How to set up a wireless router?
Introduction
This article gives you simple steps to follow to setup your wireless router.
Unpack the device
Once you've opened the box, you'll see the router and its accessories. Carefully remove everything.
Remove all of the packaging materials from your new wireless router: Remove any plastic packing around the device, as well as any labels or instructions that may be attached to it.
Remove antenna: Carefully pull off any antennae (if applicable) from your router, so that you can connect them later on once it's set up in place.
Unscrew power adapter: Unscrew and discard old power adapter, then screw in new one before plugging into an available outlet on wall or floor near where you intend to set up your router.
Connect your modem
If you're using a modem, connect it to the router with an Ethernet cable. Plug your modem into an outlet and wait for it to power up; then plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into one of your router's four available ports. Test your connection by pinging the IP address of your modem (you can find this by looking at its labels). If there is no response, try rebooting it—this will often resolve connectivity issues.
Turn on the modem
After you've connected your modem to the router, it's time to turn on both devices. Log into your modem and check its lights. You should see that at least one of them is blinking (let's hope it's not the power light). Check the manual or go online and find out what each of those lights means—it can be super helpful!
Once you've done that, go ahead and power up your wireless router next. Many routers have an LED display panel right on top that tells you when they're connected to a network or not, so keep an eye out for anything flashing green or white (or both). If there are any problems with either device while they're powering up, don't hesitate to contact customer service ASAP!
Plug in the router
Insert the power adapter into a wall outlet and plug in the router.
Connect an Ethernet cable to your modem, then connect another Ethernet cable to one of the numbered ports on your router's back panel (usually labeled “LAN” or “Internet”). The other end will go into an available port on your PC (for example, a USB port if you're using an external wireless adapter).
If you have a Wi-Fi–enabled computer or laptop with built-in wireless networking capabilities, insert its networking card into a slot on your computer's motherboard (or use an Ethernet cable if there isn't enough room for both cards) and proceed to step 4—you don't need any additional hardware devices at this point! Otherwise skip ahead to section five: Wireless Adapter Installation: How Do I Set Up My Wireless Network?
Connect the computer to your router
Now that you have a router, it's time to connect it to your computer. You can do this by plugging one end of the cable into one of the numbered ports on the back of your router and then connecting that port to an open USB or network port on your computer. If you're using a desktop PC, there will be multiple places where you can plug in cables. The same goes for laptops—the port may look similar but should still support wireless connections.
If everything is working correctly at this point, you shouldn't be able to see any error codes when opening up "Network" options from within Windows 10 or 8 (or whatever version of Windows you are using). If not, try unplugging everything from its respective socket and reattaching it all again before restarting both devices; this usually resolves network connectivity issues with most computers."
Log in to your router
To log in, look for a URL for the router on a sticker or manual. If you don't have this information and can't find it online, try looking at the back of the router itself. The IP address is often printed there.
If you're having trouble logging in due to an incorrect password or login ID, check your documentation again and make sure that they're correct before trying again. If they still aren't working after multiple attempts, contact your ISP (Internet Service Provider) because they may be able to walk through these steps with you over the phone or via chat.
Configure your network settings
You will need to enter the network name and password in order to access the router. You will also want to set a static IP address, gateway and DNS settings as well as wireless security settings.
In order for your computer or laptop to connect wirelessly with the router, you will need to install an adapter on it. This can be done by going into Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings.
Setup a wireless router correctly
How to set up a wireless router
How to set up a wireless router with a modem
How to set up a wireless router with an Ethernet cable
How to set up a wireless router with a USB cable
How to set up a wireless router with a wireless network adapter
Conclusion
We've covered all the possible ways that you can set up your wireless router. If you follow the steps and set up your network correctly, it should work the first time and save you a lot of troubleshooting later.
