How to Set Up a Wireless
Router
Setting up a
wireless router is straight forward as long as you have a PC with a wireless
network adapter, as well as an active high-speed Internet connection. You might
also need a computer with a wired network adapter and router-specific setup
software, which is typically included on a disc packaged with your router or
available for download on the router manufacturer's support site.
If you have
a router labeled with a Windows 7 logo and you are using Windows 7, setting things
up should be quick if you follow the steps below.
Set Up Your
Wireless Router on a Windows 7 PC
1. Connect the
wireless
router to your modem using an ethernet cable.
2. Connect your wireless router to a power source. Wait about a minute, and
then continue to the next step.
3. Click the network icon in the
notification area; the icon should look like a series of vertical bars, or a
tiny PC with a network adapter alongside it.
4. Select your wireless network from the list of available networks to
complete the setup process. By default, your network name will be the name of
your router manufacturer.
Although newer routers connected to Windows 7 PCs are generally simple to
set up, some
problematic
wireless routers might require a little more attention. If you can’t
set up your wireless router as explained above, 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
1. Make sure that your wireless router is completely disconnected from the
modem, the computer, and the power source.
2. On your PC, insert the disc that came with your router, or download and
run the latest version of the router's software from the vendor website.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions. The setup routine will ask you to
connect components (including your modem and PC) in a certain order, and it may
request that you temporarily connect your wireless router to a computer via an
ethernet cable. You will also create a wireless network name and password at
this point. If something goes wrong, you may want to consider manually
configuring your wireless router.
Manually Configure Your Router Without Setup Software
1. Connect your wireless router to the modem, using an ethernet cable.
2. Connect the wireless router to a power source. Wait about a minute to
ensure that your router is fully operational.
3. Connect the wireless router to your computer using an ethernet cable.
4. Log in to your router’s Web interface by opening a browser and entering
the IP address of your router into the address bar. The IP address should be
listed within your router’s documentation; if you can't find it, most routers
use a common IP address such as http://192.168.1.1, http://192.168.0.1, or
http://192.168.2.1.
5. Enter the default username and password, which you should find within
your router’s documentation. Alternatively, visit Port Forward’s
Default
Router Passwords page.
6. Use the Web interface to set up a network name and password.
7. Disconnect your computer from the wireless router and then reconnect
wirelessly. Finally, check out our
router
tips to speed up your wireless connection.
Caution: Be sure to use a password to protect your wireless
network. Unauthorized parties can easily connect to an unprotected network,
stealing your bandwidth as well as your personal data. Include a combination of
letters, symbols, and numbers to
build
a better password, and don’t use words found in the dictionary.
Don’t worry about memorizing your password; just write it down and file it
away. The one-time minor inconvenience of connecting a computer to a
password-protected network is worth the huge security advantage.
