Networking with a Wireless Access Point or Wireless Router

A wireless access point connects your local wired network with wireless clients. A wireless router performs the same function but allows you to share a connection to another network or the Internet with all of your local wired and wireless systems.

This is the typical configuration used for wireless hotspots that can be found in hotels, coffee shops, airports and other locations.

Before any client system can connect to a wireless router or access point, the router must be connected to the wired network and configured. You will usually find that most routers and access points are factory configured to automatically obtain an IP address and will make the wired network available as soon as they are powered on and connected. This makes it very easy to test your wireless connection right out of the box, but keep in mind, if it’s easy for you, then it is just as easy for anyone else that might be in range.

The first step with your new wireless router will be to connect a system so you can configure its settings. To do this, connect a cable between a system with a wired network adapter to one of the local area network connections. (The following steps are for Windows XP, but should be similar for other versions of Microsoft Windows. For other operating systems such as Linux, Linspire or Apple OS, check your help screens or documentation files for configuring a network.)

1. Open your network connections, and right click on the (wired) local area network adapter and select "properties".
2. Select TCP/IP from the list and click on properties. This should be set to "obtain an IP address automatically" since the router should be factory configured to provide one.
3. Once this has been done, exit back to network connections and save any changes.
4. In the Network connections window, double click on your network connection to display the status.
5. In the Connection status list, you should see that you adapter has been assigned an IP address and gateway by the router. The Gateway address should be the address of your wireless router; it is this IP address you will use to check or change the router settings.
6. Open a browser window and enter the gateway address in the address bar. A typical router might have an IP address of 192.168.1.1, in this case you would enter http://192.168.1.1 for the web address. When you press enter or the "Go" button, you should see the router’s password prompt or login screen. Check your documentation for how to proceed, since each vendor is slightly different. Some may have a user of "admin" or "root" with no password, others may have no user name, just a password.

To start, change your router’s SSID and set a password. Most of the other settings will not need to be changed until you are ready to start implementing security features on your network. I don’t recommend activating WEP, WPA or MAC address security features until you have successfully connected to your network. Once you know all your hardware works together, then you can turn on these features one at a time, making sure that the clients can continue to communicate at each step. If you activate them first, it makes it very difficult to troubleshoot communication problems. If you add additional clients later, you may need to disable these security features and then reactivate them one at a time using this same approach. The network names that show up in an "Available Wireless Networks" list are the name you entered for the SSID - all devices sharing a single network connection must have the same SSID entered. If you have a different SSID for your client, you will not connect to the wireless network until it matches what the router has (or other peer-to-peer clients.) If you need to increase the coverage area for your wireless network, such as you might want in a business environment, connect several access points throughout the building to the same wired network. All access points must have the same SSID, but should have unique transmit channels assigned, and unique network IP addresses. For example, if you have three access points on the network, you could assign local IP addresses of 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.2, and 192.168.1.3. The IP address for the router or access point becomes the gateway address used by the wireless client.

The next step will be to configure your client system to connect to the wireless router. With Windows XP managing the connections, this should occur as soon as the hardware drivers for the wireless adapter have been loaded. Your alternative to having Windows manage the wireless network is to use the software that comes with the adapter. If you are using a notebook with built-in wireless, you may not have this option. If you have Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed, an enhanced Wireless Networking wizard is available and can be easily accessed in a number of ways, including clicking on the Wireless Network icon in the Windows status bar; clicking on Network Connections or one of the configuration wizards in the Windows Control Panel; or accessing the network adapter properties for your adapter in Network Connections.

With SP2 installed, choosing to "View Available Wireless Networks" opens the Wireless Network Connection wizard. This should show all available networks in the range of your system. To connect to your router, you should have to do little more than select the Network SSID from the list and click on "Connect". Since we have not enabled any security on the router yet, you will probably get a message box warning you that this network is not secure. If all works as it should you will be connected to your wireless router and to any wired network that it is connected to. Congratulations! You have also succeeded in creating a completely unsecured wireless connection, exposing your local network and/or Internet to anyone within wireless range...

