LINKSYS WIRELESS ROUTER NETWORK SETTINGS

< Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router>

Note: First, be sure that one end of a network cable (which is also called a "Category-5 UTP," "Category-6 UTP cable" or "Ethernet cable") is plugged into one of the four Local Area Network ports marked "1," "2," "3," or "4" on the back of the Linksys Wireless Router and the other end is plugged into the network port on the back or side of your computer. The network port on your computer is a rectangular hole with eight tiny gold pins in it. It may have an icon next to it that looks like this:       which represents three computers connected together with cables.

You can disconnect the network cable after you've set everything up, and your wireless network is working properly.

1) Open your Internet Explorer program or any other web browser.

2) In the Address Box at the top of the browser window, type  http://192.168.1.1  and then click on Go, or press the Enter key on the keyboard. A window should appear in the center of the screen asking for your User Name and Password.

3) Leave the User Name box blank. Type admin in the Password box, then click on OK, or press the Enter key on the keyboard.

Note: To change the password from admin to a more secure password:

1) Click on the Administration tab when the Linksys Wireless Router Setup page appears.

2) Type the password you want in the Password: box next to Local Router Access.

3) Click on Save Settings.

4) Be sure you remember or write down this password and the encryption password in step #13 below.

4) The Linksys Wireless Router Setup page should appear.

5) Click on the Wireless  tab.

6) Because some of your neighbors may also have Linksys Wireless Routers and not know how to change the SSID (the SSID is the name of your wireless network.), change your SSID  from the default name, which is linksys, to something unique, such as johnsnet or myhomenet.

Caution: Do not use spaces or weird characters, such as $ % ^ & * #,  in the SSID.

7) Change the Wireless Channel to Channel 1 – 2.412 GHz. (The second part of the channel is the frequency: 2.412 Gigahertz.) You can also use 11 – 2.462 GHz.  Most people use Channel 6 because this is the default Channel, so you don’t want to select Channel 6; use Channel 1 or 11 instead. 

Tip: Unfortunately, cordless [landline] phones, Bluetooth devices and microwave ovens may use the same frequencies as your wireless networking equipment. If you suspect that these appliances are interfering with your wireless network, try experimenting with different channels.

8) Click on Save Settings.

9) Click on Continue.

10) Click on Wireless Security.

11) Under Security Mode, click on the Down Arrow and then select WPA-Personal, unless you have an older wireless network card in your laptop which can't use WPA, in which case, click on this for instructions on setting the Security Mode to WEP.

12) Under Encryption: or WPA Algorithms:, set this to TKIP.

13) Under WPA Shared Key, type in your desired password, which should be at least 8 characters long, but not contain any spaces or weird characters, such as  $ % ^ & * #.

14) Click on the Save Settings button to save the settings.

15) Click on the Continue button.

16) Try accessing your favorite web site using the Internet Explorer, Safari, or the Firefox program, or check your e-mail with your e-mail program, such as the Outlook Express, Windows Mail or Apple Mail program.

Note: You may have to reset the Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router by unplugging the small, round black connector that plugs into the back of the router, then plugging it back in if you cannot access the Internet or your e-mail. If this doesn't work, try unplugging both the Cable or DSL Modem's power cord and the Linksys WRT54G, then plug the Cable/DSL Modem back in first, then wait about a minute, then plug the Linksys back in.