The guide is for learning practitioners, and their support staff, who are considering the installation of a new wireless network or want to understand the implications in extending an existing network by using wireless components. It offers information to tutors and community development practioners, who may work in outreach venues, in learning access centres, or in small organisations.

Those who may not have a technical team on call, and require simple DIY guidance on how to set up a small network of computers to share files, printers and connect to an existing Internet connection, will find this guide helpful.

It sets out to explain the basic principles behind wireless networking, the different standards available and the components needed to set up the network. It also discusses how to add a wireless segment to an existing network constructed using cables or wires – a wired network. It covers configuring the network, setting up network security and basic troubleshooting. The guide assumes a basic understanding of computer networking, but is not intended as a comprehensive guide to network design, management or support

Readers from organisations which have a network maintained by their own technical support staff should obtain advice from these staff before connecting wireless components to the existing network.

Download pdf Guide to Setting Up a Wireless Network