How To : Set up a wireless network

1 Plug the power in your router and give it approximately 10 sec to initialize. Then unplug the network cable or Ethernet cable from the back of your PC and connect it to the back of the router that is labeled "INTERNET"

2 Once your internet cable is plugged in you should have 4 available ports.

3 Once everything is connected you need to configure your router by opening a web browser and typing in http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar. Then hit enter.

4 The address will open up a sign on page. Generally the default user name and password is admin, admin. Once you get into the setup menu, under "basic setup" CHANGE THE ROUTER NAME. Then click on the Wireless tab, under "basic setup" and CHANGE YOUR WIRELESS NETWORK NAME. Scroll down at the bottom and save your settings.

5 To configure your security settings click the Wireless tab and click "wireless security." You will have a drop down menu for WEP Encryption this can be as long as you want to be. Choose a pass phrase and click Generate. A list of WEP keys will be generated for you and this is the key you would use to connect to wirelessly.

6 Finally Click on Administration tab at the top of the page and change your default password for accessing your wireless router setup pages, by typing a new router password and then confirming that password. Make sure you click save to at the bottom of the menu for your changes to take affect.

7 Check your wireless connection with a laptop that has a wireless card either built into it or connected to it. On your lab top right click the little monitor at the bottom right hand corner of your task bar and then click "view wireless networks". If you dont see any networks click "refresh network list" on the top left hand corner of your wireless network config box. This should show you the wireless networks around you and you can click on it to disable or enable your connection via the password you set up.