Set Up Wireless Router (rookie!)

[4X4]

How do I do this? I've plugged everything in and a new wireless network rears it's pretty head... It's called 'default'. So I assume that it's MY network. But I want to secure it and teach my computers to use that one. Actually, I know how to do that (tell my computer to use a specific network), but I don't know how to secure the network and put a password on it.
Is it pretty straightforward? If it's a long process, don't waste your energy guiding me through it. I'll barter some car work for some computer work. Better yet, I'll buy the beer and you set up my network.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by 4X4

How do I do this? I've plugged everything in and a new wireless network rears it's pretty head... It's called 'default'. So I assume that it's MY network. But I want to secure it and teach my computers to use that one. Actually, I know how to do that (tell my computer to use a specific network), but I don't know how to secure the network and put a password on it.
Is it pretty straightforward? If it's a long process, don't waste your energy guiding me through it. I'll barter some car work for some computer work. Better yet, I'll buy the beer and you set up my network.

first what kind of router is it?

[Rathji]

This is a real basic run through of what you need to do. Specifics can be found in your documentation, and they vary with make/model. Although, chances are you will be able to handle it pretty easily.

In your documentation there should be an IP you enter to access your router, my brain is fried right now but it should be something like 192.168.0.1 If you enter this in your bwoser, a username/passowrd window should pop up and you will need to enter the default settings, again found in the documentation.

Once in there you need to look for turning on WEP( or might be WPA ). It will ask for a long 10(?) character WEP Key. digits 1-9 and letters A-F can be used in this key.

Then you need to enter this Key in when your computer tries to access the network.

[DuffMan]

turn off broadcasting so none of your neighbors see it.

[4X4]

I don't have documentation (you mean the book that comes with the hardware?). I got this router from my dad who had it kicking around as he bought a high powered one because his house is too big for this older one.
No way he'll have the book that came with it.

[GoinAllTheWay]

/\/\/\/\

You should still be able to google search the router you have and d/l the manual in .pdf format.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by 4X4

I don't have documentation (you mean the book that comes with the hardware?). I got this router from my dad who had it kicking around as he bought a high powered one because his house is too big for this older one.
No way he'll have the book that came with it.

Yeah, you can download the router.

Tell us what kind of router it is.

It isn't a standard, but I've noticed consumer Linksys routers are found at 192.168.1.1 and dLink are at 192.168.0.1

And you will want the manual so you can go in and change the admin password ASAP. People like to wardrive (drive around finding open access points) and some of them will know the default passwords and get up to hanky panky, like renaming you access point to something "colourful" or even locking you out.

Then you will want to set up WPA if you can can. Turning off the SSID is a pretty useless step - you can still see there is a WAP and anyone who is interested isn't going to be slowed by a missing SSID for more than 30 seconds - a sniffer will grab the SSID pretty quickly. Encryption is the main thing.

[cSpooge]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

Yeah, you can download the router.

Tell us what kind of router it is.

It isn't a standard, but I've noticed consumer Linksys routers are found at 192.168.1.1 and dLink are at 192.168.1.1

And you will want the manual so you can go in and change the admin password ASAP. People like to wardrive (drive around finding open access points) and some of them will know the default passwords and get up to hanky panky, like renaming you access point to something "colourful" or even locking you out.

Then you will want to set up WPA if you can can. Turning off the SSID is a pretty useless step - you can still see there is a WAP and anyone who is interested isn't going to be slowed by a missing SSID for more than 30 seconds - a sniffer will grab the SSID pretty quickly. Encryption is the main thing.

I think he means 192.168.0.1 for dlink :P

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by cSpooge

I think he means 192.168.0.1 for dlink :P

D'oh - yeah - I'll edit.

[4X4]

dlink airplus xtremeG DI624

[Traditional_Ale]

the default admin login name is "admin" and the password is either "admin" or "password".

Whatever you do, DO NOT INSTALL ANY SOFTWARE THAT CAME WITH THE ROUTER, ON DISC or DOWNLOADED.

