• How difficult is it to install a Wi-Fi router at home yourself? Everything you need to know before buying a Wi-Fi router. How to connect and configure a Wi-Fi router? Step-by-step instructions for all models How to set up Wi-Fi on a computer and laptop

    Nowadays, almost every home has a computer connected to the World Wide Web. Access to the Internet from an entertainment function quickly turned into an everyday necessity for solving both household issues and tasks related to the professional activities of the PC owner. Often in the house, in addition to the computer, there are gadgets that support Wi-Fi, and it is absolutely not advisable to run the provider’s cable to each device.

    The best option is to install a WiFi router that will provide Internet distribution (routing) to all the user’s existing devices. But after the purchase, you also need to correctly configure the WiFi router to organize an access point to the wireless network.

    This guide describes in detail all the necessary instructions on how to set up a WiFi router and what should be done to properly configure a wireless WiFi network. Detailed step-by-step instructions accompanied by explanatory drawings will allow even a novice user to quickly and correctly set up WiFi completely independently, without resorting to paid assistance from specialists.

    Preliminary and preparatory actions

    Before you start setting up your WiFi router, you need to complete several preparatory steps. For a detailed description of the steps performed, the instructions will use TP-Link equipment as an example, since, according to the results of statistical studies, their models are now the most common among users in the Russian Federation.

    First, you should decide on the optimal location of the wireless network access point in your home or office, connect it and do a little analysis of whether the device is functioning correctly.

    Device connection procedure

    It is not recommended to install the Internet distribution device in the farthest corner room of the home, and it is also undesirable to place it behind the computer system unit, as this will significantly affect the quality and strength of the wireless signal. The optimal location is the center of the apartment or office with maximum elimination of obstacles to the propagation of the WiFi signal, which will allow achieving a greater range of the created WiFi network.

    Typically, the router body has the following keys and sockets for connecting wires:


    To connect the router to a desktop PC or laptop, you will need to complete the following few steps:


    How to configure a PC to work correctly with the router?

    You will need to take the following several sequential steps:

    1. Open the “Control Panel” and then go to the “Network Connections” section - for computers running Windows XP, and for more modern operating systems, enter the “Network and Management” tab or the “Network and Sharing Center”;
    2. In the list of connections, call the context menu from “Local Area Connection” and then click on the “Properties” line;
    3. In the menu that appears, analyze the “Internet Protocol TCP/IP” section, where you need to check the boxes for assigning IP and DNS in automatic mode. It is not common, but it happens that the provider requires you to manually specify these addresses, in which case you just need to enter them, copying them from the contract with the communication service provider;
    4. Ready!

    Setting up a WiFi adapter

    It is this small device that allows your computer to connect to a wireless network. Modern laptops almost always have a Wi-Fi adapter built-in. If the computer does not have this device, then the problem is easily solved by purchasing it and installing it either in a USB port, if the adapter is an external type, or by installing the bracket in the corresponding slot inside the system unit.

    To configure the correct operation of the device, for example, on a PC with Windows 7, you will need to take the following steps:

    1. Through the “Control Panel”, launch the “Network and Sharing Center” window;
    2. Then go to “Change adapter settings”;
    3. In the next window that appears, open the “Network Connections” menu;
    4. In the list of connections, call up the context menu for the wireless connection and click on the “Properties” line;
    5. Next, select “Internet Protocol TCP/IP v4” and click “Properties”;
    6. Check the box “Receive automatically”;
    7. Click “Ok”;
    8. Ready! Now we can move on to the question of how to set up a wireless WiFi router.

    How to launch the settings input interface?

    After completing all the preliminary steps, you can immediately begin to solve the problem of how to properly configure a WiFi router. To do this, you need to launch any Internet browser on a computer or laptop connected with a patch cord to the router.

    The sequence of actions algorithm consists of the following stages:


    Firmware update

    Despite the fact that the purchased device, as a rule, is already configured and has factory firmware, before setting up Wi-Fi and starting to enter the parameters of the network being created, it is advisable to flash the device, providing the device with the latest software modification.

