There are many different companies that manufacture routers and they all come with different settings and options. One such brand is Linksys, which is certified by Cisco.
These steps will help you configure a Linksys WRT160N, an affordable wireless N solution.
Step 1
After giving power to the router, connect to it using a web-browser such as Internet Explorer or Firefox. This is done by typing the IP address of the router. Linksys sets the default to 192.168.1.1 (http://192.168.1.1/).
Step 2
You will now be in the Basic Setup of the router. Here you may decide what the Routers IP will be going forward. If you are unsure, leave it as the default 192.168.1.1. You may also set the Time Zone for your area. You also might need to clone the Mac address if you are using Cable Broadband (Broadband from the pay TV cables), to do this go to Mac address clone -> Enable, then clone my computers Mac.
Step 3
Continue to the Wireless tab, notice that the configuration has two options; Manual or Wi-Fi Protected Setup. Using the manual options, you can create an SSID (Service Set Identifier). This is the name that people will see when trying to connect to your router.
Step 4
Click the Wireless Security sub-tab. Here is where you can set the security for your wireless network. You may choose the type of security, such as WEP Encryption, WPA or WPA2 Encryption. The most secure is the WPA2 Encryption. With this encryption, you may choose a passphrase that only you and your friends will know and use.
- The advanced security tab can be ignored for users who do not need advanced security. For those who do, this tab may be useful to block certain web features such as cookies or Java. To block items, simply select the check box beside the name of the feature that you want to disable.
Step 5
Select Access Restrictions if you would like to add further security for children or other users on your network. On this page you will find many options which allow you to restrict access by day, by hour and by personal computer. You must add the computers that will be restricted by clicking on "Edit List" and adding the computers by IP address, then selecting which day and hour by clicking on the check boxes. For the more advanced user, you may block specific applications such as Telnet and POP3 (email).
Step 6
Use the Applications and Gaming tab if you will use the internet for applications requiring port forwarding such as video games or torrent downloading software. To forward a specific port, you must enter it in the External Port and Internal Port and put the IP address of the specific computer needing the ports in the specified slot. You may also forward a range of ports by using the Port Range Forwarding sub-tab. Remember to save after every change.
Step 7
Set a router password on the Administration tab that will be entered to make configuration changes going forward. Enter the wanted password into both Router password slots. The other settings may be used by advanced users.
Step 8
Click the Status tab to verify connectivity and router status. This page contains the information given by your ISP (Internet Service Provider), such as the DNS address and the Domain Name. You may also click on the Local Network tab to verify the DHCP Client Table which contains all users connected by cable or wireless to your router. This can be used to verify if someone is connected to your router that should not be.
Tips
- Remember to save after every change.
- When setting up a router for the first time, refer to the manual and use any installation CDs that come with it.
Warnings
- Do not upgrade the firmware of the router unless you know what you are doing. This may cause the router to stop functioning permanently.
Things You'll Need
- Modem
- Router
- Computer with NIC card