If you don't have Service Pack 2, or for that matter - Windows XP, then you will probably have to use the wireless utility that comes with your adapter. Many of these are based on a common core utility so have similar choices and features for your connection settings.
The router menus will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but there should be some common features such as:

• Setting the SSID
• Setting the password
• Setting the wireless channel
• Enabling or Disabling WEP encryption and setting the level of encryption (i.e. 64 or 128-bit)
• Generate or enter WEP encryption key
• Restricting access by MAC address
• Assigning IP addresses or an address range
• Setting the local IP address range
• Setting the Wide Area Network address or automatically obtaining one
• Other enhanced security features may include:
• Enabling or disabling broadcast of the SSID
• Enabling WPA encryption

Security Tip: While most routers and access points require configuring through a physical cable connection, some will allow you access to the setup menus through the wireless connection. For this reason, you should make it a point to change both the name (SSID) and password for your router as the first order of business. Changing the name (SSID) helps identify your specific network, which is more of an issue if there are multiple Wireless networks in your business or immediate neighborhood. Changing the password helps prevent someone from granting themselves access to your network, changing your router settings, or worst-case, locking you out of your own equipment.

Setup Tip: WEP encryption codes can be entered as a hexadecimal string (numbers 0-9 letters a-f), or generated with a text-based pass-phrase. (The pass-phrase is used to create the hexadecimal string.) If the method to generate the string is not consistent between your different clients, you may need to copy the resulting hexadecimal string from one device and then paste or manually enter it into the rest of the network configuration boxes.

1. Type your text string to generate the key on the first system
2. Click on manual key to switch to the resulting hexadecimal code
3. Copy this to a text file
4. Cancel the WEP change (remember that your network is still insecure at this point)
5. Save the text file to your shared folder where the other user can get it over the network
6. Re-enable the WEP security on the both systems and the router, using the manual configuration with the same key you generated.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Feature: The new Wireless Networking Wizard that is part of Windows XP Service Pack 2 includes a method of saving this configuration detail to a USB flash drive (or other storage media) to transfer the necessary settings to other XP SP2 systems.

Additional comments: Hiding your SSID can minimize unauthorized access to your router, but will not prevent it. Programs that monitor the data passing between your system and the router and can easily identify the SSID. Depending on your network settings, your system may be "searching" for the connection even when you are not nearby, transmitting this information even when you are not connected. Your system broadcasts the network SSID whenever you have your wireless configuration set to "connect, even when not in range."

WEP is considered to be a very simple, easy to break encryption. Computers using the appropriate (hacker) programs can break WEP security in just a few hours. WPK and other security protocols offer stronger protection, but whatever method you choose, all of your devices must support it. If you are mixing old and new computers, phones, or other wireless enabled devices, you may have no choice but to use one of the older, more vulnerable encryption modes. While this is better than not using any security, this would never be recommended for any business, or where you might be passing sensitive customer or credit information between wireless systems or exposing data files on the network. Failure to secure your customer information could expose you and your company not just to hackers, but to federal penalties as well.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

How to update the firmware on a Tenda router

Description: This article describes how to update the firmware on a Tenda router.

1. Download the latest firmware for the router in question from Tenda's website at http://www.tenda.cn. It should be saved in an easy to remember location.
2. Do not upgrade with a computer that is connected wirelessly. The computer should be hard wired into the router with a network cable.
3. Do not power down the device during the upgrade process.
4. Be aware that this process usually erases all settings, including the password.
   
   


5. On any computer that is already connected to the router, open a web browser. In the address bar at the top, type the IP address of the router (the default for Tenda routers is 192.168.0.1) and press the enter key.
6. This will open the Tenda login screen. Type the username and password associated with the router and press OK. (the default username and password are both admin)
   
   


7. On the left bar click on System Tools and then click on Upgrade.
   
   


8. Click the Browse button and browse to the saved firmware update file (usually a .bin file).
   
   


9. Click the Upgrade button.
   
   

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

How to set up a Tenda Router as a Repeater

Description: A Tenda router can be used to repeat the signal of a main router - here's how. This guide shows you how to setup a Tenda router as a repeater connecting to an existing Tenda router. These instructions require that you already have a working Tenda router. If you don't have your Tenda router configured, consult the Tenda documentation on setup. These instructions may NOT work if your first router is a different brand. The wifi connection on the second Router may be slower than the connection to the primary router.

For the purpose of these instructions, the router that is hooked up to the modem will be identified as "Router 1", and the second router will be identified as "Router 2" which will be setup as the repeater. Before starting, you need to have an Ethernet cable on hand to be able to connect a wired connection to both routers using a computer and any available yellow port on the back of the Tenda routers.

