home-routerYour home router connects your abode network to the Cyberspace.

Nigh home routers also function equally Wireless Access points and are usually called wireless routers.

Dwelling routers are ordinarily supplied past an ISP (Internet Service Provider) as part of your Net bundle.

In this tutorial I volition explain the diverse ports available on most routers, and how to set up your router and alter common settings.

Router Interfaces and Physical Connections

All routers accept ii interfaces:

  • Local – This is the local,home,office network
  • External – The Cyberspace

On the Net side the router will may have a single connection labelled DSL which uses a RJ12 telephone connexion.

This connects to the telephone network via a broadband filter.

You may also have a broadband/WAN connector. This is used for connecting to a cable modem or fibre modem as shown below:

broadband-router-connections

On the Local side the router will accept a Wi-Fi interface and Ethernet ports.

The router shown above is my home router which has 4 Ethernet ports for wired clients, every bit well as supporting WI-Fi access.

In addition virtually too have a USB socket for connecting the router to a computer for initial set up.

Wireless Router Setup and Configuration

Concrete Setup

The router volition have a port labelled DSL this connects using a RJ12 connector to a microfilter and then to your phone line. (ADSL and VDSL)

E'er remember to use the microfilter every bit without information technology information technology may not work or may only work intermittently.

Note: newer connection points have the filter built in.

For fibre and cable apply the WAN port on the Router to connect to your cablevision or fibre modem using an Ethernet cable.

Router Configuration

To change the configuration settings of the router you will need to login to the router.

In that location are several ways you tin can practice this,they are:

  • Using a computer continued with a USB cable.
  • Using a calculator continued with an Ethernet cable and a web interface.
  • Using a computer connected using Wi-Fi and a spider web interface.- Most common

Using Wi-Fi and The Web Interface

Near all habitation routers tin be setup and managed using a Web interface. i.eastward a spider web browser.

To utilise this you will demand to connect to the router using  the Ethernet port or Wi-Fi .

To connect using Wi-Fi yous volition need to know:

  • the SSID of the router, which should come with the documentation. (you tin modify the SSID subsequently).
  • The Wi-Fi password.

The BT Abode Hub that I employ comes with an handy pull out carte du jour with the details printed on it, as shown below

BT-HUB-passwords-card

Step 1- Setting up Wi-fi

The outset step is to setup Wi-Fi access on your Laptop/PC using the Wi-Fi details (SSID and password).

Now you should be able to connect to the router, and the router should assign you an IP accost.

You can check your IP address and find the IP address of the router by using the ipconfig control.

Open a control prompt an enter Ipconfig/all. Look for the default gateway. This is the address of your router.

Pace 2 Connecting to the Router

To connect to the router yous need to know:

  • The router IP address
  • The router default admin username and password

Mutual default addresses are: 192.168.ane.254 , 192.168.1.1 and 192.168.0.1.

Common default admin user account name and countersign are admin and administrator and password is password

This site has a comprehensive list of admin account names and passwords

To login open a web browser and enter the IP address of the router due east.g. 192.168.1.254.

router-home-page

You should go a welcome screen or an overview screen as shown above.

If you endeavour to make changes you volition be prompted to login.

home-router-login

Mutual Configuration Changes

Once yous are logged in you can change the router configuration.

At that place are several things that you commonly need to configure to improve usability and  security.

  • A Network SSID for the wireless clients. (wireless router only)
  • Wireless channels (wireless router only)
  • Admin password for router direction
  • Countersign for the DSL link.
  • Internal IP address ranges.
  • Port Forwarding
  • DDNS

Note 1: I would recommend that you lot change the WiFi SSID and password and also the router admin password as a basic security consideration.

Notation 2: Changing some of the settings will cause you to lose the connection to the router, and and so you may need to reconnect and login again using the new settings.

Changing the Network SSID and Password

It is a good idea to change this to a name and password that are like shooting fish in a barrel to remember for you, simply not easy to gauge.

In restaurant,hotels etc you frequently see the eatery or hotel name equally the SSID.

Important! -When you lot change information technology you lot will lose the connection and yous volition need to alter your laptop Wi-Fi settings to lucifer the new settings.

On the BT domicile Hub you will discover the Wi-Fi settings in the Advanced section.

BT-HUB-WI-FI-settings

Irresolute the Admin Password for Router Direction

It is important that you modify this from the default value every bit if you don't you leave your network open for security hacks.

bt-hub-password

Password For DSL- Third Party Router

If y'all use a router that was not provided by the Internet service provider then you will also demand to configure the settings for the DSL connection to the ISP.

Virtually of the time the Router can observe the connections blazon and will configure itself.

All of the home network connections I have come across use PPPoe ( PPP over Ethernet).

There is no need to worry about what it means, just the event is that you will demand to provide a user proper noun and password in society for the router to connect to the Internet service provider.

This user name and password is supplied in you ISP setup details.

To find the information you lot may demand to go online. Attempt a search using the search query:

Provider (eastward.thou. BT,talktalk )  dsl password  third party router.

Here is an example from talktalk

INotation: A common problem is that people confuse the two username/password combinations:

One allows you to connect to the router (supplied by the router manufacturer) and the other allows the router to connect to the ISP (supplied by the Internet access provider)
.

Secure Wireless Setup

Wireless networks are insecure, and if you lot alive in a densely populated expanse you may find that you lot can see and access the wireless networks of your neighbours and vice versa.

Because of this you should always encrypt your wireless connections.

