Router Setup

Wireless setups stand counter to the ease of others made simple by the plug and play technology. The wireless setup requires many steps with tests along the way to see what works and what does not. There are now three speeds of wireless available, B and G the slow speeds, and N, faster because it uses two channels instead of one.

Basic Router Setup
1. Rename router SSID(Service Set Idendifier).
2. Change the router default username and password.
3. Change the default broadcast channel.
Wireless hackers know these values and will try them if they find a wireless signal. So you can defeat ninety percent of hackers just by changing these simple defaults. The following steps complete the setup.
4. Hook up and test the unsecured network.
Wireless Security Setup
An internal NIC wireless card with antenna seems to be inferior to USB network adapter with antennae. The former is shielded by the computer, but the latter can be placed above the computer. Remember the change the channel on the wireless computer adapters.
5. Connectivity should be established.
6. Disable SSID Broadcasts.
These broadcasts shout your router's existence to the neighborhood. They also increase the range of available connections. If you loose any connectivity, you will have to reenable SSID broadcasts or use more or more powerful antennae.
7. Use MAC (Media Access Control) filtering.
Each network node has a twelve digit alphameric number known as its MAC address. Obtain the MAC addresses of all computer that will connect wirelessly. To find a computer MAC addresses: Start - Run - Enter "cmd" - Enter "ipconfig /all"; the result looks like this:
Windows IP Configuration
Host Name . . . . . . . . . . . . : whimsy
Primary Dns Suffix . . . . . . . :
Node Type . . . . . . . . . . . . : Unknown
IP Routing Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
WINS Proxy Enabled. . . . . . . . : Yes
DNS Suffix Search List. . . . . . : cal.rr.com
Ethernet adapter Wireless Network Connection:
Connection-specific DNS Suffix . : cal.rr.com
Description . . . . . . . . . . . : Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter
Physical Address. . . . . . . . . : Dhcp Enabled. . . . . . . . . . . : Yes
Autoconfiguration Enabled . . . . : Yes
IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.104
Subnet Mask . . . . . . . . . . . : 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DHCP Server . . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.1
DNS Servers . . . . . . . . . . . : 66.75.164.90
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66.75.164.89
Lease Obtained. . . . . . . . . . : Sunday, May 06, 2007 6:53:11 AM
Lease Expires . . . . . . . . . . : Monday, May 07, 2007 6:53:11 AM

The twelve digit alphameric address in found on the Physical Address line above. If you have not disabled your wired connection interface, two MAC addresses will appear in the listing. Be sure to use the wireless MAC address. Find the MAC filtering option in your router configuration and enter the MAC addresses for all wireless computers. This is a powerful defensive step. Your router will check this MAC identification of any computer trying to connect to it wirelessly. Test connectivity again.
8. Only now is it time to work on encrytion.
9. Check encryption modes available on adapters.
There is no use setting up a fancy encrytion mode on your router to later find that an access point does not use that mode.
10. Choose and setup on your router an encryption mode.
11. Set up this same encryption mode on a workstation and test connectivity.
12. If it works, setup additional wireless connections if applicable. If not, diagnose.

Wireless Troubleshooting
If computer is notebook, check for switch to turn on and off the wireless node.
Verify that the wireless adapter is enabled (under network connections).
Define wireless network policies on the client computer.
If there is a bridge in network connections, diable it.
Disable or delete other network connections. If multiple connections are available, the computer may not use the one you want to use.
If wireless network is not displayed, it may be a range problem.
Check TCP/IP settings. Start - Control Panel - Network Connections - Right Click on the appropriate connection - Properties - In the connection uses the following items box highlight TCP/IP - Properties - The settings should match what is required by your internet provider.
For lost connectivity: Go to network connections, wireless connection, select view available networks, select your network, select connect. Connection should be established.
If connectivity has been established and is lost, reset the cable modem.
Still no connectivity, contact service provider.

Main Menu

Computer Wizard

Router Setup