1. Connect the computer to Router 2 using an Ethernet cable going from the computer to any of the yellow ports on the router.
2. Once connected, open your web browser and type in the address bar "192.168.0.1" (without the quotes). Press Enter.
   
   


3. You will be prompted for a username and password unless they have been changed from the default. The default username and password is "admin" (without quotes).
4. Click on the WLAN settings on the left column, and then on Basic Settings
   
   


5. Under SSID, change Tenda to Tenda 1 to identify it as "Router 2".
   
   
   
   
   • IMPORTANT: Make note of which channel the router is using. Both routers need to be using the same channel. You can change the channel by using the drop down menu and clicking Apply to save the change. Do NOT make any other changes to this page.
     
     
   
   
6. Click on WLAN settings from the menu on the left side. The sub categories will be revealed. Click on WDS Settings.
   
   


7. In the WDS settings menu, select Lazy Mode from the drop down menu. Click Apply.
   
   


8. Next, configure the existing router that is currently connected to the modem. Start by connecting the computer to the router using any available yellow port. "Router 2" can be disconnected and the cable used to connect to "Router 1." Wait for 30 seconds after disconnecting "Router 2" before plugging into "Router 1."
9. Close the existing Internet Explorer window. Open up a new web page and type in "192.168.0.1" in the address bar. Use the term "admin" for the username and password unless these have been changed from the default.
   
   


10. Select WLAN Settings, then WDS Settings. Select Repeater from the drop down menu.
    
    


11. Choose Open Scan. All of the available routers in your local area will be displayed.
12. Select Tenda 1 router, then click Apply.
    
    


13. The router will reboot.
14. Disconnect the computer from Router 1 - but leave the connection between Router 1 and the modem.
    • If the computer is a desktop using Router 1 to access the internet, leave it connected.
15. Users will now be able to use wifi to log into Tenda or Tenda 1 to access the internet.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

How to properly configure a Tenda router for Wireless N access

Description: This document details the specifics of how to properly configure a Tenda router for Wireless N access. It is recommended that this document be printed, as the computer and network will be reset during the process. Ensure that all the cables are plugged in to the correct ports as per the included documentation. Remember that the cable from your Modem plugs in to the WAN port on the back of the Tenda router.

1. Using a computer that is plugged directly in to the Tenda router via one of the yellow ports, open up an Internet window and locate the address bar and erase everything from the field.
2. In the same location, type in "192.168.0.1" without quotes and press enter.
   
   


3. When prompted for a username and password enter "admin" for both (without quotes) and click OK.
   
   


4. On the left, click on WLAN Settings.
   
   


5. Below WLAN Settings, click on Basic Settings.
   
   


6. Select 11b/g/n from the drop down menu.
   
   


7. Click the "Apply" button at the bottom of the page.
   
   


8. Attempt to connect wirelessly with the desired device.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

How to change the IP address of a Tenda Router

Description: Changing the IP address is helpful when connecting to some modems so there is no conflict on the network.

The internet and most networks function by using addresses. Each computer or device has its own mailbox (address) where the delivery of information comes to. In order for this to work smoothly, devices cannot share the same address (TCP/IP). Most routers are set to a default address of 192.168.0.1 that works well in a home or small business setting. However sometimes modems provided by an internet service provider will be at this same address causing a conflict and stopping access to the network and internet. The best way to deal with this conflict is to change the address of the router. The following steps are for a TENDA router.

1. Connect a computer to the Tenda router.
   • Plug in an Ethernet cable in one of the yellow ports.
   • Plug the other end of the same Ethernet cable into the computer.
     
     
   
   
2. On the computer open Internet Explorer.
3. In the address bar type at the top type - "192.168.0.1" (without the quotes) and press enter.
   • Typing /main.html is not needed it will be added automatically
     
     
   
   
4. A pop up will occur asking for a user name and password.
   • Default User name is admin
   • Default Password is admin
5. On the left column click on WLAN settings
   
   
   
   
   • When that opens up select Advanced Settings
     
     
   
   
   • Click on the IP Address row
   • Change the 0 (zero) to a 1 (one). This will move the address away from a modem or other router.
   • Click on Apply.
     
     
   
   
6. A message will appear about the router.
   • Click OK at this message.
     
     
   
   
   • The router will reboot and finish applying the new IP address.
     
