As you know, all kinds of devices called routers are often used to access the Internet or organize home networks, including routers that allow you to distribute a wireless signal based on a connection created once. But after all, the device must first be properly configured! We will talk about how to connect a new Wi-Fi router (if you just purchased a router) or when replacing an outdated device. It should immediately be said that the instruction below is general, since it will not be possible to give a complete description for each known model simply physically. Nevertheless, the knowledge of these basics and some nuances, which will be discussed separately, you can configure your home Internet connection on your own, without even calling a specialist company that provides communications services (provider or mobile operator).
What to look for when choosing a router?
To begin, let's briefly dwell on what you need to consider when choosing a router. In principle, if you are replacing it, there is nothing wrong with acquiring the same or similar model in its characteristics. How to connect a new router instead of the old? Write or save all the basic parameters to a text file by copying them from the web interface, or look at the contract for the provision of Internet access services, where they must be specified without fail, and then simply enter the parameters in the required fields.
In the case of buying a new device, when the connection is established for the first time, pay particular attention to several important conditions:
- range of a wireless signal;
- number of ports and antennas;
- support for access protocols used by the provider or mobile operator;
- Provided services (Internet TV, IP-telephony, etc.);
- restrictions on the part of the provider on the connection speed, etc.
If it comes to choosing a router for home use, you can purchase relatively inexpensive models like TP-Link, which are in great demand and popularity. To cover an apartment or a small house, this is enough with the head. If you have a house with a rather large living space or even several floors, it is better to buy something more expensive (for example, models of the Zyxel series). To amplify the signal or create additional access points, it is completely optional to purchase splitters and repeaters. You can configure the API point either on the laptop, or install two routers in pairs.
How to connect a new router: preliminary steps
Now let's proceed directly to the practical actions, proceeding from the fact that you have a new device, it’s connected and configured for the first time, the cable from the provider has already been laid, and a certain period of use of the Internet access services has already been paid (the connection is active).
How to connect a new router?
First of all, you need to connect the provider's cable to the device itself, using a special connector on the back of the device, labeled “WAN” (usually these ports are painted blue). After that, plug in the power adapter. You can turn on the router right now and wait a few minutes for the device to boot.
How to connect a laptop to a new router?
However, it is best to connect the router to a laptop or a stationary PC before connecting to the mains, using one of the LAN ports on the router (usually yellow or orange) and the RJ-45 input connector on the network card of the computer device. You can, of course, perform the installation of the required parameters using a wireless connection, but experts recommend connecting the router to a PC or laptop directly for the first setup. On some models, tuning can only be done this way.
Web Login Initial
So, how to connect a new router to a computer or laptop, figured out. Now you need to access the interface of the router itself to set the required parameters. On a PC or laptop, you must use any of the Internet browsers available in the system. Just note that if there is a tenth modification of Windows on the computer for which the October Update was installed, you can’t always get to the router’s web interface in the Edge browser (this failure is caused by the update itself, which is even recognized by Microsoft).
In the browser, you must enter a special digital combination using the address bar. The required address with login and password is usually indicated on a special sticker located on the back of the router.
However, most often for standard models the address 192.168.0.1 or a similar combination with the end at 1.1 is used. As a login and password, admin is usually entered twice, for example, in the case of TP-Link models, on the example of which we will further consider setting the required parameters.
basic settings
Now we’ll figure out how to connect a new TP-Link router with settings that provide access to the Internet immediately after their installation.
You can, of course, use the special “Wizard”, access to which can be obtained from the quick setup section, after which at each stage you will need to enter the basic parameters provided to you by the provider or mobile operator when concluding the contract. However, you can register the required options without this.
How to connect a new router to the Internet in this case? First of all, pay attention to the WAN subkey located in the main section “Network”.
Here the main parameter is the type of IP address used. If the provider assigns a static or dynamic IP, select the required type from the list. In the case of mobile operators, it will be necessary to start from the protocols presented in the list (PPPoE, L2TP, PPTP), which can be indicated with reference to the region (country). After setting the desired type of address, immediately save the settings by clicking the corresponding button below.
Speaking about how to connect a new router and set the parameters of access to the Internet, we should not forget about the wireless options section.
Here it will be necessary to set the name of the connection being created (Network Name / SSID), choose the country of residence correctly, set automatic detection for the channels used and channel width, and specify the desired type for Wi-Fi (for example, mixed mode 11bgn). To enable the distribution of the signal MANDATORY (!) Check the boxes for activating wireless broadcasting of the router and broadcasting SSID. After this, the settings need to be saved again.
Now go to the next subsection of protection and select its type (it is usually recommended to use WPA / WPA2-Personal).
In the PSK password field, enter the combination that will be used to access your connection (it will need to be entered when trying to connect from other computer or mobile devices), and then save the settings. In theory, this is enough so that the Internet can be used immediately after the router is configured.
Advanced options
Despite the basic settings already configured, it is sometimes advisable to install some additional options. So, for example, in the WAN section, you can enable the use of an alternative DNS server, specifying as its address a free combination from Google in the form of four eights. In the MAC address filtering section, you can set the prohibitions for using the connection by other devices by indicating the addresses assigned to them.
You can also set parental control options and perform many more actions. They are not obligatory, however, in the future they may come in handy.
The nuances of configuring routers for mobile operators
As for situations when the router is configured for a specific mobile operator, you need to enter only those parameters that were provided to you at the conclusion of the contract. Pay particular attention to the protocols used, usernames, and passwords. So, for example, when it comes to how to connect a new Rostelecom router, MTS, TTK or other operators, PPPoE is usually selected as the connection type, and only those that the operator himself provides are logged in and passwords.
What to do with binding the MAC address to the old device?
Please note that some providers very often use the so-called binding of the MAC address, which is why it is impossible to establish an Internet connection when replacing a router.
In this situation, there are two solutions to the problem:
- either clone the MAC address, after which emulation will be performed;
- or provide a new address to the provider, after which it will be unlocked, which is much easier.
Installing the necessary options on a computer device
How to connect a new router and configure it seems to be clear. Now it’s worthwhile to dwell briefly on some parameters that you want to set on the computer or laptop from which you want to connect to the Internet. To do this, through the "Run" console, use the ncpa.cpl command to call up the network connection section, through RMB on the wireless connection, go to the properties item, and then enter the IPv4 protocol settings.
In the window that appears, all addresses must be set to automatically receive them (for wireless networks, this is a prerequisite). If there is no connection, one of the simplest solutions can be offered to register DNS addresses yourself, using the same free combinations (for example, from Google or Yandex).
Possible connectivity issues
Finally, everything is set up, but why is there no connection? There may be many problems. First, check that the parameters are entered correctly on the router or the IPv4 protocol options are set. It also does not hurt to call the "Device Manager" and check the relevance of the drivers used to connect the wireless network adapter. On laptops, users sometimes simply forget to turn on the Wi-Fi module (for this, switches on the side and rear panels, buttons on the keyboard unit or special keyboard shortcuts are used). Sometimes after setting the router settings it may be necessary to reboot. When using Internet Explorer in its settings, disable the use of proxies for local addresses. If the problem is in the IPv4 protocol settings, make sure that the automatic assignment of the metric is enabled in the advanced settings. Also, the problem may be on the side of the provider itself, so you should contact support. If all else fails, to be sure, check the condition of the cables used to connect the router for physical damage.