How hard is it to install wifi,

[JanMichael]

particularly the encryption part?

Something most people could do, or call a technician?

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I have Microsoft and it was pretty simple, it prompts you along.

[JanMichael]

2. microsoft what?

?

[Midlodemocrat]

7. I have a Microsoft router, but Netgear cards.

It was pretty simple and I'm not that good at this kind of thing.

[DS1]

3. I recommend Netgear equipment

And it's easy as hell if you have Netgear all the way through, just select 48 or 128 bit encryption, punch in a passphrase and viola, you're all set. And if you screw it up, there's a reset button on the back of the router.

I don't use encryption, however, instead I've programmed my router to only accept the MAC addresses of the wireless cards I use.

[seemunkee]

5. I'll second netgear and you should avoid D-Link

I've used netgear firewall/routers and they are very easy to setup. The D-link products I have tried have all been crap.

[GOPisEvil]

6. yeah, Netgear is easy

It was very simple for me, a non-techno guy.

[JanMichael]

9. Yeah, but you are one of those super intelligent kinda

nerdy hot guys.

Wait! Michael is too!

:)

[GOPisEvil]

11. Flatterer!

:)

[IChing]

4. it 's easy but you are vague in what you want.

You need a wi-fi card or airport card (Mac name) in your computer.
you need a wireless router
you need to follow the directions for encryption, I have a belkin, airport and a D-link wire less routers
most are easy.
there is plenty of support depending on the card and router.

[IChing]

8. This is a great website for support, reviews and answers.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/LANs_n_Routers.php

[Orangepeel]

10. I have a Belkin wireless router I bought at Office Max

there was an 800 number on the box and some very helpful Indian woman talked me through setting it up so that it would only let our computers access it.

[Redstone]

12. Belkin is particularly good if you have a Mac; they even support System 9!

Haven't had a bit of trouble with their stuff. Like you, I did find the manual to be incorrect, but the free phone call fixed things.

Redstone

[mwooldri]

13. Wifi - easy. Encryption? Not much harder, unless you need military grade.

For me, I got a D-Link router - had it for years - (yep, it's only 802.11 B) and it's straightforward enough to plug into my cable modem and the wireless card and works fine.

Encryption is a little tougher as it is not enabled on my old hardware by default. The hardware support 128 bit encryption but Microsoft's default wireless network software does not. I could install D-Link's own but I got the maximum that Win-XP will support is 64 bit. So you'll need extra software for harder level encryption.

Since I am in a spread out area and the signal doesn't get that far it works OK for me.

Mark.