Wireless Routers

Wireless routers allow you to access your broadband internet connection wirelessly from within your home (and garden!). It also allows multiple computers to share the same internet connection, so you can Facebook whilst others eBay, MSN, MySpace, read Sky News online or watch the iPlayer.

Families often use wireless routers to allow everyone to get online at the same time, and they're really easy to set up.

If you've got broadband through your BT, TalkTalk or Sky landline then all you need to do is connect your wireless router to your phone socket (using the Microfilter adaptors supplied). The wireless router will usually come password printed its side. Type this into your computer when you search for wireless networks, and you should be good to go! This password protects your internet connection from others who may try to use it without permission.

If you have cable broadband from Virgin Media, the process for setting your router up is very similar. Simply connect it to the cable modem your engineer will have installed, type in the password printed on the side of the router into your computer and you'll be surfing the internet at super fast cable broadband speed right away!

Wireless router will become even more important to families lives in the near future, as they start to become connected to set-top TV boxes to provide on-demand content to your TV. Rumours are that you'll soon be able to stream the iPlayer and other catch-up TV services straight onto your TV without being a Virgin Media customer, who are currently the only provider of BBC iPlayer-to-your-TV streaming.