Q&A for How to Set Up a Wireless Router

Contact your internet provider for help.

For you to reset your admin password, you will need to reset your router to its default factory settings

You can use Wi-Fi with a smartphone (which is what most people have these days), not with a basic cell phone.

You can remove Ethernet cables from devices that are going to be wireless (e.g. a laptop), but you should leave the router wired to any modems. Don't forget to configure the router first!

You have to do it from the device itself. On settings in any device, there should be a Wifi symbol and wireless networks available.

Less than an hour, depending with your modem speed. It will also depend on how comfortable you are with setting it up, be sure to read the instructions closely.

The only thing you can do at that point is to restore your router to its default factory settings.

Add a 4-port (or higher count) network switch. Connect the new switch's WAN or input port to one of the existing router's LAN ports. You now have four new LAN ports; connect the original devices and you'll still have open ports. Using a switch lets you add more ports without needing configuration. Don't use a "hub" (too slow) or a router (too complex). Make sure you use Cat5 cable for short jumps under 2m or Cat5e for runs under 10m. Since 1Gb networks are common, be sure you use hardware that supports that speed.

It's up to you, but most people do leave their routers on all the time.

It's possible that it's overheating. Try to move it to a place with more ventilation. If that does not work, then try a factory reset. If those suggestions fail, then your device is defective, and you will have to buy a new one.

A router typically does not have an input for a coaxial cable, so no. If your router does have an input for a coaxial cable, then it is a combo unit. To set this up, you need to remove the modem and call your ISP to get the logon info.

Error 651 means that you are already connected to the router. Try to restart the router.

If your router is a combo unit, then it can act as a modem and connect to the internet. Otherwise, you need a modem to connect to the internet.

You need to log into the router, and change the password. It's normally under advanced options. Some routers do not allow you to change the username.

The phone company should have given you separate DSL and phone lines. Call the phone company for clarification.

Under the network page in settings, select Wi-Fi, then click, "Manage known networks". Once there, click all the known networks and "Forget" them. Then try again.

Yes, but only if your router has a built in modem. Some ISPs sell an all-in-one router and modem.

Many things, but usually WiFi is to blame. Try a direct ethernet connection; if it doesn't work, you can always reset the router, or ensure it is set up to use the correct device protocol. To do this, you have to log in to your router by typing its IP address into a web browser, where you can change the settings.

A public IP can mean a few things on a router, but normally it is associated with what guests, or outsiders will see as your device's IP address, for security reasons.

Simply connect to your home WiFi or ethernet, before typing in your device's IP addresses into the search bar, which you can find online very easily. From there, log in with the password printed on your router, and select device connection properties. You should see a drop down menu next to security where you can change your password or select the security type. In this case, WPA2. Do note your router may not support this due to it being old or out of date. You can update by looking up your model on their website and going back to the router IP adders, where it should have a update tab you can a attach a file to. More than likely you will have to buy a new router if it is several years old.

You can log into your router remotely and tun on MAC filtering. You will then have to manually program each device's MAC address into your router, but any device that hasn't been input will be unable to access your network.

A modem (short for modulator/demodulator) decodes information coming in from your ISP and encodes it for transmission from your network, allowing communication between your computer and the outside world. The modem converts data into an audio signal that's sent over a line (telephone, DSL, cable, etc.), where a modem at the other end of the line converts the audio signal back into data. A modem can include a firewall (which prevents unwanted intrusion to your connection) and router (which allows multiple devices to use a single internet connection point, as in the case of WiFi), but these are secondary to the modem's function.