     
   
   
   • Once you see the router rebooting as above, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the router and wait for 60 seconds.
7. Plug in the Ethernet cable back into the router and the computer.
8. Test your new IP address
   • Open Internet Explorer and in the address bar at the top, type in "192.168.1.1" (without the quotes) and press enter.
9. You will have a pop up box asking for a user name and password.
   • Default username admin
   • Default password admin
10. If you see the opening screen for the Tenda setup you have successfully changed the IP address.
    • If for any reason this does NOT come up, try to connect to the router with the default IP address 192.168.0.1 and repeat the steps above.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Basic Router Troubleshooting

After going through IP address troubleshooting or isolating a router as a cause for your computer being unable to get online, this guide will walk through basic troubleshooting steps for a router.

1. Verify the hard wired connections to the router.
   • Unplug all network cables from the modem, computer, and router.
   • Unplug the power from the modem and the power from the router, then shut down the computer
   • Take one end of an Ethernet cable and plug it into the modem in the Internet port then plug the other end of that same cable into the WAN or LAN port on the router. This is usually an isolated port, separate from 4 numbered ports.
   •  Take a second Ethernet cable and plug one end into one of the four numbered ports on the router and plug the other end of that same cable into the computer.
   • Plug the power back into the modem, wait one full minute, then plug the power into the router, wait one more full minute then turn the computer back on.
2. Run the setup disc for the router again
   • If the disc cannot connect to the router to change the settings after verifying the hard wired connections, then the router is likely defective.
   • Verify any connection settings and credentials with your Internet Service Provider when running the setup disc.
3. Verify a second computer is able to get online (if possible).
   • If neither computer is able to get online then the router or modem is the cause of the problem.
4. Go through IP address troubleshooting steps
   • If after going through IP address troubleshooting and basic router troubleshooting the result remains the same, contact your Internet Service Provider or your router manufacturer for additional assistance.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

5 things to try when you can't connect to the Internet

1. "Power cycle" your router and your ISP´s cable or DSL Modem.
 

Start with the easiest fix - unplug your router and your ISP’s cable or DSL modem from the AC power supply, give it 30 seconds, and reconnect the AC. If this worked then it was a dropped setting in either of those devices. 

2. Check the "Activity" and "Link" lights on your computer and router.
 

A quick visual inspection of the small "Activity" and "Link" lights on the back of your computer or on the router itself will tell you if your computer is sending anything to your router. If the lights are not blinking, try another port on your router and a different Ethernet cable. If you’re using Wi-Fi to connect, see if the Wi-Fi light on the router is on and blinking. 

3. What if the lights aren’t blinking?
 

You may have a hardware problem with the Network Interface Controller (NIC) or the software driver for that device. On your Window’s system go to the Control Panel / Device Manager and look for the "+" next to the Network Controllers group; click on it to expand that group to display the network controllers you have. If there’s a yellow "!" next to a device it means that you need to install the driver from the driver CD or download it from the internet; a red "X" means that the system has detected a hardware problem and the actually device needs to be repaired or replaced. 

Occasionally everything will look OK, but the device is still not working. You can "Uninstall" the device from the device manager and then "Scan for Hardware Changes" which will reinstall the driver software. Often this corrects the problem. 

4. Is it a connection problem or a browser problem? 
 

Often your computer is sending and receiving information to and from the Internet, but your web browser (IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc.) is the problem. A quick way to test the "end-to-end" connectivity is to open a command prompt window ("CMD" in XP’s RUN box or Windows 7’s Start Button/Search Programs or Files box) and use the "PING" command to test access to a well known site. For example,

This shows that your PC is sending and receiving data to/from the internet. If you cannot reach this same website with your browser, then it may be a browser settings issue or a virus.

• Reset your browser settings, usually found in Options, Tools, or Preferences. Use your browser’s Help function (or an Internet search - if you have a second system that does connect) to find the specific details on how to reset your browser’s settings.
• Try an alternate browser to rule out site-specific problems. You may need to download an alternate browser’s installation kit from a different computer. If another computer is not available to you, you can try running your Windows in what is called "Safe Mode". To start in Safe Mode: while the PC is booting up, tap the "F8" key; a list of options will appear, and you should select "Safe Mode with Networking".
• Still having problems? Try removing and reinstalling your current browser from Windows’ Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs and Features, for Firefox, Chrome, etc. or select Windows Features for Internet Explorer
• Check the Internet Connection Settings: Unless you know you use a proxy server, this should normally be unchecked, or set to "automatically detect settings" (Control Panel, Internet Options, Connections tab, LAN settings) Note: Some viruses or malware will change these settings!

