Wi-Fi network has become a need as well as a luxury for home users. Everyone wants to cater a high-speed Wi-Fi to their guests. If you’re already using a wired internet and want to switch to a hassle-free wireless network, there is not a lot to do. Setting up a Wi-Fi network is easier than it sounds. Just go through these steps and jump on the bandwagon:
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- Gear Up:
Make sure you’re equipped with all the necessary tools and devices. You’re going to need the following:
- Wireless router,
- A Laptop / Desktop with wireless feature,
- A working DSL/Fiber-Optic modem and
- Two Ethernet (RJ45) connecting cables.
See Also: How to find Saved Wi-Fi Password on Mac
- Power off the modem:
Before making any connections, you need to power off your DSL/Cable/Fiber-Optic modem from the wall. The modem is the one provided by your ISP (Internet Service Provider).
- Locate a Location for the router:
Placing a Wi-Fi router is a far cry from placing a modem. You must choose a location from where everyone can get strong and constant signals. Avoid placing it on the side of wall, windows and your microwave as they interfere with the wireless signals.
- Connect the modem to router:
It’s time to connect the router with an RJ45 Ethernet cable. Plug in the cable into WAN port of the router and the other end to the output of your modem.
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- Connect router to computer:
To set up a Wi-Fi you’ll need to temporarily plug in an end of Ethernet cable to LAN port of the router and the other end to computer/laptop’s Ethernet port.
- Visit the Administrative webpage of the router:
You need to open a webpage and put in the router’s IP address (provided in manual) e.g. 192.168.1.1. This will take you to the admin page. Log in with the credentials found in the manual.
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- Apply WPA2 security:
If you don’t want freeloaders and hackers to ride on your bandwidth, you probably want to secure the network first. You can find the WPA2 security under the wireless security section. Select the security type from dropdown list and enter a new passphrase of at least 8 characters long. Be informed, if you’ve got an old network adapter it may not decrypt the WPA2 security. In this case, you can select WEP security from the dropdown.
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- Change SSID:
You must change the name of your Wi-Fi network. It will help you identify your own network in the crowd of other available networks.
- Configure wireless adapter in computer/laptop:
It’s the last straw. After everything is done on router, unplug the cable connecting your machine to router. If your computer/laptop doesn’t have an inbuilt network adapter, you can connect it via USB or in slot. Your computer might install the relevant driver automatically or you can put in the disk that came along with router.
See Also: How to Fix ‘You’re not connected to a network’ Problem
- Connect to your own Wi-Fi:
Refresh the available networks in Wi-Fi section, identify your SSID, put in the password and hit the road.
Overall, establishing a wireless network in your home is not critical. You can choose to buy any good quality router that promises a longer area coverage. Gather more information before deciding. Regular maintenance is required on wireless routers. You must change your password at a regular interval for a better security.