Hello, today I am going to walk you through on how to easily and painlessly with no technical knowledge (idiotproof) required to install a new wireless router on your home Internet connection / network.
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If you already have an existing wireless network at home and you wish to extend it, you can buy wireless extenders at IT stores.
If you use an integrated box, like SingTel’s Mio. – Which has everything inside, like Telephone, Internet and TV, all built in.
Chances are high that it include wireless networking functionality, check with your telco for more information.
If you have a modem that comes with router you might want to skip to Step 7 to set it up.
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If you do not have an existing wireless network and wish to add one, read on!
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First, I assume that you have a modem / ADSL, if you have zero idea what a modem / ADSL is, it looks something like that. Many companies do Modem, the common one’s like Motorola or Prolink.
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Secondly, I assume you got a wireless router off your IT shop. In my case, I received a brand new Linksys WRT54G2 router a few days ago.
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Thirdly, I also assume that you pay for internet bills and you have an existing internet connection with your provider
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Alright, once you fulfill the 3 requirements as above, you are good to go!
We are not going to use the documentation and CD tools provided as we are going to manually set it up ourselves!
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Lets start off learning a few names and stuff in the box, shall we.
This is a LAN (Local Area Network) Cable, this cable allow network packets or in simpler terms, allow computers and networks to link to each other.
In the box, it contains the AC Adapter.
Lastly, the router itself (Which is the mastermind of the routing connections at your home), and after that, lets get started!
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After knowing whatever inside the box, lets set it up!
1) Plug in the AC Power in the socket.
2) Pull off all relevant stickers and plug in the power. After that, switch on the Power.
3) Inside the box should provide you a LAN cable right? Plug that in.
4) Plug the other end into the source of the internet, in this case, a modem.
5) Look for a network which have the highest signal and which is unsecured and identical to your own router. You may also buy or find another LAN cable to connect your router to your computer.
6) You could get Windows 7, which I am using at the moment to help me set up, however, in my case, as I mentioned earlier, we will be using our own methods to set it up without installing additional software.
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If you are a Windows Vista / 7 user, please skip this and go direct to Step 8.
Windows XP users, please go to the Control Panel Start -> Control Panel OR Start -> Settings -> Control Panel
At the left hand corner, switch to Classic View and go to Network Connections, if you are using Wireless, click on Wireless Network Connection or the manufacturer of your Wireless card and it should show some kind of signal bar on it. However, If you are using LAN Cable, click on Local Area Connection and once you are done, right click and go to Status and click on Support followed by Details under Connection Status. After you are done, skip to step 11
8 ) For Windows 7 and Vista users, go to Control Panel by going to Start -> Control Panel than search Network and Sharing Center to get there.
9) Look for your internet connection, once you found it click on it.
10) Than click on details.
11) Here comes the confusing part, look for default gateway and take down the IP address.
12) Than use your web browser, like Internet Explorer or Firefox and enter that IP address inside it.
13) You should see a username and password screen and click here to help you with it [Replace the search line with your Router Manufacturer and Model number]. If that do not help you, look inside your box or call the support line and request for the default username and password for your router.
14) After you are inside the system, it varies from router to router, you might want to go into your settings or administration console to change your router password.
15) Go to Wireless Security and change the basic security settings. Firstly, you can change your Network Name, or known as the SSID to something else, like your own name, or anything else.
16) Go to wireless security and change to WPA Personal, which is the most secure method available for wireless protection, so you won’t be a victim for those who tap on your network to download pirated materials. If WPA Personal give problems, choose WEP ( A Legacy protection method ), but it does it job too.
17) After that, set a password and save it!
Your router may restart and if you are using a wireless network connection while setting it up, you may have to reconnect to the network and key in your new security credentials!
If you have further questions on setting up your router, Twitter me at @jeremy89632
All the best on setting up your new router!
Jeremy Goh.
