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When setting up your router, be sure to pick a unique password and SSID (service set identifier, the name for your network). Keep WEP (wired equivalent privacy, a security feature) disabled for now. (We'll get to it in Step 3.)
Remember, you need to install wireless adapters in every computer that doesn't have wi-fi built in (except, of course, the PC that's already connected to the router by cable). Use the CDROM that came with each card. And keep the SSID consistent.
A notebook that has a built-in wireless card and is running Windows XP or Mac OS X should immediately detect the presence of your network and, if all goes well, configure itself. My iBook was connected in less than a minute. The Dell 600m I borrowed required a bit more fiddling but was pretty straightforward.
A good way to see what's going on with a particular machine is to look for the wireless-networking icon in the bottom or top righthand corner of the screen. Click on it to view a list of available networks, which will be identified by their SSIDs. (I'd love to know which of my neighbors is "zajal.") Your network should be listed first on the Preferred list.
If you find that you can't venture as far away from the router as you'd like with one of your networked notebooks, experiment with the router's placement. Indoor range should be about 300 ft., but will be significantly reduced by walls, hallways and other barriers. If you are getting interference from a baby monitor or microwave, try changing the channel (a minor tweak in your router's basic settings). If your cordless phone is a problem, get one that automatically looks for a clear channel or, better yet, one that uses the 5.8-GHz band.
STEP 3: MAKE IT SECURE
To prevent unwanted visitors, you need to enable the WEP security feature on your router. It's a flawed technology, but enable it anyway. You'll be asked to make up a pass phrase and generate a WEP key, a string of letters and numbers you will need to type into each machine on your network (after clicking on the networking icon and going to Network Properties). Friends who come over with their laptops will need that WEP key too, so write the key down and tape it to the back of your router.
STEP 4: CALL FOR HELP
These days, self-starters have fewer opportunities to screw up, thanks to better setup wizards and wi-fi--ready computers. But home networking is still a tricky business. Tech-support people can sometimes unravel a problem over the phone, but if they can't, consider calling in a pro. Dell and Gateway make house calls for fees starting at $160. You can also search the database at fhome.com to find a network installer near you. Most charge by the hour.
WEB EXTRAS
For more in-depth info about wi-fi home networking--including ways to lock out snoops and bandwidth thieves--check out the FAQs at www.time.com/wireless