Making Headlines

Our Fort Lauderdale computer repair and service technicians note that many any people out there don't the best way to connect to the Internet from a venue that isn't their own home.

Let's say you use a wireless access point at home, but want to get online elsewhere without setting up another access point at another location that has security concerns.

A temporary network support solution, at least, that doesn't require a lot of setup, is to set up or locate another wireless access point on a computer you can access.

You don't have to be Ft. Lauderdale computer repair experts to know that any Windows or Mac computer can potentially act as a wireless point, sharing wired connections through wireless cards.

Of course, it bears mentioning that if the other computer you're trying to get a connection from doesn't have 802.11 wireless networking, you'll have to buy a wireless card or adapter it.

A USB wireless adapter that can be stored away from the computer and only brought out when you want to use it ought to make this process as simple as it can get - and assuage security fears that may exist.

Step one after you buy and install a USB wireless adapter is to find and access the settings for Internet sharing.

If you're using a Mac, open the system preferences in the Apple menu, click on Sharing and select the tab on the right called Internet.

Click "Start sharing your Internet connection," find a pop-up menu called "Share your connection from" and choose Built-In Ethernet.

Click the empty box next to Airport, then click the button for Airport Options to provide your wireless network a name and password.

At this point, other computers with wireless cards can find a network and use the password to join and surf the Internet.

For security purposes, all Broward computer repair firms recommend exercising caution with giving out your password and access to your network, of course.

Using Windows XP, click the Start menu, then the Control Panel, then Network and Internet Connections.

Click Network Connections and right-click the connection you are using to go online. From the menu, select Properties and Advanced.

Under Internet Connection Sharing, select the option to "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection."

You'll still need to set up an ad hoc (computer-to-computer) wireless network to act as a wireless access point.

After that, you're pretty much good to go. Best of luck!