Welcome to my article! So, you bought a router and now it’s time to start setting it up. But there are still so many steps to the final result - you need to install it correctly, connect it to all the equipment and configure it. But what if you don't understand this? My course young fighter– setting up a router “for dummies”.
Attention! The article proposes a general model for setting up a router for all devices. I strongly recommend that you find an article on our website for your model and make settings according to it. I offer a list of the most popular models, for which we have instructions on how to configure:
And even if your model is not available anywhere yet, it’s okay. The setup process itself is almost the same everywhere (you will see this below) for any router model. Besides, there is no difference in your Internet service provider. Let's just say that if your provider's cord successfully connects to your router, everything will be fine) Let's go.
Setup plan
So, in order to ensure that the Internet works successfully through a router, for any model you need to take approximately the following steps:
- Install the router, connect all the wires, connect the tuning device.
- Login to the router settings.
- Internet setup.
- Setting up Wi-Fi.
- Change passwords (optional).
All! Now let’s go over each point in my step by step instructions. If something is not interesting or not necessary, just use the Contents of the article to scroll to the desired section. But you can also watch the setup video first:
Step 1. Installation and connection
Let's begin to look at the initial steps for installing a router.
- The easiest method to place a router is near the ISP wire. No, I'm not limiting you. Moreover, I advise you to first choose a place in the middle of the apartment for the router, and only then ask the provider to install the cable. Another option is to extend the cable through repeaters to the right place. But my universal advice is to put the wire where it fell.
- We are connecting the router. Are the antennas removable? Let's connect. We plug in the power supply, and then it into the outlet. We immediately check - if there are indicators, they light up. If not, check the connection again, or the power button on the router (there are on the back panel). Now it is important that there is simply power on it and any indication is on.
- Best option for initial setup– connect via wire. This is what this paragraph will be about. For those who will connect via WiFi, read the next paragraph, but be sure to connect the provider’s cable!!!
- First we connect the provider cable. There are Ethernet (like the size of a computer wire) and telephone (thin, ADSL). We plug it into the port on the back of the router. The port is usually highlighted in a separate color from the rest. As a rule, blue. It says WAN, Internet or something like that.
- We connect the router to a computer or laptop with a wire to the LAN port (yellow). That's all. If the connection was successful, go to the settings login section.
- If you want to connect via Wi-Fi, connect. This is especially true for those who want to connect to a laptop or phone and do everything through them. Don't forget to also connect the power adapter to the network and the provider cable. Data for accessing the network on a new modem is sometimes indicated on a sticker on the bottom side of the device - you can connect via a password or via WPS. Often, just a blank password is used. Some models do not create a network during setup.
There shouldn’t be much difference between setting up a router using a computer, laptop, phone or tablet. The router has a standard web interface, which will be the same for all devices. Just like your favorite sites.
The main thing after these points is to have any connection with the router - be it by wire or by air.
Step 2. Enter Settings
All settings of any modern router are made through its web control panel. This is an analogue of a website that runs on the device itself. So you need to connect to it like a website - through a browser.
Information for accessing the control panel of a particular router is usually located on a sticker at the bottom of the router. Required – connection address, login, password.
Typical connection addresses for most modern models:
192.168.0.1
192.168.1.1
We follow these links, and most likely in one of the cases you will be taken to a panel where you will be asked for your login and password. You already know where to get the factory login and password. If not, look on our website for your model. The most common General settings for almost any router model these are:
Login – admin
admin or empty
What should be there to continue: You must log into your router's control panel.
Note. Your device must have settings to automatically receive addresses enabled. Otherwise, you may get an IP address in a different subnet and will not be able to connect to the settings. If you are unable to connect, this is the most common problem. Write in the comments! Let's fix it.
Step 3. Internet setup
Now let's move on to setting up the Internet on the router. Most importantly, if you have successfully completed the previous steps, we will definitely need your provider's login and password to connect to the Internet. You can find it in the contract - so it’s time to look for this paper.
Almost any modern router has a setup wizard that will guide you step by step through all these stages - setting up the Internet, setting a Wi-Fi password, changing the password of the router itself. Many routers place it on their home page. They usually have names something like “Quick Setup Wizard”, “ Quick setup" or "Quick Setup". Look for something like this. For me it looks like this:
Don't be afraid to walk through all the steps yourself. I will leave notes below on some controversial issues, but still, on any router model you will be asked about the same thing. So do it once and learn for the rest of your life!
