R O U T E R

## Tricks for installing a wireless router

The trick to successfully installing your router is to read the manual. Every router is different; even two models from the same manufacturer can have significant differences. Familiarizing yourself with the manual will help your success in the long term.

There are two steps to installing a wireless router:

• The first is hooking it up and switching on the wireless aspect. You need that wired connection first so that you can set up the wireless aspect.

• The second part is setting up your broadband connection. That is usually just a case of pointing the DNS to the modem. Most setup installations will guide you to do this. Of course, this is assuming you have a broadband modem and not an integrated wireless router and modem in one. If that’s the case, you’re going to have to hit the books…and read the manual!

One of the things that freaks people out most is the fear of putting a wrong setting into the router. Don’t worry. There is always a reset option that will allow you to easily take it back to the factory settings. Also, always be sure to make notes about what you’re doing every step of the way. That way you can easily go back on what you just did.

The information in this tip originally appeared in the Wireless Basics online class discussion.


## Best way to secure your wireless router

• Update the firmware in your wireless router(manufacturer's website, make and model needed)

• Broadcast SSID(turning of the SSID can cause connection problems)(When changing any type of security, change the SSID name to make it easier to connect)Use WPA PSK(TKIP) Security. WEP can be hacked and not all devices work with WPA2 Security.

• Mixed b and g mode(n if available)

• Used channels 1, 6 or 11. Most devices work better on these channels.

• Save and exit. Power everything off wait 30 seconds and turn everything back on.

• Connect to your new secure network. No need to worry about intruders, WPA cannot be hacked.

• Remember if using a print server, wireless printer or wireless devices, you also have to reconfigure these to work.