Wireless Networking (WiFi)

Yes, onShore will work with wireless networks. You simply need to purchase a wireless router/access point from any popular electronics store. Connect the access point with an Ethernet cable to your hotWire jack just as you would your home computer, and then follow the setup CD and/or instructions that come with your router. onShore does not require any special settings or configuration to function with wireless devices. If asked, choosing "automatic configuration" or "DHCP" is recommended for all onShore customers.

onShore does not support customers' personal equipment. Please do not contact technical support for help setting up or troubleshooting your wireless connection. Instead, contact your device's manufacturer.

Apple Airport 1-800-MY-APPLE

Belkin 1-800-2BELKIN x2263

D-Link 1-877-453-5465

Linksys 1-800-326-7114

Netgear 1-888-NETGEAR

Below are some tips to help you maintain and secure a home wireless network.

Troubleshooting a Wireless Network

• Always try power cycling (i.e., unplugging and replugging) your wireless router and, in the case of DSL or cable buildings, your modem. This forces your equipment to reconnect and in most cases solves the problem.

• Make sure you have installed the correct device driver for your wireless network adapter. This may interfere with your connectivity or cause your adapter not to function at all.

• Try changing channels on the access point. To do this, log in to the access point's administrative menu, select a different channel, and then save settings.

• Many home appliances can cause interference with the 802.11a/b/g/n signals. It is important to keep your access point at least 1 meter away from microwaves, home electronics and cordless phones.

• Adjust the antenna on your access point. Antennas can get bumped or moved and may be pointed down. This can weaken your signal, resulting in a slow or nonexistent connection. Replacing your antenna is necessary in some cases.

Securing your Wireless Network

• Almost all routers and access points have an administrator password. This login and password is set to a default value. It is usually noted within the documentation that comes with the device. It is important to login to your device and change this default password to something unique. Remember to keep this password somewhere safe as you will need it for future changes.

• Do not broadcast your SSID. Manually add wireless nodes to your network.

• Setup some type of network key. Sure there are many types of encryption types such as WAP or WEP. The important idea is to setup SOMETHING. You should never leave your wireless network open with no encrypted network password key.

• Enable the router's administration menu to only be access by HTTPS. HTTPS is similar to HTTP, the S stands for secure. This is a small layer of security, but better than nothing.

• Disable remote administration menus on your router. This way only computers hardwired into your access point can make administrative changes.