    This will avoid most of the future failures and provide a higher degree of protection for the created Wi-Fi network.

    The firmware is available for download on the official website of the equipment manufacturer. After saving the archive with the software on your computer, you will need to unpack it and remember well the location in the PC memory of the firmware file. Then you need to carry out the following steps:

    1. In the router interface, go to the “System Tools” section;
    2. Next, go to the “Firmware Upgrade” tab;
    3. Click on “Browse...” and indicate the location in the PC memory where the new firmware file is saved, then click “Update”;
    4. Wait until the process completes and the device automatically reboots.

    Settings

    Once the device restarts, you need to restart the interface and take the following steps:

    1. Enter the “System Tools” tab;
    2. Go to the “Password” subsection, where you specify your self-created login and password to change settings;
    3. In the “Network” tab, go to the “WAN” tab and indicate the type of connection, which you need to find out from your Internet provider, but in the vast majority of cases, dynamic IP is used.

    Determining the type of connection

    It is specified in the contract with the provider, but if it is missing, you can find out from the official Internet resource of the communication service provider.

    Entering wireless network settings

    You just need to follow a couple of steps:

    1. Enter the “Wireless” tab;
    2. Check the box “Enable” and “Wireless Network Name” or “SSID” and come up with a login yourself, a complex code for the created WiFi network, it is recommended to select the encryption type “WPA/WPA2”.

    MAC address

    It is rare, but it happens that the communication provider requires binding of a wireless point to the computer’s network card. The MAC address must be copied into the router parameters by clicking the “Clone MAC” button in the menu.

    After this, you must save the changes by clicking “Save” and reboot the device.

    Wi-Fi provides fast wireless Internet access without being tied to wires and a modem. You only need a device with a Wi-Fi module - using it, several devices can connect to the network at once.

    To properly configure the router you do not need special education

    Buying and setting up a router will take a little time and does not require special knowledge. To consider in detail all stages of connection, we will use the settings for TP-Link brand models, the most popular among a large number of users.

    Before you move on to installing Wi-Fi, you need to figure out how to install your router and make sure it's working properly.

    How to connect a Wi-Fi router? First, we choose a place for it - the main thing is that it does not stand on the table where the computer is located or on the system unit, since in such cases interference in work often occurs. Therefore, we move it a little away from other equipment and place it closer to the center of the house so that the waves cover as much area as possible.

    To find out how much the router covers the room, after installation, download special applications - they will make the device work as efficiently as possible.

    On the back of the router there are the following connectors (in the basic version):

    • 4 Lan - port for connecting to a PC. A maximum of 4 computers can be connected to one device at the same time. We insert the cable into one of the ports, and connect the other part to the connector on the back of the system unit.
    • A cord with an Internet connection is installed in the WAN cable socket.
    • We plug the power cable into the outlet.

    Here you will also see a reset and on/off button - their functions are clear. When you have sorted out the wires and inserted them where needed, an icon about a new connection will appear at the bottom of the desktop. Now we need to find out if your PC has installed the router correctly.

    Device Manager - setting up the operation of a computer with a router

    How to enter the router settings and check whether the computer correctly recognized the equipment. We use the Control Panel, stop at the chapter Network Connections - if you have Windows XP, in Windows Vista/7/8 this section is designated “Network and Control”, “Network and Sharing Center”.

    Current connections will appear here - select “Local Area Connection” and look at the properties. You will now see a list of components where you stop at “TCP/IP Internet Protocol”. Here we check how the checkboxes are marked:

    • Typically, lines are highlighted that talk about automatically obtaining an IP address and DNS server.
    • For some suppliers, information is entered manually, so you will see filled-in lines. Check them with the data in the contract or instructions for the device, enter the correct numbers if they do not match.

    The next step is to move on to how to enter the router settings.

    Browser and entering parameters

    The router is configured using a browser.

    Enter your IP address in the address bar. In most cases, this is the combination 192.168.1.1 - the standard version of the address, which, however, differs for some Internet service providers. After pressing Enter, you will see the Wi-Fi router settings. If this does not happen, then the IP address is not suitable and you need to enter other numbers.

