Wireless Troubleshooting

How do I set up a password protected wireless network at home?

I recently moved and I set up a wireless router and DSL modem and need to know how to lock the system so that neighbors can't use my wireless network. I have one Mac hooked up to the router with an ethernet cable and this is the primary computer. There are two others, one dell desktop and one mac laptop that use the wireless signal to connect to the internet. Thanks. Thanks for the replies, sorry I didn't mention this before, the router is a Linksys model # WRT150N it is a Wireless-N router.

Public Comments

1. Configure your router's WEP or WPA . . .
2. You will have to call the router manufacturer to enable the encrypton key.
3. Basically you set it via web based interface In your browser you generally type a internet address usually 192.168.x.x.xx Wish you would of told us your brand of router you will see a control panel the account ( usually admin) and password linksys admin dlink - blank or admin in the wireless area of the control panel look for " security" or " encryption" turn in on you will have number of choice wep 64 - most easiest wep 128 - tons of digits to enter wrong twice wpa - supposed to be safer than wep 64 my feeling is that if someone can break your wep 64 - good for them they are talented and if they live next to you this is the least of your problems you choose the type of encryption with a prase generator built into the router in that area you choose a passphrase ( its easier than remembering digits) it generates the code 10 digits in the case of wep 74 You enter that code into the windows wireless utility when you attempt to connect you will have to do it twice do not know about the mac but should be similar While you are in your control panel change the channel from the default channel 6 to channel 1 or 11 ( can use any but these are first picks) linksys is 192.168.1.1 dlink and smc are 192.168.0.1 full steps here or call the tech support of the router if you have to reset the router make sure you have your dsl isp log on info handy or call them http://www.portforward.com/english/routers/wireless/routerindex.htm
4. With your wireless router you should have had instructions on how to set up your security (WEP/WPA), when you tell it to generated the encryption you need to copy that down and log your computers on to the network using that. You might also want to lock it down to the MAC addresses of each 'user of your network'.. You will be able to put that in to your router also.