How to Set Up a Wireless Router

Setting up a wireless router is straightforward as long as you have a PC with a wireless network adapter, as well as an active high-speed Internet connection !ou "ight also need a co"puter with a wired network adapter and router-specific setup software, which is typically included on a disc packaged with your router or availa#le for download on the router "anufacturer$s support site If you have a router la#eled with a Windows % logo and you are using Windows %, setting things up should #e &uick if you follow the steps #elow

Set Up Your Wireless Router on a Windows 7 PC

' Connect the wireless router to your "ode" using an ethernet ca#le ( Connect your wireless router to a power source Wait a#out a "inute, and then continue to the ne)t step

* Click the network icon in the notification area+ the icon should look like a series of vertical #ars, or a tiny PC with a network adapter alongside it , Select your wireless network fro" the list of availa#le networks to co"plete the setup process -y default, your network na"e will #e the na"e of your router "anufacturer .lthough newer routers connected to Windows % PCs are generally si"ple to set up, so"e pro#le"atic wireless routers "ight re&uire a little "ore attention If you can/t set up your wireless router as e)plained a#ove, follow the directions included with it Chances are, you$ll need to use one of the following two strategies

Set Up Your Router Using the Setup Software

' 0ake sure that your wireless router is co"pletely disconnected fro" the "ode", the co"puter, and the power source ( 1n your PC, insert the disc that ca"e with your router, or download and run the latest version of the router$s software fro" the vendor we#site * 2ollow the on-screen instructions 3he setup routine will ask you to connect co"ponents 4including your "ode" and PC5 in a certain order, and it "ay re&uest that you te"porarily connect your wireless router to a co"puter via an ethernet ca#le !ou will also create a

wireless network na"e and password at this point If so"ething goes wrong, you "ay want to consider "anually configuring your wireless router

Manually Configure Your Router Without Setup Software

' Connect your wireless router to the "ode", using an ethernet ca#le ( Connect the wireless router to a power source Wait a#out a "inute to ensure that your router is fully operational * Connect the wireless router to your co"puter using an ethernet ca#le , 6og in to your router/s We# interface #y opening a #rowser and entering the IP address of your router into the address #ar 3he IP address should #e listed within your router/s docu"entation+ if you can$t find it, "ost routers use a co""on IP address such as http788'9( ':; ' ', http788'9( ':; < ', or http788'9( ':; ( ' = >nter the default userna"e and password, which you should find within your router/s docu"entation .lternatively, visit Port 2orward/s ?efault Router Passwords page : Use the We# interface to set up a network na"e and password % ?isconnect your co"puter fro" the wireless router and then reconnect wirelessly 2inally, check out our router tips to speed up your wireless connection Caution: -e sure to use a password to protect your wireless network Unauthori@ed parties can easily connect to an unprotected network, stealing your #andwidth as well as your personal data Include a co"#ination of letters, sy"#ols, and nu"#ers to #uild a #etter password, and don/t use words found in the dictionary ?on/t worry a#out "e"ori@ing your password+ Aust write it down and file it away 3he one-ti"e "inor inconvenience of connecting a co"puter to a password-protected network is worth the huge security advantage