    How to find out the IP address:

    • In documents or on the back of the router.
    • If, when entering the properties of “Local Area Network Connections”, the IP address field was previously filled in and was not set to automatic detection, copy it.
    • Try checking other addresses - the last two values ​​may look like 0.1, 0.2, or 1.2.
    • Enter in the command line (it opens through “Start”) the action cmd, and then ping 168.x.1, and you will be shown all the device parameters.

    After entering the IP, a form for entering your login and password appears in front of you. We fill both lines here with the word admin, after which the parameters of the router itself will appear directly.

    Reflashing equipment

    First of all, setting up a router begins with flashing it to the current version - after the release of each model, a lot of time passes, during which improvements are made and errors are corrected. Therefore, installing the most current version will avoid operational problems.

    You can get it on the manufacturer's website. Download the file and go to the settings again (you know how to enter the router settings through a browser) in the System Tools, subsection Firmware Upgrade. Here we select “Browse...”, upload the file and after clicking Upgrade the update will begin.

    Clarification: The firmware is optional, so you can do without it - it will not interfere with the operation of the device.

    Setting up an Internet connection

    After rebooting the Wi-Fi equipment (it will happen automatically), we proceed to setting the parameters for accessing the World Wide Web. In the System Tools section, select the Password tab and enter new data to enter the settings at your discretion.

    Now in the Network section we stop at the WAN graph, where we select the type of connection provided by the provider. Mostly this is a dynamic IP (Dynamic), but in some cases this option is not correct.

    How to find out your connection type?

    It is listed in the documents along with the rest of the data for setting up a Wi-Fi router. If they are missing, find them on the website of your Internet service provider or contact a specialist by phone.

    Note: if you need a different type of connection (not dynamic), enter additional information yourself in the fields located in this form after selecting the desired parameter.

    The remaining fields will be filled in automatically when you select the Dynamic IP option.

    Let's move on to the Wireless section. We put a checkmark next to Enable (if there is such a line), in the Wireless Network Name or SSID we come up with a name for the connection that will be seen by everyone who wants to use Wi-Fi. Below there may be a tab for selecting your country - indicate it, save the changes made and move on to the next stage of our setup.

    Wireless Security - you should take filling out this part of the parameters seriously, because here you can secure your network from unauthorized access. Select WPA/WPA2 and set a password in the PSK Password field - without it, no one will be able to establish a connection with your Wi-Fi.

    Additionally: MAC Address and copying it

    Sometimes providers tie a Wi-Fi access point to the PC's network card. This equipment has a personal MAC code, which we copy into the router settings - to do this, click the “Clone MAC - Code” button.

    Where can I find it? Depending on the manufacturer, the address may be located in different sections, mainly in Wireless. In the most common TP-Link models, the MAC address is located in the Network folder; to copy it, you need to select a special column.

    The Wi-Fi router setup has been successfully completed. Confirm the reboot - the router will prompt you to do it, then all the changes made will take effect.

    Wireless access is convenient, practical, it’s easy to install such Internet, it just takes a little time and a little effort. Now you know how to go into the router settings and fill out all the necessary fields to get quick access no matter what part of the room you are in, and use the Internet on any device that supports this technology.

    Not so long ago, a computer, and especially a laptop, was a luxury. Today, almost every family has a computer or laptop, and in many families almost every family member has these devices. Each such device must have access to the Internet, since a computer without the Internet is a “box”. With the development of technology, in order to divide Internet traffic into several devices, it is no longer necessary to connect a separate cable to each device; everything can be done over the air - using Wi-Fi technology.

