Setting Up & Logging Onto a Home Wireless Router

Written by: Tricia Goss • Edited by: M.S. Smith
Updated Dec 4, 2009 • Related Guides: Ip Address | Ethernet Cable

You've bought a wireless router to set up in your home and you are excited to finally be able to access the Internet from any computer anywhere in your house. However, you are not exactly sure how to go about setting it up. This tutorial will walk you through the steps so you can get online fast

How to Set Up Your Home Wireless Router

Before you set up your home wireless router, make sure your cable or DSL modem works properly. Then, turn off any computers with which

Connect the modem to the wireless router

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you want to connect to the router. Disconnect the power cord from your cable or DSL modem. Plug an Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on the back of your cable or DSL modem. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable into the Internet port on the wireless router. Connect both the wireless router and the modem into an electrical outlet or surge suppressor and wait for them to power up.

For best results, set up the wireless router in a central place in your home. Keep it up off the floor and away from thick walls or metal objects, such as file cabinets.

Photo Credit: Rotorhead, sxc.hu

Log Into Your Home Wireless Router

In order to connect to your home wireless router, your computer must either have built-in wifi or you must use a wireless adapter. If your wireless router or the wireless adapter for your computer came with a setup CD, install the software onto your computer before you attempt to log into your home wireless router.

Open your web browser, such as Internet Explorer or Firefox and type in the IP address of your wireless router. This information should be included with your router. The default IP address for D-Link and Netgear home wireless routers is 192.168.0.1. The default IP address for Linksys home wireless routers is 192.168.1.1. If you are not sure what the correct IP address is for your home wireless router, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to your router. Open your web browser and go to the website of your home wireless router's manufacturer to find out the correct IP address. Write this IP address down, disconnect the Ethernet cord from between the router and the computer and proceed to log into your wireless router with the IP address.

Follow the log in instructions included with your wireless router. If you do not have any instructions, try leaving the user name file

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d blank and typing password into the password field. If this does not work, try admin for the user name and password for the password, or admin for both the user name and the password.

Once you have logged into your home wireless router, be sure to change the wireless network name, select an administrative password and use Wireless encryption (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) to protect your home wireless network. Then sit back and enjoy your wireless router from any computer in your home.

Photo Credit: Manu Mohan, sxc.hu

Want More?

For more help and information regarding setting up your wireless home network or troubleshooting problems with your wireless router, check out Bright Hub's collection of related articles, such as Adding a Computer to a Home Network, How to Troubleshoot an Intermittent Connection to Wireless Router and Wireless Settings and Security.