How to Configure a Wi-Fi Router

Wi-Fi connections allow you to surf the Internet on the computers in your home or office wirelessly. This affords a much greater amount of latitude when planning where to hook up your computer. These connections require a properly configured Wi-Fi router, but you can handle configuration yourself even if you have never used a router previously. All you need is the router, the router's manual, a broadband modem and an ethernet cable.

Instructions

1.  Connect the Wi-Fi router to your broadband modem. Take your ethernet cable and plug one end into the back of the Wi-Fi router via the ethernet port.

2. Connect the other end of the ethernet cable into the back of the broadband modem.

3. Unplug the modem from the power source and then plug it back in. This will allow it to reboot and reconfigure itself now that it is connected to the wireless router.

4. Look through your wireless router's official manual to find two important pieces of information. The first piece of information you will need to locate is the web address provided by the router manufacturer. The other piece of information you will need is the default password to be used at the listed web address. You must make note of both of these.

5. Bring up your web browser on your computer. Enter in the web address from the manual into the address field using your keyboard. When prompted, enter in the default password from the manual as well.

6. Select a moniker for your wireless network. The name of the network is completely arbitrary, so choose whatever you like.

7. Select an encryption method for the network if you want to password protect it. You may choose between "WEP" or "WPA," although WPA is the better choice because it is an encryption method that was developed later than WEP and is superior in design.

8. Select a password for your network if you decided to password protect it. Click "Apply."

9. Find the wireless icon on your computer. In Microsoft Windows this icon will be on the right side of the bottom bar of the desktop. In OS X for Mac this icon is on the right side of the top toolbar.

10. Click on the icon. A list of available Wi-Fi networks within range will appear. Select the name of the wireless network your just created. You will now be connected wirelessly to the Internet via your fully configured Wi-Fi router.