One of important points– select the connection type. It depends on what is written in your contract. Usually these technical points are indicated there. The most common is PPPoE, there is a Dynamic IP address and Static IP, L2TP, PPTP. The main thing here is to choose your type (but usually we have PPPoE at Rostelecom), enter your login and password - that’s all, this is enough for the Internet to appear on all devices automatically.
Typically the settings are located in the WAN section. I’m showing you my working ones, you need to enter your own login and password.
In the case of Dynamic The IP address where the Internet provider is connected to the line - the Internet will appear immediately after connecting the router. Check if you already have it? Maybe nothing needs to be configured?
If you can’t connect to any, just call your provider. They provide excellent advice over the phone and help solve your problem. Especially with the Internet. Do not be afraid!
: Working Internet on wired devices. Possibly via Wi-Fi.
Step 4: Setting up Wi-Fi
Another important step that occurs in wireless routers. The main point of this setup is to either start Wi-Fi (if it suddenly did not start at the factory settings), or change the network name and password to make it both clear and safe. Here are the main settings:
- Network name or SSID - how it will be visible to everyone, write its name in English letters! It’s better to write it clearly for yourself.
- Security type - WPA2 - this is the most current type of connection security. The WEP standard is completely full of holes, and WPA is simply previous version. So it’s better to immediately stop at WPA2, which is the default on any modern device.
- Password – the same password you use to connect to Wi-Fi networks. Don't forget to change! Otherwise, any neighbor will be able to freely connect to you. Length – from 8 characters. I recommend coming up with something more complicated, and ideally generating it.
These settings can be located on one tab or on several, like mine:
Don't forget to save all changes. And it happens that you change a sea of values, forget to save in a hurry, and then you wonder why it all doesn’t work. After saving, it usually kicks you out of the network - after all, the network name becomes different, so you have to re-login again with a new password.
What should happen for a sequel?: The device is successfully distributing Wi-Fi. Everyone can easily connect and use the Internet.
Step 5. Change the router password
Do you remember at the beginning you went into the router settings with the default password? So, any neighbor will be able to do the same, and then see the password for your Wi-Fi, or even worse, redirect you to bad sites. Do you want this? So I think not. So let's change the password!!!
This is usually done in a special dedicated section with an appropriate name. I have so:
As you can see, you can change both the username and password at the same time - this is great basic settings safety for anyone.
Video version
For those who hate reading, watch everything in the video again. Maybe you will find something useful for yourself:
Add-ons
That seems to be all the most important steps - all that remains is to use your Internet on all devices on your home network. And if you suddenly have any problems, be sure to write in the comments. If everything worked out successfully, write too, it’s very important for me to hear your opinion.
Here I’ll note some other interesting optional router settings. On all modern routers they are no longer critical (all the necessary ones have already been described above), but suddenly they will be needed. Usually each of them is located in the corresponding section:
- WPS – setting up a quick connection to Wi-Fi using a PIN code. It is usually turned off by default. It’s convenient for some, but personally I don’t use this gadget. Only hardcore, only complex password.
- IPTV – Many routers support interactive TV from your ISP. The main thing is that everything is connected here during operation, otherwise the router will cut off your television.
If something didn’t work out for you during the setup process, and you can’t do anything, don’t panic, but reset the settings to factory settings. To do this, press the Reset or Reset button on the back panel of the router. Usually the button is located in a recess; you can get it out with a needle or something narrow. Sometimes you take not a new, but an old router - and there may be someone else’s settings there. So this is a panacea.
Common problems
There can be a lot of problems, and it is impossible to predict everything. Here I will only focus on the most common ones:
- Check the cable - most often the cable is to blame for connection problems. He can bend over, move away - and there will be no connection, no Internet. Not to mention the settings. TOP1. Another common reason here is that people confuse the cable connector. Remember: the cable from the provider goes into a separate connector (blue), the cable from the computer into any of the LAN connectors (yellow, usually several). If you mix it up, nothing will work. But there are exceptions - for example, some routers from providers like Rostelecom. Please read the instructions just in case.
- DHCP and automatic configuration. The problem is that for some reason the devices are receiving incorrect network settings. There are two reasons for this: either they have already been set manually, or the DHCP server is not working correctly. In the case of manual setting, I already wrote - you just need to change everything to automatic receipt. In the case of a DHCP server, it is more difficult to calculate; for clarification, it is the DHCP server that distributes settings on the network, and it is usually created on your router when you turn it on. What if there are several routers on the network? Need to check.
That's all. Set up and enjoy!
