One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a router is the distance between the router and the devices that you are wirelessly connecting. More expensive routers generally have more antennae, which can lead to a more stable connection at further distances. Another factor to consider is the amount of signal interference. If you have multiple devices that operate on the 2. 4 GHz band, such as microwaves and cordless phones, these can interfere with the Wi-Fi signal. Newer routers can operate on the 5 GHz band, which is much less crowded and thus less prone to interference. The drawback is that 5 GHz signals do not travel as far as 2. 4 GHz signals. Transfer speed is a feature to consider. Newer routers claim to be able to transfer data up to 450 Mbps. While this may be helpful when moving data between two computers over a network, it will not increase your general Internet speed, as this is set by your ISP. There are three main router speeds available: 802. 11g (54 Mbps) 802. 11n (300 Mbps), and 802. 11ac (450 Mbps). It is important to note that these speeds are virtually impossible to attain in any environment other than a clean room free of signal interference. Finally, make sure that the router you are purchasing has the latest form of wireless encryption, WPA2. This is pretty much standard in all new routers, but is something to consider if purchasing an older, second-hand router. Older encryption algorithms are much less secure; a WEP key can be cracked in just a few minutes.
One of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a router is the distance between the router and the devices that you are wirelessly connecting. More expensive routers generally have more antennae, which can lead to a more stable connection at further distances. Another factor to consider is the amount of signal interference. If you have multiple devices that operate on the 2. 4 GHz band, such as microwaves and cordless phones, these can interfere with the Wi-Fi signal. Newer routers can operate on the 5 GHz band, which is much less crowded and thus less prone to interference. The drawback is that 5 GHz signals do not travel as far as 2. 4 GHz signals. Transfer speed is a feature to consider. Newer routers claim to be able to transfer data up to 450 Mbps. While this may be helpful when moving data between two computers over a network, it will not increase your general Internet speed, as this is set by your ISP. There are three main router speeds available: 802. 11g (54 Mbps) 802. 11n (300 Mbps), and 802. 11ac (450 Mbps). It is important to note that these speeds are virtually impossible to attain in any environment other than a clean room free of signal interference. Finally, make sure that the router you are purchasing has the latest form of wireless encryption, WPA2. This is pretty much standard in all new routers, but is something to consider if purchasing an older, second-hand router. Older encryption algorithms are much less secure; a WEP key can be cracked in just a few minutes.
Make sure that the router is properly powered and turned on.
For optimum efficiency while setting up the router, plug it in next to your computer while you adjust the settings. After you are finished configuring the router, you can move it to where it will normally stay.
Using the software, designate the name of your wireless network, and the type of security that you want to use. Choose WPA2 for the most secure network. Choose a password and continue. Most router software will automatically detect your internet settings. This is the information that the router needs to translate your internet connection and transfer it to all of your wirelessly connected devices.
You will be asked for a username and password to continue into the router configuration. These are also provided in the documentation that came with your router. Typical defaults are username: admin and Password: password or admin.
To set the name of the network, select the SSID field. This is the name that will be displayed on any device that detects your network. If you are living in an area with a lot of public traffic, avoid putting any identifiable information in the SSID, as anyone with a wireless device can see it. Make sure to set the encryption to the latest version allowed by your router. In most cases, this will be WPA2. WPA2 operates with a single password. You can enter whatever you’d like, but a strong password is recommended. Stronger passwords contain upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Remember that it must be physically connected to your modem, so this may limit your options when placing the router.
Scan for new networks. In Windows, click the network icon in the system tray in the lower-right corner of the desktop. Select Connect to a Network and look for your SSID. On a Mac, click the AirPort icon in the menu bar, which looks like 3 curved lines. Select your SSID from the list of available networks.
