WEBVTT Kind: captions Language: en 00:00:17.619 --> 00:00:21.669 There are a lot of reasons to set up a home internet connection. For example, you'll have 00:00:21.669 --> 00:00:27.789 access to email, news, shopping, TV shows, and much more. And once you have a working 00:00:27.789 --> 00:00:32.460 internet connection, you can create a wireless home network, which will let your whole family 00:00:32.460 --> 00:00:38.180 connect their computers, smartphones, and other internet-ready devices. 00:00:38.180 --> 00:00:42.479 There are different types of internet connections that you can have. Dial-up connects to your 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:47.089 phone line. It's usually much slower than other types of internet connections, but in 00:00:47.089 --> 00:00:53.710 some areas it may be the only option available. Generally, DSL and Cable are better options. 00:00:53.710 --> 00:00:59.620 DSL plugs into your phone line, and cable uses your cable TV connection. These are both 00:00:59.620 --> 00:01:05.000 known as broadband internet connections because they offer much faster speeds than dial-up. 00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:10.600 This makes it easier to watch videos, play games, or browse the web. 00:01:10.600 --> 00:01:16.319 3G and 4G are types of wireless internet connections often used by smartphones, but you can also 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:21.420 get these types of connections for your home. Depending on where you live, 3G or 4G may 00:01:21.420 --> 00:01:25.869 be a good broadband alternative to DSL and Cable. 00:01:25.869 --> 00:01:29.340 No matter what kind of internet service you choose, you'll need to purchase it from an 00:01:29.340 --> 00:01:34.759 Internet Service Provider, or ISP. Chances are, you can buy internet service from your 00:01:34.759 --> 00:01:38.920 phone or cable company, or you may want to shop around for a better price. 00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:43.989 Your ISP will guide you through the entire process of connecting to the internet. They'll 00:01:43.989 --> 00:01:48.520 usually need to send a technician to your home to turn on your connection. Your ISP 00:01:48.520 --> 00:01:53.099 may also give you a modem and set it up for you. But if you prefer, you can buy a modem 00:01:53.099 --> 00:01:58.060 from a computer store and use the included instructions to set it up yourself. These 00:01:58.060 --> 00:02:02.450 instructions will vary, but the basic idea is that you'll connect the modem to your phone 00:02:02.450 --> 00:02:08.160 jack or cable TV connection, and then connect your computer to the modem using an Ethernet 00:02:08.160 --> 00:02:12.069 cable. Once you have everything set up, you can open 00:02:12.069 --> 00:02:17.860 your web browser and begin using the internet. If you want to connect several devices to 00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:22.220 the internet, or if you just want the freedom to use your laptop without cables, you can 00:02:22.220 --> 00:02:28.150 create a wireless home network, also known as a Wi-Fi network. To do this, you'll need 00:02:28.150 --> 00:02:32.900 a wireless router, which takes the internet connection from your modem and broadcasts 00:02:32.900 --> 00:02:38.180 it throughout your home. Your modem may already have a wireless router built-in, so you may 00:02:38.180 --> 00:02:42.370 not need to buy one. To set up your wireless connection, follow 00:02:42.370 --> 00:02:47.379 the instructions included with your router. You'll need to choose a network name, also 00:02:47.379 --> 00:02:54.379 known as an SSID. Also, for security, you should turn on WPA or WPA2 encryption, and 00:02:55.260 --> 00:03:00.749 make sure you choose a strong password. After you've set up your wireless network, 00:03:00.749 --> 00:03:07.749 go into each device's Wi-Fi or Network settings, select your network name, and type your password. 00:03:09.650 --> 00:03:13.889 If any of your devices aren't wireless ready, you can simply plug them into your router 00:03:13.889 --> 00:03:18.810 with an Ethernet cable, or you can purchase a wireless card. 00:03:18.810 --> 00:03:23.079 Setting up an internet connection and Wi-Fi network takes a little bit of work, but once 00:03:23.079 --> 00:03:26.819 you get it set up, your family will be able to use the internet without being limited 00:03:26.819 --> 00:03:28.830 to one computer.