Set up a Linksys Wireless Router

It's not always easy to set up a wireless router with a Windows client. Linksys routers come with a step-by-step Setup Wizard which makes setup and configuration easy to understand. Once the initial setup is complete, it's simple to customize the configurations.

This article will help you to set up a Linksys Wireless Router.

Instructions

1. Choose and purchase a Linksys router, taking into account your budget and computing habits.
2. Attach the antennas to the Linksys wireless router.
   
3. Place the router in a central location, making sure it's not surrounded by metal. (A signal can't be obtained through metal.) The router should be located so that the distance between clients (computers) is somewhat equal. This will create a better connection.
   
4. Plug the Ethernet cable into the "Internet" port on the back of the Linksys router.
   
5. Connect a computer to the router by plugging another Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port on your computer and attaching the other end to one of the available ports on the back of the router. You can choose any port except the one labeled "WAN."
   
6. Plug the router into an electrical outlet.
   
7. Wait for the power light to stop flashing, at which time the router is finished booting up. While the router is booting, the power light will be blinking. This process may take a few minutes to complete.
   
8. Reboot your computer so it can access a new IP address from the router through the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

Configure the Router

1. Open your web browser, type Linksys ip address http://192.168.1.1 into the address bar and hit "Enter."
   
2. Use "Admin" as the username in the pop-up box and leave the password blank.
   
3. Connect to the Internet and click on "Internet Setup."
   
4. Select your connection type from the drop-down menu. Choose "DHCP" for cable modems or "PPPoE" for most DSL modems. If you are unsure of these options, check with your ISP.
   
5. Set a service set identifier (SSID) to identify the router and change the password.
   
6. Encrypt your wireless connection using a Wireless Encryption Protocol (WEP) key. Under the "Wireless Security" option, enter a pass-phrase and click "Generate." This will generate a password which will need to be used by any client connecting to your router.