How to Set Up a Wireless Access Point

Installing and configuring a wireless access point that will connect to your existing wireless network can be a bit complex. In the following article, the various steps needed for an access point's setup are divided into broad categories and listed.

How to Install a Wireless Access Point

Steps on how to set up a wireless access point are:

Network information
Your WAP acts as a go-between device, between your router and computers trying to connect to your home network. Hence, the wireless settings of your router should be inputed onto your WAP, so that the wireless access point picks up and broadcasts the correct signal. Before doing anything with the access point, you will need the following information from your router:

LAN:
Router's IP address
DHCP address range
Wireless:
Wireless network name or SSID
Wireless channel being used
Security mode being used (WEP, WPA etc.)
Password or security key (copy all the settings, such as number of keys, encryption type etc. to be safe)
Please write down the above data correctly. A slight change in the settings and nothing will work. To obtain such information, you will need to log onto your router's setup page. If you are familiar with the process or know the settings, skip the following steps:
I. Use any computer that is hard wired to your router. Do not connect to your router's page wirelessly.
II. On that computer, open the Command Prompt and in the black screen, type the command ipconfig.
III. Look for the field Default Gateway. An example of what it may look like: "192.168.1.1". Write this down, this is your router's IP address.
IV. Close the command prompt and open any web browser. Delete any URL in the Address bar and type in your router's IP address. Press Enter.
V. A dialog box will appear asking for your router's username and password (not related at all to your wireless network). If you have enabled any, please enter it now. The default login information for most routers is a blank username and password: admin. Click on Ok.
VI. At the main setup screen, look for DHCP Range and DHCP start and end addresses. Write this down.
VII. Now look for a tab at the top of the screen, that says Wireless or Wireless Settings. Click on said tab, there may be sub tabs like basic, security and advanced. Look for the wireless information details mentioned above (SSID, security etc.) and write them down.
VIII. Check if you have enabled broadcasting of your network name, i.e. your network name is seen and you connect by selecting it. This option is usually termed as SSID broadcast and is found in the wireless settings page.


Connecting the WAP1. Now it's time to deal with the access point. Connect an Ethernet cable to the port on the WAP and the other end of the wire to the Ethernet port on your computer, such that the WAP and a computer are hard-wired together. Turn on the access point.
2. Open the Command Prompt and type ipconfig/renew. Then type ipconfig. Look for the Default Gateway address, this is currently your WAP's address, which needs to be changed.
3. Open a web browser and type this address in the Address bar. Log in to the page, (username blank, password:admin) and now you are on the WAP's setup page.
4. The default mode for functioning is Access Point in most routers. If there is any such specification on the WAP's setup page, make sure this mode is set to Access Point only.
5. First the router's IP address needs to be assigned. Look for the term IP address and there should be four number filled boxes beside it.
6. To help understand what the access point's address should be, here's an example:
Suppose your router's IP address is 192.168.1.1 and the DHCP starting address is 192.168.1.10 and ending address is 192.168.1.15
7. Since the DHCP range is 10-15, the access point's address should NOT be any of these numbers but should be something different. An ideal address for your access point is 192.168.1.2. So, it is within the router's subnet range but not within the DHCP range. Type this in the IP address box. Do not type in the Default Gateway boxes.
8. Look for any option termed DHCP enabled and a possible checkbox or "yes/no". Turn off the DHCP. With this address change, the web browser might try to refresh or a message might be shown. Close all windows.


Setting Up the Wireless Network(i). On establishing the WAP's address, now the physical connections have to be changed. Connect one of your router's LAN or Ethernet ports to the port on the WAP. Connect another wire between the computer and the router's port. Power on the access point. Now both your computer and the WAP are connected but not to each other, instead to the router.
(ii). Now on the computer, open a web browser and type in the WAP's IP address, which was just assigned (in this scenario, 192.168.1.2) and logon to the setup page. Look for a main tab that says Wireless.
(iii). Under this tab, enter SSID and wireless channel. Look for a sub-tab that says Wireless Security and click on it. Under this, select the correct security type and type in the password or key, that is used for your network. This step is inputting the wireless settings of your router onto your access point. Once done, close the browser.
(iv). The LED's on your access point should be lit up. Check the WAP's manual to see if they are lit up correctly. The WAP has been setup. If you are connecting it to a wired router, leave the present connections as they are. If you have a wireless router, then you can disconnect the WAP from the router and position it in a location, such that it picks up the router's signal and broadcasts it properly. This process is slightly "trial and error" in nature, as you need to check the signal strength for placing the wireless access point in the optimum location.


