Not all computer users at home have idea if they need to Find IP Address for the computers on the network they build at home, or the router they have as the central wireless access point. Searching the topic into the search engines is the effort to get the answer of simple FAQ like How to find my IP Address.
Home users with the computers that do not join the network or do not have network around, do not need to worry how to find IP address, because a computer needs a unique IP address only if the computer joins the network and need to communicate with other computers within the network. A unique computer ID with a unique IP address within the network is a must for others to be able to find the computer and communicate each other on the network.
Wireless Network at Home
Each computer that joins into the network whether home network or large corporate network, needs to find IP address as the unique ID. But if your home network uses wireless router such as WRT610N Linksys router, you do not need to worry how to find IP Address, since mostly the wireless routers or the modem router (the router with DSL / Cable modem integrated in it) support the DHCP services which is enabled by factory default. A DHCP service is a router feature which provides IP address configuration automatically to the network devices on the network including the computers. See also IP configuration to the computers.
What is the IP address?
In a network infrastructure that uses TCP/IP protocol suite – a popular protocols suite widely used around the globe, each network device including the computer needs a unique IP address as an ID. To find IP address that can be used in the network environment; being familiar with the IP address classes defined by the IANA committee would help. The table shown below is the IP address V4 Classes you need to know as knowledge. An IP address consists of 32-bit number written in a dotted-decimal notation such as 192.168.1.1.
| Class Type | Start Address | End Address | Default mask | Notes |
| Class A | 1.0.0.0 | 127.255.255.254 | 255.0.0.0 | |
| Class B | 128.0.0.0 | 191.255.255.254 | 255.255.0.0 | |
| Class C | 192.0.0.0 | 223.255.255.254 | 255.255.255.0 | |
| Class D | 224.0.0.0 | 239.255.255.254 | Multicasting | |
| Class E | 240.0.0.0 | 255.255.255.254 | For testing |
Class A; Class B; and Class C are the IP classes you can use. There are mainly two IP addresses schemes in the IP address Class, public IP address and Private IP address. Public IP addresses are routable into the internet, each computer or network devices connected to the Internet must use public IP and must be unique around the globe. While private IP address is not routed to the internet and should be used for the network behind the firewall – your home network. The following table lists the private IP address range.
| Class Type | Start Address | End Address |
| Class A | 10.0.0.0 | 10.255.255.254 |
| Class B | 172.16.0.0 | 172.31.255.254 |
| Class C | 192.168.0.0 | 192.168.255.254 |
Beside public and private addresses schemes, in Microsoft Windows starting from XP the APIPA addressing scheme is used automatically by the computers to find IP address when DHCP services is not available on the network. The usage of public IP address and Private IP address can be shown in a simple home network diagram below. A unique public IP address at the WAN port of the router should be used; the ISP will provide the IP address for you. While the IP address behind the router / firewall uses the Private IP address scheme you can select using the above private IP address table.
The range of APIPA addressing scheme starts from 169.254.0.1 until 169.254.255.254. APIPA addressing scheme is not routable to the Internet and in range within the private addressing scheme.
There are many multi-function all-in-one wireless routers integrated with the modem you can purchase at the market for your home wireless environment. They usually includes complete functions, all the requirements you need to build a simple network including the router/firewall, the switch, and wireless access point in a single compact – portable device such as DSL-2640B D-Link modem router with ADSL modem integrated in it. Or you can consider DGND-3300 Netgear RangeMax (Dual Band Wireless-N DSL Router); TRENDnet 300Mbps Wireless N ADSL2/2+ Modem Router.
Those routers will provide an easy to install and configure for your simple wireless home network, and you don’t need to find IP address for the computers on the network. What you need to do is find the IP address from the ISP with a single phone call.
See also:
- Hi-Gain USB dish adapter – high performance USB wireless adapter.
- Windows Internet Security System
- Computer networking hardware
- home computer networking
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