Broadband Guide

How To Wi-Fi your broadband

Updated: Tuesday 04 January, 2011

By Editorial - news@consumerchoices.co.uk

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The latest figures from Ofcom show that of the UK’s 19 million households currently subscribing to broadband, more than a quarter have already converted to wireless broadband, banishing the clutter of wires and cables forever.

If you’re one of the many people who have considered switching but think that you can’t get wireless or that you will need to pay your ISP to pipe in a new connection, then read on because anyone with a broadband connection can go wireless, you just need the right kit, and our guide.

There are two ways that you can go about switching to a wireless connection:

1. Buying your own router

You can get a wireless router from any local retailer and set it up yourself. But bear in mind that wireless routers are not all generic. As well as having a variety of features to look out for, you need to make sure that you buy the right one for your broadband connection.

If you get your broadband through a phone line, from a company like BT, Toucan or Sky, then you need to get an ADSL router. If you have a cable connection from Virgin Media, then you need a cable/DSL router. If you buy the wrong one, it won’t work.

Other features to consider when buying your router include:

• A built-in firewall for added security.
• Different types of encryption keys - WEP is a simple 64 or 128Bit encryption but offers limited security and is relatively easy to break. There is also WPA Personal (WPA-PSK), in the forms of WPA-TKIP which offers better security and is backwards compatible with older routers and USB keys, and WPA2-AES which offers the best security and better wireless performance but which is not compatible with all older hardware.
• The number of ports - The more ports your router has, the more PCs and printers you will be able to plug in. While plugging your PC in to your router does defeat the object of wireless, if you experience any problems with your connection, it helps o have ports that you can plug all your household computers into so that you don’t lose your internet connection completely.
• A wireless USB key included - While your laptop might be wireless enabled, the majority of desktop PCs aren’t. So if you want to connect your desktop wirelessly you will need a USB key to pick up the signal. Some routers come with a key included which will save you around £20.

If you do decide to buy your own router you will also need to configure it. This should be a relatively simple procedure but it helps if you’re comfortable with computers to begin with.

Most routers will have their own wizard to help with the set up procedure, but there are two important steps that you need to take in order to protect your router and your PC. You will need to set up a WEP or WPA-PSK key for security and you will need to change the password on your router. For more information on how to do this, read our article on Internet Security.

While you might be tempted to go for the cheapest option when buying your router, what you need to consider is value rather than cost. Think about the side effects of poor quality hardware such as interruptions in your connection and what kind of customer support you will get if you do need help.

2. Get a complete package from your ISP

Essentially this means that your service provider will send you their own router which should be pre-configured so that you can plug in and be wirelessly connected within around 20 minutes.

The major advantage of this is that retailers like AOL, BT and Orange will pre-configure your hardware, making sure that all the settings are correct and that security is sorted.

However, you should watch out for lease schemes. For example, customers using the Orange Livebox do not own their wireless router and will have to return it to Orange and get a new one if they switch provider.

You might get some extra features by getting your router direct from your ISP. For example, both BT and Orange offer cheaper calls via a VoIP connection from their hardware. Although you can do this via a shop-bought router, you would need to find your own call package. Click here to read our article about VoIP.

Which option is right for me?

Both options work for different people. If you’re tech savvy then you should buy your own as you will be able to hand-pick the features you want on your router rather than just taking whichever one your ISP sends you.

If you don’t feel comfortable setting up your own router but don’t want to switch ISPs in order to get a free one you should try negotiating with your current provider. Most offer free wireless routers to new customers, so if you tell them that you’re considering switching providers, they will probably offer one to keep you. Alternatively you could offer to renew you contract in exchange for a free router. That way you can get a free, pre-configured router without the hassle of switching.

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