Hello! Today I decided to write a short article in which I will tell you what mistake is most often made when setting up routers on your own. Caike problems appear later and how to fix everything. Where do I even get this information from?
Now look a little to the right, in the right column of the site. You see, there is the total number of comments that were left on this site. I don’t know what number you see there now, but at the moment it’s almost 9000 comments (8894 to be exact).
Almost all the comments are questions that I had to answer, advise something, provide a link to the desired article, etc. What am I getting at, these comments are a great source of unique information both for me and for visitors to this site. These are unique cases, I would even say life problems :).
Also, most of these comments relate to problems that arise during the setup and operation of routers, wireless adapters, Wi-Fi networks, etc. So I made some conclusions from these comments, and from articles that relate to this most popular error.
Network without Internet access
Yes, this is the most popular problem. I wrote about her in an article. By the way, the article is also no less popular :).
Why does this problem occur and why is it the most popular?
It usually occurs due to the exact fact that when setting up the router incorrectly indicate the parameters provided by the provider.
Also, pay attention to the binding by MAC address. If your provider does it, then do not forget to clone the MAC address in the router settings. Just clone from the computer to which the Internet was connected.
And also, in properties Wireless network connection , or Connection via local network V Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) you need to set to receive IP and DNS automatically.
Here is the most common mistake and its solution.
And one more important point
If you have a provider for which a special connection was created on the computer before installing the router, and after installing the router the Internet works only on one computer, or works while this computer is turned on, then you need to clarify something here.
You see, the router itself must establish a connection to the Internet, not the computer. You need to delete the previously created connection on your computer. And in the properties of the network adapter, set to receive IP and DNS automatically.
We specify all the parameters that the provider provides only in the router settings. Connecting on a computer, if you have a router, is not necessary.
I also wrote an article on this issue.
Afterword
I don’t know how useful this article was for you, but I hope that my time was not wasted.
Before setting up the router, the main thing is to understand how it works and indicate the correct settings that your provider gave you when connecting to the Internet. If you don’t know what parameters to indicate and what to choose, then just call the provider and ask.
As always, ask questions in the comments, we’ll sort it out. Best wishes!
Plug the Internet cable into the WAN (or Internet) port of your router (aka router).
Connect the router to the computer: insert one end of the network cable into any of the LAN ports of the router, and the other into the connector of the PC’s network card. You can use a wireless connection instead of a cable, but it is better not to do this at the setup stage.
Connect the router to a power outlet. If your device has a power button, press it. Then wait a minute or two to allow the router to boot.
2. Check the Internet
If your router was pre-configured by your provider or received settings automatically, then the Internet can start working a few seconds after connecting the router to the PC.
To check, launch your browser and try opening several sites. If there are no problems with accessing web resources, you can skip the fourth paragraph of the article.
IN address bar browser enter 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 and press Enter. One of these IP addresses should lead to the router's settings menu. If both options do not work, find the required IP address in the documentation for your router model and try entering it.
When the settings login page appears in the browser window, the system may request a login and password. Most often, when connecting for the first time, one word is suitable for both fields - admin. Less often, router manufacturers use the combination as a standard password 1234 .
If necessary, you can find the login information in the instructions for the router or on the provider's website. Well, or try an alternative.
4. Set up an Internet connection
If the Internet still does not work, the router needs special settings. Exactly what settings you need depends on your specific device model and Internet service provider. There is no universal configuration. To get the necessary instructions, check the provider's website or request it from support.
Once you have obtained the manual for setting up your model, follow its prompts. If in the process you set up both an Internet connection and a home Wi-Fi network, you can skip the fifth point of the article.
For Wi-Fi, it is important to choose the right security settings.
In the settings menu, find the section responsible for the wireless network (see the documentation for your router model). Here, be sure to set a strong password (you will need it to connect your devices to the router via Wi-Fi) and select WPA2-PSK as a means of protection.
6. Change the password to enter the router settings
Just in case, it is better to limit the access of strangers to the router settings menu. If the router is still protected by the default password, replace it with your own.
Find the settings section that is responsible for the security (see the documentation for your router model) of the device, and enter a new strong password here. Save your changes.
If your computer has a Wi-Fi module, after completing the setup, you can remove the network cable from the PC and connect to the router via a wireless connection.
7. Install the router in the optimal location
Ideally, the router is in the center of the area in which you use Wi-Fi. This way the signal will be equally available to all connected devices.
The fewer walls, furniture, and other obstacles between the receiving device and the router, the better the wireless network works.