A router is a small, specialized computer designed to control the flow of information from one computer to another. Having several computers connected together by a router is called a network. The largest network on our planet is the Internet. Connecting to the Internet is one of the major reasons for having a router.
What is a Modem?
To connect to the Internet you need a device called a modem. Modems are a special case of router that connects to distant computers. Originally, these were connected to your phone line and you “phoned” your Internet Service Provider and they routed your computer to the site you were looking for, and the two machines “talked” in an audible conversation.
This method has largely been replaced by DSL and Cable modems. DSL is also based on the phone network, but it uses sounds outside the range of human hearing to carry data. This not only lets more data to be transferred but also allows you to use your phone while on the Internet. Cable internet uses the more recent cable television cables to carry data. This allows for much more data to be carried over the network, as the cable television network was designed to handle video rather than speech. You can connect a modem directly to your computer to access the Internet, but if you have several computers, you will need to connect the modem to another router.
How do you connect to your router?
There are two different ways commonly used to connect to consumer routers: wired and wireless. Wired routers use Ethernet cables to connect computers to routers. If you have a stationary computer, this is a good option because wired connection speeds are usually faster than wireless connections. However, if you plan on being any distance from your router, you will need to do significant renovation to your home if it is not already wired for Ethernet. Wireless connections use small radios built into a wifi card. Wifi is just the term used to describe the wireless connection that those small radios make. Most modern desktops and all modern laptops have wifi cards built into them. If you need another, cheap USB wifi dongles can be purchased that will let you connect to your router.
There are several different standards which wifi wireless routers use. The original was 802.11A. This was a short-lived standard that never really caught on, due to some technical limitations in its design. Thus a second standard was drafted, 802.11B. 802.11B really caught on, and became the template for all the other wireless standards to follow. The next standard was 802.11G. This introduced massive speed improvements and made the technology more robust. An 802.11B device can connect to a 802.11G network, doing so will reduce the entire network to the 802.11B speed. The newest standard is 802.11N. This yet again introduces speed gains to devices connected to an 802.11N network through a technology known as MIMO(Multiple In Multiple Out).
MIMO relies on both the wifi card and the router having many antennas. While each antenna can only broadcast so much data, if you use many antennas to connect one device, you can drastically increase the speed of the device’s connection. The problem with the speed gains of both 802.11G and 802.11N is that the more devices there are on the network, the more the speed decreases. After seven of so devices connect to a modern 802.11N router, the speeds resemble those that you would get with seven or so devices on an 802.11B network.
3G Routers
There is another wireless router technology that is quickly gaining popularity. 3G routers, like the MiFi, are wireless routers that get their Internet connection from a large scale wireless router more related to cell phone transmission towers than any router you would have in your home. While there are a number of different technologies that can be used for these large scale Internet distribution, most routers of this type use technologies that fall under the 3G branch. 3G refers to the generation of the technology. Before 3G were slower 2G technologies like EDGE. One major advantage of 3G technologies over wifi is that, when you move out of range of one transmission source and into the range of another, you can connect so rapidly to the new network that you won’t even notice the changeover. However most devices don’t support 3G, which is where a 3G router comes in. If kept with you in a car, the 3G router will keep a constant connection to the Internet that a mesh of wifi connections could not provide while providing a single wifi network that will appear stationary to any devices moving with it.
Setting up a router
Many details of setting up a router differ between brands. However, I will outline the basic steps below.
1.Find a good, central spot
The wireless network is like a bubble around your router, so it needs to be fairly centred in between whatever devices you will have connect to it. Also keep in mind that thick, solid walls can weaken the signal just like they can radio waves. Also remember that it has to have access to the Internet, so if you have cable Internet access, then you will need to be near the cable.
2.Plug the router in and connect it to your modem, if you are accessing the Internet
Most connections from the modem to the computer are made be ether net cables. Plug one in to the “WAN,” “Uplink” or “Internet” socket in the router and the other into a similarly named port on the modem. There should only be one or two ports on the modem, so it shouldn’t be hard. Now turn the router back off(unplug it) and back on to make sure that the router sees the modem. There should be an indicator light labeled “Internet” or something like it on the router to tell you that it is connected.
3.Connect a computer to the router with an Ethernet cable and open the administration tool
Even if you are setting up a wireless network, make sure to connect the first computer temporarily with an Ethernet cord. Once the network is set up, you can connect wirelessly. But until it is configured, there is no way to connect to the network. Many routers ship with a CD that contains a utility designed to configure your router easily. If you have one, insert it and follow the instructions. If not, open your computer’s web browser and type in the address bar “192.168.1.1″. If that doesn’t take you anywhere, try “192.168.0.1″. If both fail, look in the documentation of your router for the router’s I.P. Address. If you get a prompt asking for a username and password, look in your documentation for it. It should be easy to find, because it is critical to setting up your machine. Enter the username and password.
4.Follow the instructions your documentation provides for configuring the router. You will need to provide an “SSID” or network name if your router is wireless, and you will want to change the default password. You will also need to configure the router to access the Internet. This step depends on your Internet connection. If you have DSL, you may need a PPPoE username and password. If you have a static IP, then you will need to contact your service provider to find out what it is.
5.Disconnect and verify that the network is working
If it is a wireless router, then unplug the Ethernet cable. Go to the tray icon on your computer and find your wireless connection manager. Open it and scan for networks. Find your SSID and try to connect to it, providing the password you set for your network. If it is a wired network, then you can leave your device plugged in. Either way, once connected, verify you can access websites in your browser. If you can’t, you will need to look in your documentation to try and find a solution.
FAQ
Do I need a wireless router?
If you use a laptop, then it would probably be nice. Wireless networks provide you freedom that wired networks don’t. If you or your kids has a laptop, for example, you can take it out of the computer room and into the living room to show pictures online.
What is the range of my wireless router?
While the actual range varies depending on the router, the thickness and materials of any walls the signal must get through, and the specific protocol that is being used, a good rule of thumb is 150 feet. Indoors and 300 feet outdoors.
Why can’t I access the Internet?
There are many causes for that. Make sure that your computer is connected to the router. Find your computer’s wireless manager and check if it is connected to the router. If not, connect it and try again. If you are connected to the router but you still have Internet trouble, then the problem lays near the router. Check if your neighbours have Internet. If they do, call your provider and ask for help.
What is WPA and WEP? Do I need them?
WPA and WEP are wireless encryption protocols. If fact, That is what WEP stands for. These are technologies designed to keep people you have not given permission to off your network, and not using them is dangerous to your computers. Once on your network, a person may be able to access private information from your computer. WEP is an older technology, and has been shown to be ineffective. Use WPA to secure your network.
How do I configure my router?
You will need to access its configuration tool. You can reach it with the I.P you found when trying to connect to the router to configure it the first time. It should be in the documentation for your router.