| In the first two parts to this article series | | | | |
| I discussed how to go about getting broadband | | | | At this point all you and your friends need |
| internet for student housing, when you strike | | | | to do is plug in a wireless adaptor to your |
| out on your own in your second year you are | | | | PC and sometimes you won't even have to do |
| left to find your own provider with most | | | | that since most modern laptops have built in |
| landlord treating internet supplies as a | | | | wireless cards. In some student houses you |
| luxury. This guide has shown how to get the | | | | may find the signal gets pretty weak the |
| telephone line activated in yours and your | | | | further you are from the access point, in |
| housemate's names and how to look for | | | | which case it would be best to invest in a |
| broadband suppliers. The second part | | | | Wireless N router. Different generations of |
| discussed what steps to take in order to let | | | | broadband routers provide different levels of |
| your new broadband provider take over from | | | | strength, in most cases the previous |
| the previous tenant's provider. | | | | generation, Wireless G would be sufficient |
| | | | and fairly cheap to get for a typical house, |
| Now in this final part I'll cover what steps | | | | however if you're finding the signal isn't |
| you'll need to do in order to make sure that | | | | reaching everyone in your house then you may |
| the single internet connection in your house | | | | have to invest in a wireless N router and |
| is distributed to everyone who lives in your | | | | adaptors. |
| house through wireless networks. I'll go into | | | | |
| how to get everyone online and make sure no | | | | The only remaining issue is the security of |
| one steals your internet! | | | | your network, you want to pay for yours and |
| | | | your housemate's internet, not for your next |
| Now you've sorted your connection out now you | | | | door neighbours, so securing your wireless |
| need to go about sharing the internet amongst | | | | network is vital in order to limit who can |
| all the residents. This is typically done by | | | | connect to your network. |
| plugging your modem into a router instead of | | | | |
| a single computer, in the past these things | | | | The easiest way to protect your network is to |
| used to mean trailing wires everywhere to | | | | lock it down with a private key; this |
| connect all the computers to the wired | | | | essentially puts a password on your internet |
| router. If you're a student and you're | | | | access which only the authorised people know. |
| coming in at stupid o'clock in the morning, | | | | In a student-filled area this is vital since |
| stumbling in the dark is going to be made | | | | if people can get something without paying |
| more treacherous with all these cables lying | | | | for it then they'll surely try their luck. |
| everywhere and is bound to cause a bruise or | | | | I've known people who've connected to |
| two; thank god for wireless routers! | | | | unprotected networks as well as people who |
| | | | have had people trying to use their internet |
| Wireless routers do the same job as a wired | | | | without asking. If someone uses your |
| one but don't have the cables encroaching | | | | internet then it may end up experiencing a |
| throughout your house. Plus there's no limit | | | | drop in speed which is definitely not |
| to the amount of devices that can connect to | | | | something you'd want. |
| the access point too, you aren't restricted | | | | |
| to five connections which is great for modern | | | | One issue you may find with sharing a low |
| computers as many people will now have a | | | | speed connection is that it may not be quick |
| computer and maybe a video games console that | | | | enough to provide acceptable speeds to all |
| connects to the internet too. Some broadband | | | | the people connected so you may end up having |
| suppliers offer routers as a part of | | | | to look into upgrading your speed. Use a |
| broadband deals so keep an eye out for these | | | | broadband speed test to see if you're getting |
| offers; they can save you having to shell out | | | | an acceptable speed, if not then your house |
| £75 on one yourself. | | | | may need an upgrade! |