While manufacturers have made installation of utilities simpler over the years, getting the most out of your home wireless router usually means going a little deeper than the basic installation procedure. If you have no idea how to do this, then follow the simple and quick steps discussed in this article to thoroughly configure your router and set up your home internet network.
Home Internet Setup and Wireless Router Configuration
First things first, make sure you subscribe to a good internet service provider that meets your speed and budget needs. For instance, Spectrum internet offers come with high-speed internet, without any data limits, and comes with a free modem and online protection suite – what else could one ask for?
Once you have a reliable connection, it is time to configure your router. So, let’s dig in!
Physical Setup
If you examine your router device closely, you will see a port marked as DSL. You need to connect this to a microfilter through an RJ12 connector and then link to your home phone line. (VDSL and ADSL)
We would recommend you to use a microfilter always, as in its absence the router may work only intermittently or not at all.
If you want to establish a connection between your cable or fiber modem and the router, use an Ethernet cable to connect both. Make sure you use the WAN port of your router for this purpose.
Router Configuration
To change configuration settings of your router, you must be logged in. Here are some of the ways to do this:
Use a computer that has a USB cable connected to it.
Use a computer that has a web user interface or Ethernet cable connected to it.
Use a computer that has a web user interface connected to it and uses Wi-Fi as well.
Out of all these options, the last one is the most commonly used. So, we will discuss this in detail below:
Using the Web User Interface & A Wi-Fi
To set up your internet and manage your home router, you can use your web browser (web interface). For this, you must be connected to your router via Wi-Fi or Ethernet port.
If you decide to use W-Fi for connection, here are a few things you should know beforehand:
Your router’s SSID. This usually comes along with the documentation. You can also change your SSID later.
Your Wi-Fi password.
Step 1: Setting up Wi-Fi
You first need to set up Wi-Fi access on your computer. For this, you will need details of your Wi-Fi that we mentioned above.
Once you input everything, you will be connected to the router that further allocates you an IP address. To learn about the details of your IP address, you can use the ipconfig command. For this, just open a command prompt, type Ipconfig/all, and press enter. The default gateway is your router’s address.
Step 2: Connecting to Your Router
The next step involves establishing a connection with your router. For this, you must know the following:
Your router’s IP address
Your router’s common default username and password
To login, open your web browser, type the IP address of your router, and press enter. It will take you to an overview or welcome screen. Here, if you try to incorporate changes, it will take you to the login screen again.
Common Configuration Changes
After you have logged in successfully, you can easily change your router’s configuration. Here is a list of some of the most common things you may want to configure:
Wireless channels
DSL Link Password
Port Forwarding
Admin password
DDNS
Network SSID
Bottom Line
Just because your router’s blinking lights have turned green and stable does not imply that your network’s security and performance are at their best. Plugging in all the necessary things to your home router is not the only essential step while setting up your internet and configuring your router. We hope this blog helps you understand how to properly configure your router to get the most out of it. So, Good luck!