5. Scan for Viruses and malicious software! 
 

Make sure that your antivirus/anti-malware software is up to date with the most recent definitions and run a full scan of your system. Even if a virus scan does not find anything, running a search for malicious software with s program such as MalwareBytes, SpySweeper, or SuperAntiSpyware may turn up the source or your problem. These anti-malware programs look for programs that are missed by AntiVirus applications because the software was "approved" for installation by the user, even if you were not aware of it happening.

 If these tips didn´t work for you, the problem is more involved and may require hardware diagnostics or a full format/reload of your operating system, both of which can be performed by Micro Center's Service Department. 

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

How to Set Up a Tenda Router as a Repeater

This guide shows you how to setup a Tenda router as a repeater. These instructions require that you already have a working Tenda router. If you don't have your Tenda router configured, consult the Tenda documentation on setup.

For the purpose of these instructions, the router that is hooked up to the modem will be identified as "Router 1", and the second router will be identified as "Router 2" which will be setup as the repeater. Before starting, you need to have a wired connection to both routers using a computer and any available yellow port.

1. Connect the computer to Router 2 using an Ethernet cable. Go from the computer to the yellow port on the router.
2. Once connected, open your web browser and type in the address bar "192.168.0.1". Press Enter.
   
   
   
3. You will be prompted for a username and password unless they have been changed from the default. The default username and password is "admin" without quotes.
4. Under SSID, change Tenda to Tenda 1 to identify it as Router 1.
   
   
   
   IMPORTANT: Make note of which channel the router is using. Both routers need to be using the same channel. You can change the channel by using the drop down menu and clicking Apply to save the change.
   
   
5. Click on WLAN settings from the menu on the left side. The sub categories will be revealed. Click on WDS Settings.
   
   
   
   
6. In the WDS settings menu, select Lazy Mode from the drop down menu. Click Apply.
   
   
   
   
7. Next, configure the existing router that is currently connected to the modem. Start by connecting the computer to the router using any available yellow port. Open up a new web page and type in "192.168.0.1" in the address bar. Use the term "admin" for the username and password.
   
   
   
8. Select WLAN Settings, then WDS Settings. Select Repeater from the drop down menu.
   
   
   
   
9. Choose Open Scan. All of the available routers in your local area will be displayed. Select Tenda 1 router, then click Apply.
   The router will reboot. Once it reboots, the MAC address from the second router
   will be displayed.

Tenda W311R Router Does Not Obtain an IP Address

This article will show you how to fix your Tenda W311R Router if it cannot get online.

1. Ensure that all the cables are plugged in to the correct ports. Remember that the cable from your Modem plugs in to the WAN port on the back of the Tenda router.
2. If you are using a wireless connection, try with a computer that is plugged directly in to the Tenda router.
3. Using a computer that is plugged directly in to the Tenda router, open up an Internet window and locate the address bar and erase everything from the field.
   
   
   
   
   
4. In the same location, type in “192.168.0.1” without quotes and press enter.
5. When prompted for a username and password enter “admin” for both (without quotes) and click OK.
   
   
   
   
   
6. The Setup Wizard screen will appear. Click the Auto Detect button and wait as it automatically detects your network type.
7. Once it has chosen your network type, click Next and the router will reboot.
8. Once the router has rebooted, the Tenda router screen will reappear. If it does not, to through steps 3-5 to reconnect.
9. Click System Status in the top left.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Check the WAN IP Field to see if there is an IP address other than 0.0.0.0. If so, try typing a web address in to the address bar to see if you can connect.
    
    
    
    
    
If you still cannot connect or if you have no IP address, proceed to the next step.
11. On the left, click on Advanced Settings.
    
    
    
    
    
12. On the left, click on MAC Address Clone.
13. Click on Clone MAC Address and then click on Apply. The router will then reboot.
    
    
    
    
    
14. Once the router has rebooted, the Tenda router screen will reappear. If it does not, to through steps 3-5 to reconnect.
15. On the left, click on Advanced Settings.
    