    Contents of the article:

    Benefits of Wi-Fi

    Before we talk about setting up a Wi-Fi network at home, we’ll talk about the tasks and advantages of this technology. So, if you need to divide your existing Internet channel into several devices, then you need a router. If you want to share the Internet channel by connecting devices without using wires, then a Wi-Fi router will help you with this. We have already told you about this and therefore, before purchasing it, we recommend that you read this article again. A Wi-Fi router is a great option if you have devices that support Wi-Fi networks. Thus, by installing a Wi-Fi router at the most central point, you can provide Wi-Fi coverage throughout the entire apartment, which is very convenient, because you will not need to run unnecessary wires. If your computer does not have a Wi-Fi adapter, then this issue can be solved in two ways: install a Wi-Fi router in the room where the computer is located, or purchase a Wi-Fi adapter. A Wi-Fi adapter is a small device in the form of a flash drive or in the form of a card inserted into a PCI slot.

    Considering that almost every family needs to install a Wi-Fi router, we will tell you how to set it up yourself, without calling a technician.

    Setting up a Wi-Fi router

    To configure the router, it must be connected via a cable to a computer or laptop. The connection diagram must be shown in the instructions. We unpack the router, screw the antennas to it, then connect one part of the network cable (which comes with the kit) to the router, and the other to the computer (laptop). Then we connect the router’s power and after that we connect the Internet provider’s network cable to it.

    How to enter the router menu

    Absolutely all Wi-Fi routers are configured using a WEB interface, this is a kind of website with settings. That is, in order to configure the router, you need to open the page with its settings in your browser. To do this, enter “192.168.1.1” in the address bar of your browser and press the “Enter” key. After this, a window will appear on the screen in which you will need to enter your login and password to access the router settings. Standard (by default) login and password from the router settings menu: “admin” - in small letters. After entering, click “OK” and get to the menu.


    Reflashing a Wi-Fi router

    So, in order to set up a Wi-Fi router, you first need to reflash it. If you are a fairly experienced person and know what and how, then now we will tell you what you need to do for this. If you don’t really like to understand all the intricacies of computer technology, then you can do without flashing the router. Firmware is a kind of operating system of the router on which its operation is based.

    Why is flashing needed? Reflashing the router is necessary in order to ensure normal and high-quality operation of the device. As a rule, every Wi-Fi router has the same firmware version from the moment it is released until it is discontinued. This firmware only passes internal tests, but when the device goes on mass sale, users find all sorts of problems in the operation of the device in various situations. Therefore, the “native” firmware is not perfect and you may have problems with the device: low speed, freezes, problems with Wi-Fi, etc. That is why it is better to install a new firmware version.

    In order to reflash the Wi-Fi router, you need to download the firmware file. Of course, you can download it from the manufacturer’s official website. To do this, on the website of the device manufacturer, find the model of your Wi-Fi router, and click on the “Downloads” tab; this is where the list of available firmware should be located. Some manufacturers may send you to an FTP server where the firmware is stored. But do not rush to download the latest version of the firmware, first read the forums where users who installed this firmware wrote a review about its work and made a conclusion: is it worth installing or not.

    After downloading the archive with the firmware, unzip it and copy the firmware file to the downloads folder. In the router menu, go to the Firmware section and in the available field, indicate to the router the path to the new firmware. You can find more detailed instructions on how to reflash the router in the instructions for the device.

    After flashing, go to the Network / IPConfig / Network menu (depending on the model of your router) and first enter the provider settings.


    WAN connection type
    • Dynamic IP / DHCP / Dynamic IP – select if the provider provides dynamic IP;

    • Static ip / Statistical IP address - select if the provider is built on a local network, where to access the Internet you need to enter the IP address, subnet mask and Gateway.

    • PPPoE – select if you need to enter a login and password to access the Internet.
    DNS

    DNS 1 and DNS 2 - it is advisable to leave them installed automatically, but if the provider requires their manual installation (which is very rare), then enter the primary and secondary DNS. It is not always necessary to enter the provider's DNS in the network settings; sometimes external DNS work better than the provider's.

    Then go to the Wireless tab, which contains Wi-Fi settings.

    How to set up a Wi-Fi network

    Network name (SSID)

    Network name is the name of your Wi-Fi router, which will be displayed when the device searches for a network to connect to Wi-Fi. We recommend that you set the name as original as possible to avoid coincidences. If you have 2 devices on the network with the same names, the Wi-Fi connection may not work correctly.