Just go to one of the urls listed, 192.168.1.2 or whatever and follow the instructions.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by 4X4

dlink airplus xtremeG DI624

Ahh, my old router.

You should be able to completly reset the whole thing by pressing the reset button (sunken button at the back) with a pin while plugging it in. Hold it down for ~8-10 seconds.

Next, plug it in and connect to the router using a LAN cable. You don't want to be configuring it via the wireless connection.

Once your computer gets connected, point your browser at 192.168.0.1
Log in as "admin", leave the password as blank.

I think there is a wizard that will guide your setup. Just make sure to give your network a name and use WEP encryption. It would be better to use WPA, but that router has a lot of trouble using it (in my experience).

The defaults should be fine for you. If you need to setup bit-torrent or other services, use the guides here: http://portforward.com/english/route...-624+index.htm

That site helped me out big time in learning how to configure my router.

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by llama64

....You don't want to be configuring it via the wireless connection.

Why not?

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Why not?

If your connection gets dropped at an inopportune time somehow you may not be able to get back in. The paranoid (but valid) response is if someone is using some sort of a sniffer they can pick up your admin password.

Always access the settings while wired to it.

As a matter of fact, you should disable remote administration as well, unless you really need it.

And WPA is flaky on those routers? That has to be one of the most common consumer wireless routers around, I would have though they should have fixed that in the firmware pretty darn quickly.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

<snip>

And WPA is flaky on those routers? That has to be one of the most common consumer wireless routers around, I would have though they should have fixed that in the firmware pretty darn quickly.

On that model, I found WPA to cause the thing to constantly reboot itself. I don't think it has the horsepower to encrypt things in WPA (maybe?). Course, I had Revision A of the hardware which was made many years ago before WPA became well supported.

Just stating what I found to work best with that router.

On a side note, I have the D-Link Rangebooster draft n router. I recently gained a huge stability boost by shutting off the draft n protocol by setting it to only use draft g. Haven't noticed any slowdown despite the drop in bandwidth either. The joys of cheap routers...

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by llama64

On that model, I found WPA to cause the thing to constantly reboot itself. I don't think it has the horsepower to encrypt things in WPA (maybe?). Course, I had Revision A of the hardware which was made many years ago before WPA became well supported.

Just stating what I found to work best with that router.

On a side note, I have the D-Link Rangebooster draft n router. I recently gained a huge stability boost by shutting off the draft n protocol by setting it to only use draft g. Haven't noticed any slowdown despite the drop in bandwidth either. The joys of cheap routers...

I'm still using a Linksys WRT54G but with modded firmware (HyperWRT 2.1b1 + Thibor15c). It works pretty well, a lot better than stock.

[Fozzie_DeBear]

Question...how secure is a wireless network if I have a list of pre-approved MAC addresses as the only computers able to access the network...

Should I enable WEP as well or am I fairly secure?

[TurnedTheCorner]

I think all of the security features like MACs, WEP keys and WPA keys can be spoofed if someone is determined enough. My honest opinion is that MAC filtering will be enough to keep run-of-the mill people looking for free surfing on unsecured networks.

I duuno, I read all of this stuff about people sniffing out these passwords and settings and wonder who really is bothering to do this to Joe Blow homeowner in the suburbs.

[gottabekd]

Originally Posted by Fozzie_DeBear

Should I enable WEP as well or am I fairly secure?

You should enable WPA if possible. But do enable WEP if that is all your equipment will support. MAC address filtering, for the most part, will prevent your neighbours from connecting. Same with WEP security. They will prevent joe blow from connecting, but are a minor inconvenience to bypass for anyone with knowledge and intent. I can't think of any benefits to NOT securing your network, so I'd say you might as well secure it.

Also keep in mind that "sharing your connection" isn't the only concern. If someone wished, they could sniff out what websites you visit, what email you send (potentially), your passwords on non-HTTPS sites. So, you can potentially leak quite a bit of information to your neighbours.

[GoinAllTheWay]

MAC filtering isn't terribly useful. Like the above poster mentioned, it will keep the neighbours out but your are always broadcasting your MAC addie and is very easy to copy.