No one can imagine life without the Internet in the 21st century. From online courses to 3D games, everyone can find something according to their taste on this platform. Therefore, it makes sense to install an Internet service with a strong Wi-Fi password at home. Doing so can enable you to reduce costs, enjoy unlimited data, and protect your devices from malware.
So, to reap these amazing benefits, follow these simple steps to set up Wi-Fi at home:
Table of Contents
Select an ISP
To install Wi-Fi, you’ll have to choose an ISP first. Compare the plans and packages of multiple ISPs and read online reviews before making up your mind. This is because the ISPs can lure you in with an affordable plan at first but can slowly increase your monthly bill. Also, consider the bundling options as well if you need more than one service at your home.
Select a Router and Modem
Normally, the ISP will rent you a modem upon the purchase of a plan or package. But you can also purchase it on your own. But you have to make sure that the modem is compatible with the Internet service that you have subscribed to. Besides this, if you are planning to get a Wi-Fi service and have a big house, you’ll also need to get a router and a Nest Wi-Fi system to ensure great signal strength.
Find an Ideal Location for Your Router
Choosing the right location for your router is crucial to get advertised speeds. A wrong location for the router can cause interference from other devices and walls and can significantly lower the signal strength. Therefore, use a Wi-Fi analyzer to find the ideal location for your router. Keep the antennas upwards and keep it above the ground to get the best signals.
Turn off Your Modem
Before connecting your equipment, make sure that the modem, router, and the cable are turned off.
Connect the Router and Modem
Take an Ethernet cable and connect its one end to the router WAN port. Now, take the other end and connect to the port on the modem.
Connect the Router to Your Device
Now, you have to connect your device to the router. Take an Ethernet cable and connect its one end to the LAN port on the router and the other end into the Ethernet port of your device.
Normally, a home Internet set up or a public Wi-Fi does not require cable connection. However, to install the service, you need a connection via an Ethernet cable.
Turn on the Modem, Router, and Your Device
Now that you have connected everything, it is time to turn on these devices. Make sure that you turn the modem first. Wait for a few seconds while all the modem lights turn on. After that, turn on the router. After it gets started, turn on your device.
Go to the Administration Page
Now open a web browser of your choice and type in the IP address of the router administration page. If you don’t have this information, you can seek customer support or go through the router guide. Log in by entering the assigned credentials in the guide.
Change the Username and Password
Now after opening the main page, select the administration tab. Now, select the option to change your username and password settings. Remember to set up a strong password of eight characters that are a mix of symbols, numbers, lower case, and upper case letters.
Use WPA2 Security
Security is essential whether you are using public, home, or in-flight Wi-Fi. So, go to the administration page and select the section on “wireless security.” Now, select the WPA2 encryption and enter a password of eight characters. Make sure to set up a strong password to keep cybercriminals and hackers at bay.
Change the Network Name
Now, it is time to set up your network name. Make sure that you select an easy to remember the name for your Wi-Fi. To change the name, go to the administration page. Select the “wireless network information” section and create a name for your SSID.
Change the Wireless Channel
Although it is an optional step, if you live in a crowded area you should change the wireless channel anyways. This is because other networks can interfere with your network if they are operating on the same channel. Use 1,6 or 11 channels for 2.4 GHz since these are the only non-overlapping channels.
Install the Wireless Adaptor
The last step to successfully set up your home Wi-Fi is to set up a wireless adaptor. To do so, disconnect the router and computer. Now, connect a USB or PC card wireless adaptor to your device. If your device already has a wireless adaptor installed, then you can skip this step. Install the drivers to get started.
Connect Your Device to the Network
Now search for the newly set up wireless network. Connect your device to it and open your favorite browser to start surfing.