    Channel

    This is the frequency channel over which data transmission will occur. Pay special attention to this parameter, as this may result in low Wi-Fi speeds. Why? Each channel has its own, so to speak, data transfer volumes. The more of your devices are connected via Wi-Fi, the lower the Internet speed for each device - the same goes for the channel, the more devices use the same channel, the lower its bandwidth. Therefore, even if you have a high Internet connection speed, and the Wi-Fi channel is overloaded, the Wi-Fi connection speed will be very low.

    If you have not so advanced neighbors, then this parameter can be left at “Auto”. It’s very easy to check the Wi-Fi activity of your neighbors - call up the Wi-Fi connections menu list and look at the number of Wi-Fi routers that are available in your apartment: if there are few of them, then the channel is enough, if there are many, then it’s better to install it manually.

    Since “Auto” selects the 6th or 7th channels, when manually selecting it is necessary to select the channels located at the beginning. That is, if in the future the Wi-Fi connection speed drops, but the cable connection speed is as stated, then it is possible that the whole problem lies in the Wi-Fi channel.


    Wireless Mode

    This setting sets the wireless network standard. Two factors depend on the wireless network standard: the ability to operate old-type devices in it and Wi-Fi speed. That is, Wi-Fi has its own operating standards, and to make it more clear to you, let’s look at an example. In cellular communications, first the Internet was transmitted via WAP, then via GPRS, then via EDGE, etc., with each new type the data transfer speed also increased - in our situation everything is the same. The further a letter in the alphabet represents a communication standard, the higher the data transfer rate it supports. But here it is necessary to take into account one more point: not all devices released quite a long time ago and supporting work in Wi-Fi networks support the latest type of connection - and this must be taken into account.

    When choosing a wireless connection type, set the type that will be supported by all your Wi-Fi devices. Newer types of devices can work with older types, but not vice versa. But don’t be upset, most modern Wi-Fi routers can work with several standards - which is very convenient; for this, set the value to “b/g/n” (if available).

    Channel width

    The channel width is indicated in megahertz. We recommend leaving this parameter at “Auto”, or setting it to its maximum value.

    Maximum data transfer rate

    This parameter sets the maximum data transfer rate - speed limit. Of course, it is best to set this parameter to the maximum value. If you are the main Internet user, and you need high speed data transfer via a network cable on your computer, then you can reduce the speed via Wi-Fi in this way.

    Encryption type

    Another important parameter when setting up a Wi-Fi router is the type of encryption of the transmitted data. The stronger the encryption type, the more securely your data will be transmitted. Today, the best type of encryption is WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK. But here you should also pay attention to the fact that not all devices support this type of encryption and therefore it is possible that when choosing it you will need to find a “golden mean” for all devices.

    How to set up Wi-Fi on a computer and laptop

    Let's briefly tell you how to set up Wi-Fi on Windows 7 and Windows 8. In order to set up Wi-Fi on a laptop or computer, you need to select your Wi-Fi router in the list of Wi-Fi devices, to which you gave the original name. Then we click on its name 2 times with the mouse, and we are prompted to enter a password - enter the password, it is checked, and if you entered everything correctly, the device connects to Wi-Fi. After this, we recommend checking both over the network and over Wi-Fi. Please note that Wi-Fi speed may be limited by your router's bandwidth. Therefore, it may differ from the one available over the LAN.

    Sometimes, to connect a laptop via Wi-Fi, you need to separately enable the Wi-Fi module. As a rule, on laptops the corresponding button is responsible for this; it can be either separate or combined with the F7 key.

    You can find out more detailed information about setting up a Wi-Fi connection from the video below.

    When you connect to a new Internet provider, you are unlikely to rush to immediately connect the single end of the Ethernet cable to your computer. It will be much more convenient (and not much more expensive) to use a router. With it, you can simultaneously connect many devices to the Internet - from desktop computers and laptops to smartphones, tablets, TVs, even cameras and doorbells.

    Router: pros and cons

    What are the advantages of a router over other connection methods (for example, Ethernet modems?)

