July 10, 2005

This discussion will give you the information to setup your wireless router so that it is secure from others being able to access it. Other brands of routers will have similar settings. Refer to your manual or the manufacturers web site.

Linksys Wireless Router Setup Information:

To access the router, in Internet Explorer, go to http://192.168.1.1.  At the login screen, leave the name blank and put in the password admin.  This will get you into the setup program. Click on Administration and change the password. When making changes to router settings, the changes must be saved on each page. Remember also, everything is case sensitive.  

If you go to the Linksys site, you can download the latest firmware for your router and it will appear as the screens below.  Updating firmware is not for the faint of heart. If done incorrectly, your router will probably never work again.  If in doubt, have a consultant do it for you.   There is a button to push to have the router set the security settings automatically.  If you don’t have the latest firmware and/or you want to set it manually, follow the items in this discussion.  You will need to perform this setup hooked up with Ethernet cable to the router since it will not stay connected using only the wireless.  The wireless will need to be connected for the button to work. On the Basic Wireless Settings, give your network a name.

You need to put the password you want to use for access in the WPA Shared Key.  When logging on the first time with your laptop or other wireless connection, you will have to put the password in to access the router.  This is how you keep other people from accessing your router.

The settings on the next two screen shots should already be set the way shown.

If you have any questions or comments, click