However if you have setup problems then setup the router to use unencrypted connections to start, and in one case you are happy that your network is functioning OK so change the router and clients to use encrypted connections. see How to Setup A Secure Wireless Network

Frequency Bands

Most modernistic routers are dual band which ways that they back up both 2.4GHz and 5Ghz frequency bands.

The 5 GHz frequency band isn't as populated equally the 2.4GHz band equally information technology is newer, and older Wi-Fi devices don't back up information technology.

The 5 GHz frequency band offers faster speeds but shorter distances.

Wi-Fi Aqueduct Selection

Wi-fi (2.4GHz band has fourteen available channels however the standard channels used are channels 1,vi and xi.

When choosing a aqueduct for your Router/access bespeak you need to accept into account what channels are already being used in your location.

If you live in a densely populated areas you will have many other access points with various signal strengths and may run across interference.

There are a number of test tools that y'all can use for viewing the Wi-Fi activity in your location.

The i I prefer is the InSSIDer tool that runs on Android and Windows.

You can download the costless tool hither for Windows and Mac and here for Android.

The full general thought is to choose a channel that has the least interference from other channels.

Nearly wireless routers today will auto detect and choose the all-time channel.

DHCP Setup

This is usually enabled past default, and if it isn't enabled then you should enable it unless you lot are providing a DHCP service from another router.

Generally  yous should stay with the default configuration. The settings on mine are shown below and they are the default ones:

DHCP-Settings-Home-Router

Note: You should just accept one DHCP server on a domicile network.Run into Understanding DHCP on Habitation Networks

Port Forwarding Setup

This is a very common setting if you have someone playing computer Games of if you need to provide external admission to your home network.

This setting tin exist potentially dangerous as it opens your home network to the Internet and it is covered in more than detail in the understanding port forwarding tutorial.

However you should accept an appreciation of IP addresses and the different types, then I recommend y'all read the Internal and External IP addresses tutorial commencement.

Disable UPnP

UPnP is a protocol used past applications (due east.g games) tol automatically open ports on your router without you lot needing to manually configure a port forwarding dominion.

Near routers accept information technology enabled past default as shown below for my BT Hub

UPnP-BT-HUB

Information technology is recommended that you lot disable it. However if you practise see issues with games and you can't resolve them using port forwarding then yous may demand to re enable it.

Here is a very practiced write up for anyone who takes part in online games and is worried about UPnP security.

Disable WPS

WPS is a very useful feature that allows y'all to add devices to the network without having to enter a password.

From a security standpoint it is a weakness and and so you should disable it.

When you lot are involved in a network restructure you can enable information technology and and so disable it after.

Dynamic DDNS

If you need to access devices on your abode network from the Internet so yous will usually utilise DDNS.

Most home routers can be configured to machine update the DDNS servers automatically when the external IP address changes.

The screen shot below shows my router settings for noip.

ddns-router-settings

See Agreement DDNS

Wireless Router Placement

There are 2 things to consider when looking to position your home router.

  • Coverage
  • Security

Where you lot place a wireless router is important especially if you take a large home.

A router needs mains ability and also admission to the Internet connection bespeak.

Nonetheless to obtain the all-time Wi-Fi coverage it should ideally be placed in a central location and not obstructed past large objects or identify in a cupboard adjacent to electrical devices with motors.

If your Wi-Fi coverage is bad because of the current location yous volition demand to extend the coverage meet –How to extend a domicile network or have the Internet connexion point moved to another location past your Internet access provider.

From a security perspective you should effort to restrict your Wi-Fi signal to your firm, and so it is non advised to identify information technology on a windowsill facing the street.

Using a 3rd Party Router

Although you can employ a third political party router rather than the router supplied by y'all Internet service provider it is non always a good idea.

In the UK my provider BT will merely troubleshoot a line if you are using their router.

In add-on you may find equally I did that the connection was much slower with a third political party router than the internet service provider router.

Having said that it is a skilful idea to have a spare router in case yours fails.

If you do utilize a tertiary political party router then yous may need to swap in the Isp provided 1 if you have Internet problems.

Mobile Routers

A mobile router is a device that uses the mobile/cell network( 3G,4G, 5G etc) to connect to the Internet.

They can be used when travelling and can likewise be used to provide backup Internet admission in case the chief connectedness fails. Come across mobile routers

Router Firmware

Well-nigh Internet service provider routers volition update automatically but y'all should bank check.

If you demand to do it manually by checking for updates then yous should.

Common Questions and Answers

Question- I desire to setup VLANs just my iSP router doesn't back up VLANs tin I use a third party router?

Reply- Yes simply you need to choose the correct type for your Net connections encounter Beginners guide to home routers

Question – I can't ping my home router from the Cyberspace is it online?

Answer – The router must reply to the ping and responses are disabled by default on nigh routers.

Question – Does my Home router support NAT and what is NAT?

Answer – NAT stands for network accost translation and is a technique for sharing an IP address on IPv4 networks. All dwelling routers support NAT.

Question -I disabled Wi-Fi on my router and now port forwarding doesn't work?

Answer – My BT domicile hub seems to disable port forwarding if Wi-Fi is disabled. Information technology could be a feature or just a fault.

Summary

On Home routers it is common to change the.

  • Wi-fi name (SSID)
  • Wi-Fi Password
  • Admin Countersign
  • Disable UPnP

Resource:

How to observe the best Wi-Fi channel for your router

Related Tutorials :

  • Mobile Routers
  • Wireless Mesh Networks
  • Net and Home Network Parental Controls
  • How to set and build a home network
  • Wi-fi and Wireless networks
  • Setting up a Homeplug Electric line network
  • Agreement and Configuring VLANS
  • two Routers on a Home Network

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