    • Multiple devices are connected simultaneously (computers, smartphones, tablets, TVs, cameras, etc.)
    • Multiple communication methods (Ethernet, Wi-Fi)
    • Fine network configuration, in particular security
    • Routers have additional functions (for example, working with a built-in or USB-connected drive)

    We will look at the most common option today: how to install a Wi-Fi router without additional hardware functions (server, etc.) and configure it to work with wired and wireless equipment.

    Best place

    Where is it better to install a router in an apartment or in a house? The answer to this question depends on several factors:

    • Provider cable. If the experts didn’t leave such a long “tail,” you simply won’t be able to install the router somewhere in the kitchen.
    • Jobs. Of course, it would be nice to have optimal reception throughout the entire house or apartment, but if this is not possible, then you will have to install the router closer to the place where you usually work, be it an office, a balcony, or even a toilet.

    Try to think about the location of the router so that there are as few concrete barriers as possible between it and your workplace. For a wired connection, this can be solved by simply laying the cable.

    In some cases (for example, if you have a large house) you will need Wi-Fi repeaters. These are small, inexpensive Wi-Fi boosters that can be a lifesaver in hard-to-reach places. However, for a relatively small living space (2-4 rooms), the correct installation of a router in an apartment solves all problems without the help of repeaters.

    Connecting the incoming cable

    Before installing the router yourself, make sure that the incoming Ethernet cable is correctly crimped, that is, it has an RJ45 type plug installed. For ADSL type communications using a telephone line, an additional splitter adapter is required that splits the signal into the Internet and telephone communications. In any case, the splitter will have the same Ethernet socket (RJ45), to which you need to connect the corresponding cable. It is easy to distinguish RJ45 from a telephone plug/connector: RJ45 is larger.

    Find a port on the router signed as WAN (Wide Area Network - external network). It is to this that you need to connect the provider's cable, although the router probably has other similar ports. Usually the WAN port is also highlighted in color.

    Now you can connect your computer, TV, and other devices that require a wired connection to the remaining output ports.

    Software Internet setup

    Although you have already connected the router and computer using a cable, you will not immediately have access to the Internet. First, find the instructions that you received from your provider: you will need the data from it before setting up a Wi-Fi router (TP Link or any other manufacturer).

    Then you need to log into the router interface from your computer. To do this, in the address bar of your browser, instead of the usual address, you must type the IP address of the router. As a rule, this is 192.168.1.1 (if this is not the case with a particular router, you can check this on the sticker on its bottom or in the instructions).

    A page will open in your browser where you need to enter your username and password to log in. As a rule, manufacturers do not hesitate and set the default login to “admin” and the same password. Enter your login information, click “Login”, and you will be taken to the router control panel.

    First of all, you need the “DHCP Server” tab.


    Enter this section and find the Enable button there. After that, click "Save" or "OK". If there is no such button in the section, it means that the settings are saved automatically when you exit.

    Check with your provider's instructions to determine what type of connection you are using - dynamic or static IP address. Dynamic in our case is simpler. All you need is to select this connection type in the settings and save them. Sometimes you may need to enter a Hostname.

    Providers rarely offer a static IP address. As a rule, it is needed when you need remote access to your workplace or store some publicly accessible materials on it. But it happens that providers simply offer only this type of connection. In the case of a static IP address, you will have to manually enter a whole set of data: your actual IP, default gateway, subnet mask and DNS server. All this data should be in the instructions from the provider or in an appendix to the contract.

    There is another type of connection: PPPoE. If for some reason your provider chose it, then you will also have to enter your username and password (twice).

    In the web interfaces of routers from different manufacturers, sections may be organized differently, but there is a search system through which you can find keywords, or a list of sections where you can find the necessary tabs.

    An important point: even if your computer is a laptop with a Wi-Fi module, for the initial setup you will still have to connect it to the router using a cable. The fact is that wireless communication is inactive by default in routers. And the next step will be to turn it on.

    Setting up Wi-Fi on the router

    As a rule, in the router’s web interface (we hope you haven’t logged out of it yet?) there is a tab called “Wireless.” Here you no longer need any data from the provider: how to install a router for Wi-Fi devices - at your discretion.