The above mentioned WAP installation procedure may seem very tedious, but you just need to be patient and read the step carefully before doing anything. Bear in mind that your access point is now configured according to your router's wireless settings, so if you change them on the router, you have to change them on your access point.
By Rave Uno
Published: 6/28/2011

Types of Programming Errors

There are various types of programming errors that can crop up during the development phase of a software program and every programmer needs to be aware of them. In this article, you will find a description of the most common programming bugs that every developer may surely encounter.

Prime Types of Programming Errors

Computer programming is a vast field with hundreds of languages to be mastered and millions of applications. From core operating system programming, application programming, embedded system coding, web development, mobile platform apps, development of software programs deployed online to scientific computing, the extent of the field is simply vast. So is the scope for making programming errors of various kinds! Here are the main types of programming errors that any developer needs to be aware of.
Programming Error Type Description
Logic Error This is perhaps the most serious of all errors. When a written program in any language compiles and runs properly only to provide incorrect output, the flaw lies in the underlying programming logic. It's an error which has been inherited from a flaw in the base algorithm. The very logic on which the entire program is based is flawed, in such a case. These types of errors need a fundamental change in your approach to find a solution. You need to start digging at the algorithmic level to narrow down to the cause of such an error.
Syntax Error Every computer language like C, Java, Perl and Python has a specific syntax in which code needs to be written. When a programmer doesn't adhere to the 'grammar' specifications of a computer language, a syntax error results. These kinds of errors are easily rectified during the compilation phase.
Compilation Error Compilation is the process where a program written in a high level language is converted to machine readable form. Many types of errors can occur during this phase, including syntax errors. Sometimes, the syntax of a source code might be flawless, but a compilation error might still occur. This may be due to a problem in the compiler itself. These errors are rectifiable in the development phase.
Run Time Error The program code has compiled successfully and an executable file has been created. You breathe a sigh of relief and run the program to test its working to find an error. This is a 'Run Time Error'. These may result from the failure on part of the developer to anticipate actual program deployment conditions. These can be rectified by going back to the coding phase.
Arithmetic Error Many programs use numerical variables and the algorithm may involve several mathematical calculations. Arithmetic errors crop up when the computer cannot handle problems like 'Division By Zero' leading to an infinite result. This is again a logical error which can only be corrected by changing the algorithm.
Resource Errors When the value of a variable overflows its maximum allowed value, a resource error may result. Buffer overflow, usage of an uninitialized variable, access violations and stack overflows are examples of some common programming errors.
Interfacing Error These may arise due to mismatch of a software program with the hardware interface or application programming interface used. In case of web applications, an interface error may result from incorrect use of a web protocol.


These are the types of programming errors that you need to watch out for. An intensive testing and debugging phase is an essential part of the software development cycle which can help nip these errors in the bud, before full scale deployment of the software program. A lot of errors can be avoided through pre-planning and care during the coding phase. Through practice and discipline and following rigorous debugging procedures, most of the programming errors can be rectified during software development. Making mistakes is a part of learning and they can never be entirely avoided. However, I would suggest that you focus on making new mistakes and avoid repeating the ones you made before!

Why eBooks will Replace Traditional Books

One-room computers became desktops, which became laptops, which now are tablets and smartphones. The next platform for such physical compression, seems to be the written word in the form of novels and books. The eBook is the digital version of a traditional paperback, in a digital page-by-page format, readable on a compatible device. This electronic reading ability has taken the tech market by storm, with Amazon and Barnes and Noble, two major publishers fighting it out with their respective eBook readers. So ultimately will eBooks replace paper books and relegate them to the literal bookshelves of history? In this article, learn why the newcomer, the eBook, has the muscle power and the specs to replace printed literature.

The Advantage of the eBook

Below, the benefits of eBooks over traditional books are outlined.

