How to install a router in your network: Linksys, Netgear, etc
19 05 2008
Adding a router to your network can be a good idea for several reasons.
First, it allows you to connect more than one PC to the internet at one time.
Second, it provides an extra layer of security by performing NAT and firewall capabilities. (Just about all SOHO routers do NAT.)
Third, it will allow your computers to communicate with each other to share files, printers, etc.
Setting up your new router
Unpack your router and throw away the CD that came with it (the software is not required and makes things more complicated than they need to be).
These routers usually come with one Ethernet cable for the internet connection, you will need to purchase one cable for each computer that you will be connecting to the router (or have a wireless card if the PC is wireless).
Connect one end of a cable to the “WAN” or “internet” port on your new router and the other end to your high speed modem.
Connect cables from the remaining numbered ports to each computer in your network.
After the network cables are connected,
power cycle your equipment.
Once your equipment is back up, open a command prompt by clicking start > run, type CMD and press enter.
In the command prompt window, type ipconfig and press enter. You should get some information back, your looking for the “Default Gateway” address (usually 192.168.1.1 or similar). If this doesn’t describe your situation, you will need to troubleshoot your connection.
Once you have the address of your default gateway, you will need to open a web browser and in the address bar type “http://192.168.1.1″ (replace this address with the default gateway address that you got from the IPCONFIG.)
This should bring you to a logon prompt where you will need to enter the default username and password.
After logging in, you will be at you new router’s setup page where you can customize the options.
If your connection uses DHCP, you should be all set with the default options. If your connection uses PPPOE, you may need to enter the PPPOE username and password.
HINTS
-Comcast cable and many of ther other cable providers I’ve dealt with use DHCP for the connection.-Verizon wireless and many other DSL providers that I’ve dealt with use PPPOE.
-Don’t be afraid to contact your internet provider for assistance.
If your router has wireless capabilities, you should either secure the wireless or disable it so that people cannot get into your network whenever they feel like it.
There is a good setup video in the videos section called “Linksys Router Setup Video”
Hi Andy,
I have Comcast business internet service with a static IP address. When I plug in the router, it gets and internet address of 10.10.1.5 for the “internet address” on the status page. My computers get 192.168.1.x addresses.
This setup works but, how do I use my public IP address?
Thanks
Hi Tim,
Most of the business Comcast routers perform NAT or network address translation by default. The Comcast routers also assign private 10.x.x.x IP addresses by default. In my experience, I’ve found that if you assign the static IP address to your new router, it will work just fine without changing any setting on the Comcast modem/router.
With your current setup, you are essentially NATing twice, your Comcast modem is performing NAT and your router is performing NAT.
Comcast business support should be able to assist you if you need it.
Good Luck!
If you’re using a wireless router, you should secure it so that nobody can get into your network.
Instructions for securing your wireless network can be found at the URL below.
http://www.TechSack.com/2008/11/30/securing-your-wireless-network/
I have brighthouse cable…I can not access the internet currently… error messages say they can not connect to HTTP, HTTPS and FTP. I have called support several times only to get frustrated and put on indifinte hold. Can you assist? I have a router Netgear Router so I can use my wireless notebook as well as my Dell desktop.
Hi Deborah,
I will email you regarding your troubles.
Hi Andy,
I’m going to help my Aunt setup a linksys router w/ brighthouse cable. She has a linksys wrt54g2 – since she was having such issues, started searching online – and found many comments like Deborah – i wondered if you could help me as well? thanks
ami
Hi Ami,
Sorry to hear about your troubles.
I can help you over the phone for a fee or reply to your comments here as time provides.
Use the contact page above if you need to contact me directly.
Hi, I have tried to install a linksys router to my pc with Vista so my son can play xbox live. I don’t understand much about computers but can get through. I have spoken to many people and noone has been able to help. I have yahoo as server. Can you help, please?
Thanks, but I’m still having problems. I have a Netgear router and Comcast Internet. My modem is connected to the wall, and my netgear to the modem, and the computer to the netgear. I have put in everything correctly on the browser configeration but I still can’t get online.
Brett and Shelly, did you try power cycling once it is all hooked up?
http://www.techsack.com/2008/05/07/how-and-why-to-power-cycle-your-network-equipment/
I am trying to install a new router and I got no internet connection. I was using the install CD that came with it. My roommate kept issueing orders that I should do it in ways that the disc did not seem to allow. So I got the following questions.
1 Does it matter which port the computer is plugged into (I had it in the second port)?
2 Is my firewall being up a possible reason that there was no connection (Right now I have to switch the modem between my computer and my roommates, and I have to play with my computer to get it to connect)?
3 My roommate said that if I did not use his computer to set up the router instead of mine that he could not get on if I was not on. Is this true or misinformation?
4 Can the settings, ports, and wireless functions be turned off from access to the router (WE had a previous router that went dead suddenly right after it went down to 2 users)?
5 Starting out there will be 1 wireless and 1 that is not wired hooked into the router( more added later. Does the non wireless connections need to have password for a secured wireless connection?
It does seem that he has his computer set up to accept only one IP address trying to speed his connecting speed.
Hi Perry,
!. Does it matter which port the computer is plugged into? No, the computer should be in any one of the numbered ports and the internet should be in the WAN or internet port.
2 Is my firewall being up a possible reason that there was no connection? This is possible but very rare, The Windows firewall will not block your connection and most others won’t either.
3. It doesn’t matter which computer you use. Both computers should be set yo to use DHCP to automatically get an address. He can use a static IP address but you would need to make sure that it is in the same subnet and outside of the DHCP range.
4. I’m not sure that I understand this question but, routers can be programed to do lots of different things but the default settings are normally what is needed.
5. The wired connection does not need a password, the wireless should be secured with WPA
Also, having a static IP address will not have any impact on the connection speed.
Follow the instructions above and you shouldn’t have any trouble.
Good Luck!
Hello I’m trying to install netgear router to my pc so kid has internet without the wifi hassle. My problem is we have Vonage box as well for the voip. I get as far as the setup complete showsall address. How do i hook so I have phone and the cable box and the router hooked up?
no screw in for the cable on netgear. If I keep the cable box then I have no phone. comcast says they don’t offer support for voip.and there is no connection port for a phone line on the netgear. If you can help much appreciated
Hi Liz,
You should keep the modem, then plug in the router, then, plug the computers and the Vonage box into the Netgear.
You need to make sure that you power cycle all of the equipment.
Thank you for the quick response. Going to try it now hopefully I won’t have to bother you again. World needs more people like you, the willingness to help others. Thanks again.
Thanks Liz,
Let me know how it works out.