    
    
    
    
16. In the IP Address field, change the IP address from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.2.1 and click Apply. The router will then reboot.
    
    
    
    
    
17. Once the router has rebooted, unplug the power to the Tenda Router and the Modem.
18. After 30 seconds, plug the power in to the modem.
19. After another 30 seconds, plug the power in to the Tenda router. Wait one minute and your Internet connection should be working.

How to Configure Port Forwarding

Port forwarding can help in getting network-enabled applications, such as online games or chat services that would be otherwise inoperable, up and running. This document contains information specific to Linksys routers but the steps are largely the same. If you have questions that are not answered in this document, we recommend you look in the manual that came with your router.

This article will show you how to set up port forwarding on your router.

Before you begin:

You will need to know the port number required by the application. To get this information, contact the application vendor or look at the documentation included with the program.

You will need to know the IP Address of the computer to forward the port to. To find this, first power on the computer you will use and go to Start » All Programs » Accessories » Command Prompt. When it opens, type in "ipconfig" and use the IP Address or IPv4 Address.

Here's how to set up Port Forwarding:

1. Click on the Start button and choose All Programs.
2. Locate and open the Internet Explorer application from the All Programs menu.
3. In the address bar located at the top of the screen, erase whatever address is in the bar and replace it with "192.168.1.1" without the quotes. Note that some routers use the address "192.168.0.1", so if it does not work right away, try the second option. Consult your router documentation.
   
   
   
   
   
4. When prompted for a username and password, enter "admin" without the quotes for both the username and the password.
   
   Note that some routers differ in their default username and password, check the manual that came with your router for more information on the default username and password.
5. Once logged in, choose the Applications & Gaming tab seen highlighted in the figure below.
   Note that some routers may have these settings on the Firewall or Port Forwarding tab.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Enter the name of the application into the Application field. This is the program for which you want to forward the ports.
7. Enter the Start and End port range for the program. This information should come from the program's documentation.
8. Choose the protocol that should be used for the application; TCP, UDP, or Both. Most of the time Both is fine. Consult the application documentation for more details.
9. Enter the IP Address for the PC that is running the application. You can find this information in the Network Settings for your PC.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Place a check in the box to Enable the forwarding. This gives you the ability to set up several applications and turn them on and off without having to reenter the settings all over again.
11. Click on Save Settings or Apply along the bottom.

That's it! Your ports are now forwarded and you will be able to use the respective applications as normal.

How to Change your Router Password

It's important to keep your computer and your network secure. When connecting to the Internet through a router, one of the steps you can take is replacing the default router username and password with one that is unique to you. This helps to prevent unauthorized changes to your network, and creates an added layer of security. This document contains information specific to Linksys routers but the steps are largely the same. If you have questions that are not answered in this document, we recommend you look in the manual that came with your router.

This guide will show you how to change the Username and Password used to log in to your router.

1. Make sure your computer is connected to the router via cable or wirelessly.
2. Open Internet Explorer.
3. In the address bar located at the top of the screen, erase whatever address is in the bar and replace it with "192.168.1.1" without the quotes. Note that some routers use the address "192.168.0.1" so if it does not work right away, try the second option.
   
   
   
   
   
4. When prompted for a username and password, enter "admin" without the quotes for both the username and the password. Note that some routers differ in their default username and password. If that fails, check the manual that came with your router.
5. Once logged in, choose the Administration tab on the top, seen selected in the figure below. Note that in some routers it may be on a "Setup" or "Configuration" screen. The example seen here is on a Linksys router.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Erase the existing Router Password and type in the new one. Re-Enter your password to Confirm. We recommend you write this information down and store it in a safe place.
7. Click the Save Settings or Apply button on the bottom to finalize.
That's it! The new username and password are entered. Test it out by restarting your computer and then following steps 1-3 and then entering your new username and password.

How to Setup a Home Network

A network can give you the ability to share files between computers, share hardware like printers, share a single Internet connection, or get your game console online without having to swap cables.

The most basic home network involves connecting two computers with an Ethernet cable. Using a router provides convenience, expansion, and easy maintenance should your network grow.

This guide will provide the basics to setting up a home network.

Depending on the type of network you are setting up, the connections the computers and devices make could be wired or wireless. Wireless routers are very convenient because you don't have to worry about running wires through walls or around rooms. Wired routers are usually faster and are not subject to interference from cordless phones or other items that create RF interference. No matter what type of router you have selected, it will require power and when it is powered on, various LEDs let you know devices are connected or the device is working.