    Enter in the “SSID” line the name under which your network will be recognized by devices. The main thing is that you can then recognize it from dozens of others, which today abound in every home in a major city. So come up with some catchy name.

    Then create a password. Of course, it doesn't have to be "12345" or your first and last name. However, it should be simple enough that (if necessary) you can easily tell it to your guests, and they will understand it unmistakably.

    Some routers support the “guest access” function (an additional SSID is used for this). Through the guest network, the user can access the Internet, but the administrative panel of the router remains inaccessible to him. If your router has such a function, then it is better to name the SSID with full access something unclear and come up with the most complex password for it, but for guest access it is easier to choose a name and password.

    Select your network standard. The “later” letter of the alphabet it is designated, the higher its speed: for example, “b/g/n” will provide faster Internet than just “b/g”. It would seem that nothing could be simpler: choose the most advanced mode, and that’s it! However, can you guarantee that all your devices support it? Not to mention your guests' gadgets. Therefore, it is better to leave the move to ensure compatibility with older standards.

    Select a security standard. The most popular option today is WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK mixed. This type of encryption reliably protects data and does not slow down work with it.

    If your router is equipped with a built-in hard drive or a USB port for connecting it, then, of course, you would like to provide access to it from several devices. For example, you work on documents in your office, from a desktop computer, but later you want to go to the balcony with a laptop and work in greater comfort, in the fresh air. Or you want to open downloaded movies directly on your TV. Then you will need to find a list of trusted devices and add there all the devices (laptop, TV) to which you give access to memory.

    You can limit the number of simultaneous connections to your router. If you do not want to do this, leave the number 0 in the “Connection limit” line - this means no limits.

    When choosing a place for the router in the apartment, do not forget: sometimes you will need to reboot it manually, so you should not hide it very high. Although if you have children or playful animals, then it's probably better to play it safe.

    Connecting Wi-Fi at home is the most common task today for the average user. If you don’t delve into some of the subtleties related to network security, installing a Wi-Fi router only seems like a complicated matter. In practice everything is very simple.

    First, let's figure out which Wi-Fi router to choose. Network equipment is divided into several categories. ADSL Wi-Fi routers are used to connect using ADSL technology via a telephone line. This technology is used less and less, and there is no fundamental difference in the settings. Wi-Fi routers connected via Ethernet are, in turn, divided into several categories. There are bridges (gates), Wi-Fi routers, Wi-Fi access points, Wi-Fi repeaters (repeaters). There is no fundamental difference between them. Special configuration of the router turns one type of equipment into another. Thus, many models of Wi-Fi routers will help act as a repeater, and the repeater can be configured as a Wi-Fi router. The Wi-Fi repeater receives a signal from one of the Wi-Fi routers and transmits it further. This expands the coverage area of ​​your home Wi-Fi network, strengthens the Wi-Fi signal, and eliminates “dead zones.” Wi-Fi gates transmit Wi-Fi signals over long distances. Using two Wi-Fi gates, you can install a Wi-Fi network in neighboring houses, and using special directional Wi-Fi antennas, you can establish a connection via Wi-Fi over a long distance (up to 10 kilometers). Configuring a router for use as repeaters or gates is uncommon. But often you need to connect a laptop, desktop computer via Wi-Fi, or make it so that you can connect via Wi-Fi from an iPhone or other mobile phone. For these purposes, regular access points or configuration as a Wi-Fi router gate or repeater are required. Based on this, it is easy to conclude that setting up a router, if you need to connect Wi-Fi at home, is practically no different from setting up a gate or repeater. Provided that you configure the Wi-Fi router specifically for your home Wi-Fi network for normal use.

