Wireless networking has become nearly ubiquitous, and so, it seems, have wireless threats. Judging from the never-ending stream of concerns over everything from cracking wireless encryption schemes to connecting to fake access points, setting up a secure wireless network sounds like a nightmarish task.

The good news is that it’s not so difficult after all. That’s based on my testing of a new wireless router from Belkin. It’s called the Pre-N Router, made to comply with the next generation wireless protocol 802.11n, which has not yet been released. It’s also compatible with existing protocols 802.11a/b/g (each successive protocol has higher speeds and greater range).

Setting up the wireless network was a two-step operation. First I installed a new Belkin wireless network card into my laptop’s CardBus slot, simply by removing the plastic tray from the slot and sliding the card in. Then, with a few mouse clicks, the necessary software was installed and the card was ready for use. It’s not absolutely necessary to use the Belkin wireless card with this router, but maximum throughput will only be possible with the Belkin card.

The second step was to set up the router itself. The process started with the installation of software from a CD; then, a wizard gave step-by-step instructions to continue the setup. This was little more than plugging network cables into the router and laptop until the network was recognized. Total time for installing the wireless card and the router: less than ten minutes.

To make the network secure, it was necessary to log onto the router’s Web-based user interface. I first customized the wireless network’s name (this name is known as the SSID) to something that would be easily recognizable to me in case multiple wireless networks are available. By default the SSID is visible to any computer scanning for a wireless network to attach to. That doesn’t mean they can necessarily attach to it, but turning this off—accomplished by removing a check mark—makes the network invisible.

The next security step was to configure encryption. The router supports two encryption protocols, Wireless Protected Access (WPA) and the older, less secure Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). I installed WPA. This meant creating a “pre-shared key”—a password of 8 to 63 letters, numbers, and characters. It can be as complicated as you like, since you don’t have to remember it; but any computer that will connect to this network must know this key.

Another easily set up security feature is MAC address control, in which only computers with specific MAC addresses (these identify particular computers) can access the network. The router has a built-in firewall, enabled by default, that protects against common attacks and hides ports from anyone scanning for an opening into your computer.

Pros. Setting up the network and making it secure was a fast and painless process. The instruction manual is written for nontechnical users and explains in simple terms everything you need to know to make the network safe. And the combination of card and router is extremely fast and the range of the wireless network is extraordinary.

Cons. To realize all the benefits of throughput and range, you need the wireless card as well as the router. The router sells for $159.99 through Belkin’s Web site, and the wireless card for $109.99; they are cheaper via online electronics retailers.