Setting Up a Router:

1. Find a convenient location to start the process. It doesn't have to be the permanent location. You may need to move it around to accommodate cables or signal strength.

2. Connect the power and follow the instructions on powering the router.

3. Connect the router to your modem. This is usually a network cable that goes from a port labeled WAN, Internet, or Uplink on the router to a port on the modem.

4. Power cycle the modem (turn it off, then turn it on) to make sure the router recognizes the modem.

5. Connect one computer to the router. You only need to connect one at this point so you can configure the router settings.

6. Open Internet Explorer.

7. In the address bar located at the top of the screen, erase whatever address is in the bar and replace it with "192.168.1.1" without the quotes. Most routers use this address or "192.168.0.1". Consult your router documentation to determine the exact address for yours.

8. Using the username and password supplied in your router documentation, log in to the administration tool.

9. Make changes to the default configuration depending on your particular needs.


Here are some basic things to look for:

1. Connection type. Are you using DSL? Most DSL providers use PPPoE. It requires a Username and password supplied by your ISP. If you are on cable broadband there are generally no settings that need to be changed just leave it on Automatic, or DHCP.

2. If this is a wireless router, change the network name from the default setting. If it's a wired router, change the username and password to something unique to you.

3. Take advantage of any other security options the router may offer. Features like WPA or WiFi Protected Access on a wireless router, Port Filtering, and Firewalls, when enabled can help protect against unauthorized access to your router and your network.

Ok, so now the router is set up and you can get one computer on the Internet, what's next?
Well, one of the main advantages to using a router is it allows you to share resources with all the computers on your network. Getting those resources on the network just requires you to connect the devices to the router either by cable on a wired router or through the WiFi technology of a wireless router.

Some of the devices you can connect are:

• Notebook or Netbook computers
• Printers
• Game consoles

Just make sure the devices you want to connect work the same way as your router whether it's wired or not and consult the manufacturer's information for details specific to that device.

Wireless Networking

For Day 3 of our Networking-focused week, we are going to discuss wireless networking. This article explains what is wireless networking and how wireless security works:

What is Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi or Wireless Fidelity is a wireless network connection used both in the home and for business purposes. All laptops and some desktops come equipped with wireless adapters to connect to Wi-Fi networks.

There are two primary types of Wi-Fi on the market today, both of which function on the 2.4GHz wireless frequency.

Wireless G, which has a maximum speed of 54Mbps and a maximum range of up to 100 feet outdoors. Indoors, the signal range can be reduced to less than 30 feet depending on the number of walls between the computer and the wireless router.

Wireless N, which has a maximum speed of 300Mbps and a maximum range of up to 300 feet outdoors. Indoors, the signal range can be reduced to less than 50 feet depending on the number of walls between the computer and the wireless router.

Wireless Security
Wireless Security prevents unauthorized access to wireless networks. The wireless signal in a home is accessible outside the walls of the residence and if a malicious user uses the network for illegal activities, the owner and operator of the network can be held accountable.

There are two primary types of wireless security, WPA and WEP. Both security measures use security keys or encryption keys to protect the network.

WEP is compatible with almost all devices, but the security can be broken by an experienced hacker given time. WEP also uses a longer security key that is typically random letters and numbers.

WPA and WPA2 is slightly less compatible but is far more secure, also uses a shorter, easier to remember security key. Most wireless devices made in the last five years support WPA and WPA2.

Reference:
D-Link. Support Glossary.
http://bit.ly/e7WjlF

Linksys. Learning Center.
http://bit.ly/gJQpdO

Networking Terms

For Day 2 of Networking 101, we are going to review some basic networking terminology. This information can be useful when configuring your home network and choosing the right hardware.

802.11
A networking standard established by the IEEE for LAN protocols. There are several levels of 802.11 standard: a, b, g, and n. Each represents a different bandwidth, frequency, data rate and network range.  802.11n is the current standard.

Protocol	Bandwidth	Frequency	Data Rate (Mbit/sec)	Indoor Range
802.11a	20	5	6-54	35
802.11b	20	2.4	6-54	38
802.11g	20	2.4	7.2-72	38
802.11n	20-40	2.4/5	15-150	70

Bandwidth
Refers to the transmission capacity of a network or network device.

