When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
How to Set Up a WIFI Router? Overview
Manufacturers have simplified router installation processes, but optimizing your new wireless router’s performance often requires going beyond basic setup steps.
Setting up a wireless router can be straightforward.
While modem makers should be complimented for making it more straightforward to set up their devices, these pointers in this review will make the procedure considerably less complicated.
We will also discuss how to keep your local network as safe as possible while reviewing some network details of router manuals.
Many router manufacturers now offer smartphone apps you can use during the first installation.
Indeed, some organizations presently don’t even bother providing a web-based UI. Having two options is ideal so you can choose which approach is ideal for you.
Steps to Follow When Setting Up Your Router
Placement for Your Router
As any router manufacturer will advise, the best spot to place your wireless modem is an open region in your home’s focal point. This is ideal because the router will provide the most balanced coverage.
It’s also a bit hard for the vast majority to do because you need to connect your modem to the broadband gateway that is provided by your internet service provider (ISP)
You don’t have to move the gateway by any means; you can buy a cheap CAT5e or CAT6 wire to link the gateway’s ethernet port to the modem port to place it out in the open.
Configure Your Wireless Modem Getaway
Most ISPs provide their customers with a gateway that has a built-in router.
Appallingly, these combined routers or modems are usually of less quality than independent routers, and none of the ISP-provided modems let you build mesh networks that have numerous wireless access points that enable you to hide your home with Wi-Fi.
If your gateway has a combined modem, you’ll need to configure the gateway to operate in bridge mode, allowing your router to handle all network management tasks and allow the unique IP address that the ISP allocates to your account (WAN IP) and all system traffic through to your new modem.
Connect the Gateway to The New Router
Switch off the gateway (unplug the power source without an on/off button).
If an ethernet wire is connected to the gateway’s LAN port, unplug it and attach it to your modem’s WAN port. Several modems have dedicated WAN and LAN ports, whereas others have auto-detecting ports.
The modem should come with an ethernet cable if no ethernet wire is connected to the gateway’s LAN port. Use this cable to link the router to your gateway.
Switch on your gateway and take a moment or two to boot up. Then, plug in your modem’s power supply and turn it on. Wait for another moment or two for booting.
Modify Your Routers Admin Interface Passcode
Numerous modem makers avail smartphone applications to configure the modems. You can use this if your new modem has one. Sometimes, this may be the only way you can configure the modem.
If there’s no application, or if you prefer the modem’s web-based UI, link your laptop to the router using an ethernet cable.
Enter the router’s IP address into your web browser and allow the page to launch. The modem’s IP address may be inscribed on the modem; it looks like 192.168.1.1 or something comparable.
Update the Modem Firmware
Router manufacturers frequently update firmware after dispatching a router model to clients. The new firmware may contain basic bug fixes, performance, and security upgrades. Therefore, ensure you have the most recent firmware version.
Set A Passcode for Your Wi-Fi Connection
A few routers come from the company with a pre-appointed Wi-Fi passcode inscribed on the modem. The rest will prompt you to create a passcode while primarily setting up the router.
Ensure you set your router to use WPA2 encryption instead of the outdated and less secure WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), which is undeniably unsafe and shouldn’t be used by anyone.
Using the Wi-Fi
If everything goes as planned, you can sign in to your new Wi-Fi link using the Wi-Fi passcode you created. If your modem has a visitor grid, take complete advantage of this
This grid lets visitors access the net while keeping them off the rest of your grid, PCs, and storage devices linked to the network.
Final Thought
To sum it all up, setting up your Wi-Fi router is not that hard if you follow the steps identified above.
You need to set strong passwords during setup to ensure that data from the linked devices is not compromised.
See Also
How to set up a new wifi router