How to Set Up a Linksys Router to Receive Wireless

by Dave Wilson
Wireless routers should always have security enabled to prevent intruders from accessing your Internet connection.

Wireless routers should always have security enabled to prevent intruders from accessing your Internet connection.

Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images

Linksys routers sport a large number of features and reliable performance for a small price. Most of its routers include wireless networking capabilities. Linksys routers are configured to accept wireless network connections right out of the box. However, the router should be properly configured to ensure the highest level of performance and wireless network security. Set-up a Linksys router wireless network using the web administration pages included with the router.

Step 1

Plug one end of a CAT5 or CAT6 network patch cable into one of the LAN (Local Area Network) ports on the Linksys router. Plug the other end of the CAT5 or CAT6 network patch cable into the Ethernet network port on your computer. Power up the Linksys router. After the router has completed its boot cycle, reboot the computer.

Step 2

Open a Web browser and type "192.168.1.1" (without quotes) into the address bar at the top of the Web browser window and press "Enter." Type "admin" (without quotes) into the password field of the administration web page that appears and press "Enter." If the login fails, then type "admin" into both the user name and password fields of the administration web page and press "Enter."

Step 3

Select the "Wireless" tab and click "Basic Wireless Settings." Type a name for the wireless network into the "Wireless Network Name" field. Scroll-down the "Wireless Channel" drop-down box and select channel 1, 6 or 11. Click the "Save Settings" button.

Step 4

Click the "Wireless Security" item and click the "Security Mode" box. Click the WPA Personal option or, if the devices that will connect to the wireless network can support it, select "WPA2 Personal" in the drop-down menu that appears. In the "WPA Shared Key" field, type a password phrase that has at least one lowercase, one uppercase and one number and is a minimum length of 12 characters.

Step 5

Click the "Save Settings" button. Close the browser window to close the Linksys administration session. Your Linksys router is now secure.

About the Author

Dave Wilson has been writing technical articles since 1993, including manuals, instructional "how-to" tips and online publications with various websites. Wilson holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles and has Microsoft, Cisco, and ISC2 (CISSP) technical certifications. He also has experience with a broad range of computer platforms, embedded systems, network appliances and Linux.

Photo Credits

  • Thomas Northcut/Photodisc/Getty Images