Cost
Obviously the device for reading an eBook costs more than a paperback novel. The Nook and the Kindle both cost around $140, with the Nook Color costing $250. So an e-reader will cost at least $100, while your average paperback costs between $20-$50. But get this, eBooks cost $5-$10 at a minimum and at a maximum, can touch $30. So even if you have to spend on a device initially, you can download, purchase and read more eBooks in the amount of money spent to buy a paperback.

Storage Space

Storing books needs room, space, cupboards and area. Whether you stack them up, put them in boxes or leave them lying around, one fact remains - the more books you have, the smaller your room seems to get. Plus preserving paperbacks is not an easy task. Dust, age, little dustmites and silverfish can all turn today's bestseller into a yellowing, falling-apart collection of pages. EBooks require no cupboards, no rooms and no boxes. Whether you store them on a laptop, tablet or an e-reader, they occupy the same digital space. And unless you press "delete", they will not turn into paper bits. OK, viruses or accidental deletion can destroy your eBook collection but you can make a backup of your eBooks. Unless you buy a separate copy or make xeroxes of each book, it is impossible to make a backup of your paperback collection.

Portability
How many paperbacks can one physically carry around, in hand or in a bag? Printed books can be hardbacks, which add to weight. In addition, there is the distance being traveled to consider. Catching a flight or from one class across campus to the other, carrying more than 5 books will turn you into a hunchback! There is a physical limitation to how many books can be carried around by one individual. Now think about how many books a child can carry or a senior citizen.

With eBooks, all you need is an e-reader to carry around a whole virtual library. No back-breaking loads to lift and carry around across distances, a one-stop digital device holds all your books in the digital format. Considering the compressed size of an eBook, a huge volume like say The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Tolkien, can be stored on the e-reader at a size of approximately 10-15 MB. So imagine how many titles you can load in one e-reader, depending on its memory capacity. Much more than 5-6 paperbacks. Plus any e-reader available today is infinitely lighter and thinner than a paperback. So carrying around your e-reader allows you to read on the go and makes reading easier on your back too.

Miscellaneous
With an eBook, the problem of being "out of print" or "no recent edition" is never a problem. Once created and stored in a digital format, the book is never out of print.

An eBook can be read over multiple devices. You can read the same eBook on your laptop, a desktop, an e-reader and even on some mobile phones. True, there are many different digital formats and compatibility can be an issue. But the digital medium is very adjusting and converting between said formats can be done.

Reading in the most impossible situations like, in low or no light and while walking or on the move, becomes possible. Plus for ease of access, font sizes and picture quality can be adjusted, so even with those with poor vision can read at ease.

When it comes to languages, paperbacks can be very inconvenient. Only the most famous and popular books are printed in different languages, that to, they are not printed in most languages. Here's where an eBook trounces a paperback. EBooks are available in different languages and dialects or the e-reader offers a translation option. So if you want to read the English translation of Voltaire's works or read the plays of Shakespeare in French, no need to order a book or run around behind various bookstores searching for a translated copy, just go online and download the version you want.

To get an eBook to read, all you have to do is go online, visit the online eBook store from your e-reader or search for eBooks, purchase and download. Ready for your reading pleasure. You can peruse through multiple books or authors or search for a particular title. With books, you need to visit your local bookstore or shop, lending library, ask your friends and neighbors... more time is spent in searching for a book, than actually reading it. Plus on the Internet, there is an amazing array of books to choose from. Amazon alone offers nearly 950,000 eBooks for the Kindle.

An eBook is not made of paper or ink or plastic or any material except digital code. Hence no natural resources are spent in its creation, use or deletion. One paperback requires at least one tree for its production. Its production process also consumes raw materials. So for a smaller green footprint, reading an eBook seems to be the better choice.

From the above points, does the future of books and libraries and stores that carry them seem dim? If eBook purchasing prices and the price of e-readers increase, then books will still reign supreme amongst the masses. On the other hand, keeping the example of cassettes and VHS tapes in mind, an ever-increasing library of eBooks could soon be the normal mode of reading. For now the debate rages on, only time will bring out a winner.
By Rave Uno
Published: 7/27/2011