Need a wireless network at home? Then what you need is a router. But when you get it out its box, it won’t likely have an Internet-connected network ready for use. A wireless router require some setup, with some models taking only a couple of minutes to do so.
Before anything else, turn on your wireless router and connect it to your modem via an Ethernet cable (although newer modems may work with USB connections too). Position the router at a central point such that every room in your house has a good signal.
The next step is to open the router’s administration panel or configuration tool. This is done by connecting one computer to the router. A wired connection is recommended; although newly bought wireless routers may also broadcast a wireless network you can connect to. Launch your Web browser and enter into the address bar either “http:192.168.1.1” or “http:192.168.0.1”. Enter the username and password when asked. You can consult the router’s documentation to find this information.
Once logged in, change the default username and password for the admin panel to keep anyone else from gaining entry. Proceed to modifying your wireless network’s settings, such as its name (or SSID), password, channel, channel width, and others. You might also have to enter or change additional information within your router’s admin panel if your Internet service provider requires you to do so.
When you’re finished with the initial setup of your wireless router, take some time exploring optional settings and features. While not essential to get connected to the network and Internet, these features may improve the overall experience of your network users. For instance, there are settings that let you control which apps or users are prioritized for Internet bandwidth and which websites are not allowed to be viewed.