    It is usually important not only to connect Wi-Fi at home, but also to ensure high data transfer speeds.
    For comfortable work you need standard G, which provides speeds of up to 54 Mbps. In most cases, this is sufficient for comfortable browsing on the Internet. Happy owners of high-speed Internet access, gamers and those who download a lot via torrents, it is advisable to use a more advanced standard. Even careful configuration of a Wi-Fi router will not help if it is using an outdated standard. To use the full potential of modern high-speed wireless networks, the N standard is desirable. The table below compares standards to connect Wi-Fi at home at the desired speed:

    Standard Speed Average data transfer rate
    802.11b 11 Mbit/s 5 Mbit/s
    802.11g 54 Mbit/s 25 Mbit/s
    802.11a 54 Mbit/s 25 Mbit/s
    802.11n 200+ Mbit/s 100 Mbit/s

    The D-Link DIR-620 router supports the 802.11n standard. The installation of the D-Link DIR-620 Wi-Fi router is standard and is almost no different from the installation of Wi-Fi routers from other manufacturers. Using the example of setting up this router, we will show how connect Wi-Fi at home fast and simple.

    To configure the router D-Link DIR-620 you need to follow the following instructions:

    1) Connect the router to the network. Connect the Internet cable to the “Internet” port of the router. Connect the cable connecting the router to the computer to one of the LAN ports on the back panel of the router, and connect the other end to the computer’s network card.

    2) Open any Internet browser and type http://192.168.0.1 in the address bar.
    Go to the entered address. A web interface will be displayed through which you can configure the router. Fill in the empty fields: enter admin in the “Username” field, and admin in the “Password” field. Click on the "Login" button.

    3) Next, open the “Network” section, the “Connections” subsection and select the connection called WAN.

    4) After this, a page will open showing the connection settings. Click on the IPoE connection type and check the "Allow" box under the type. The same checkboxes should be next to the items “Obtain an IP address automatically”, “Enable IGMP”, “Obtain DNS server address automatically”, “NAT”, “Firewall”. Save your changes.

    Let's start setting up a Wi-Fi connection:
    1) In the "Network" section, select the "Wi-Fi" subsection. The "Basic Settings" option appears. Make sure that the checkbox next to “Enable wireless connection” is checked. There should be no checkmark next to the "Hide access point" item. Select the "auto" channel, the maximum number of clients is 0. Accept and save the changes made.

    2) Click on the “Security Settings” subsection and select “WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK mixed” from the “Network Authentication” drop-down list.

    After the additional settings open, in the “PSK encryption key:” line, enter the password that will be used to connect to your wireless network. The password must contain at least 8 English characters. For maximum security, when creating a password, it is recommended to combine small and large letters, symbols and numbers. When you have finished entering your password, accept and save your changes.

    This router setup is shown as an example. As you can see, connecting Wi-Fi at home is not difficult.
    Installing a Wi-Fi router simple and painless. But if you care about your security, if you want to prevent your personal data from being “lost” and intruders not getting into your computer, we recommend that you contact specialists who will quickly and efficiently do everything to ensure that the router configuration meets the highest network standards security.

    Helpful Tips:

    • Removable antennas are convenient because they can be replaced with more powerful ones or unnecessary ones can be removed if one antenna is enough for a stable signal within the room.
    • If the signal is weak, the speed is low, and the connection is constantly breaking, try moving the Wi-Fi router 5-10 cm in any direction. Sometimes this simple movement helps to significantly improve the quality of reception and corresponds to a strengthening of the Wi-Fi signal.
    • Choose a password that is at least 10 characters long, consisting of letters in different cases, numbers and symbols at the same time.
    • When preparing to buy a Wi-Fi router, check out reviews online about existing models. Pay special attention to information about the operation of the router in various modes, at high temperatures and under intense load.
    • Minor savings when purchasing a router can lead to large losses of time later when installing and operating the device.
    • Before purchasing a router, check with your Internet provider which protocols your future router should support.
    • Always try to update your router to the latest official firmware. Visit the official website of the manufacturer of the router model you have chosen and check the availability of new firmware and their compatibility. New firmware improves the stability and speed of wireless devices.
    • If your Internet speed suddenly drops and websites open slowly, you can check the speed of your Internet connection by going to the free web service http://speedtest,net.
    • Most problems caused by network failure can be easily resolved by simply rebooting the equipment.