Broadband
Wide band of frequencies for transmitting data. For Internet service, broadband describes the type of service available such as cable or DSL. Broadband cable supports data rates up to 30Mbsp, but DSL is normally limited to only 10Mbps.

DHCP
DHCP or Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol is an automatic configuration protocol used for configuration on Internet Protocol (or IP) Networks. This can be a local area network using a router with DHCP, or when connecting to the internet.  DHCP allows a computer to be configured automatically, eliminating the need for human intervention when connecting to a network. DHCP works by keeping a central database and assigning numbered addresses called IP Addresses to computers on the network in order to relay information to and from them, which prevents computers from ending up with the same IP Address, accidentally or otherwise. Without a DHCP server (behind a network switch, for example) each computer must have its IP address configured manually.

DSL
Digital Subscriber Line. Type of broadband connection that uses a phone-line to connect to the Internet. Typically, DSL provides only 10Mbps which is slower than cable broadband service.

Encryption
The process of securing data by converting it into cyphertext so it cannot be easily read while in transmission. This process is based on a key system in which the sender shares a translation key with the receiver to decrypt the data.

Ethernet
A network protocol developed by IEEE that describes how data is placed on and retrieved from a networking device. Ethernet is commonly used for LAN (local area networks).

Gateway
A device that connects two different networks to one another.  Example: the Internet.

Host
A computer that is connected to a network that provides information and resources.

IP Address
A 32-bit number that identifies a computer or device on a network.

LAN
Local Area Network.  Describes the computers and networking hardware within a single home or office.

NAT
NAT or Network Address Translation is the name of a process for modifying network addresses information in an IP (Internet Protocol) packet. NAT is done by a router, and it translates incoming packets from the Internet in to local network packets so that they can be transferred to the correct location – one of the computers connected to the router. NAT is typically used by a router to allow multiple host computers to connect to the Internet using a single public IP address, acting as a gateway.

PPPoE
PPPoE is a connection protocol that is used mainly by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to give access to Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) High speed internet service. It increases the capability of the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) by allowing a connection over Ethernet. PPPoE also uses the same standards of authentication, encryption, and compression as PPP. PPPoE encapsulates PPP frames inside Ethernet frames to transmit data from the Internet to a DSL modem, which is then translated into data that your computer understands, when using the provided software.

SMTP
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol.  This is a standard email protocol for transmitting and receiving email.

Subnet  Mask
Part of an IP Address that designates the size of the network. When computers are grouped together into a subnet, each system is identified with a common IP address to determine their location. The default value is normally 255.255.255.0.

TCP/IP
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol. This is basic communication method for the Internet. TCP/IP requires that the recipient acknowledge the data sent.

Reference:
Belkin. Support.
http://bit.ly/c8xBGm

D-Link. Help Glossary.
http://bit.ly/g1jXWQ

Linksys. Learning Center.
http://bit.ly/fEswve

Networking 101

This week, we are going to focus on networking - specifically setting up your own home network and troubleshooting hardware issues.

Today, we are going to provide some frequently asked questions and solutions for setting up your router:

Q: How can I protect my router from unauthorized wireless access?
A: Wireless routers can be secured from unauthorized access and hackers by adding a wireless security key or encryption key. For more information, see the manual included with the router either in paper form or on the setup disc.

Q: Which wireless security type is the most secure?
A: WPA2 is the most secure wireless network encryption type. For additional security, use a password of at least ten characters with mixed letters, numbers and special characters.

Q: What is WiFi Protected Setup (WPS)?
A: WiFi Protected Setup or WPS is a system that allows the wireless networking function of the router to be set up without physical connection using a PIN.

Q: What is the difference between a Router and a Switch?
A: First, a router can also provide wireless network access. The purpose of a router is to join the WAN (Wide Area Network, or The Internet) with your LAN (Local Area/Home Network) for the purpose of Internet connection sharing, as well as local file sharing. A switch allows one computer to access the Internet and other machines must connect to the Internet through that machine.

Q: How can my router be reset to its factory settings?
A: There is a reset button on the back of the router in pin-hole labeled Reset. While the router is on, press this reset button for 30 seconds, then reset the router by unplugging the power and it will be back at factory settings.

Q: Does my router have a built-in firewall?
A: Yes, by default a router will not allow incoming connections unless specified by a local program or port forward setup.