The internet is one powerful tool. It allows you to access any information within a short period. Today, most appliances and devices in your home, including laptops, smart TVs, air fresheners, and security cameras, require a Wi-Fi connection to operate.
There is no denying that the internet plays a vital role in our everyday activities. For instance, you can work from home instead of commuting to work daily. Additionally, you can enroll in online classes as soon as you come home from work.
Thanks to technology, you can set-up your home Wi-Fi by yourself. However, if you are not tech-savvy, installing your home Wi-Fi can be challenging. Here is a guide on how to set up home Wi-Fi.
Why Use Wi-Fi for the Home?
The main advantage of home Wi-Fi is that you have the freedom to enjoy movies, surf the web, and listen to music as much as you want and from any point in your house or compound. Additionally, you don’t have to plug a cord into your device to access the internet.
Unlike ports, there is no limit to the number of devices that can connect to the network. You can use several devices at the same time.
When you set-up your home Wi-Fi, your house becomes more interconnected. Simply put, your devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops can easily communicate with smart devices and appliances in your home to ensure convenience. For instance, all the devices in your house can use one printer without using a cable connection.
Additionally, wireless connection helps you avoid the hassle of placing internet cables in every room. Installing wired connections can be expensive and time-consuming.
Factors to Consider Before Installing Home Wi-Fi (and your ISP)
There are several factors that you need to consider before setting up your home Wi-Fi. The factors will help you choose the right internet service provider (ISP). They include:
Location
The first thing you need to consider is your location. For instance, if your home is in rural areas, there is a slight chance that you will have limited options with your ISP.
Speed
Before you set-up your home Wi-Fi, it is essential to identify the speed you want. You need to consider the number of individuals that will be using your internet simultaneously. Higher download speeds can be expensive, but worth it if many people will access your wireless connection.
If you have a lot of electronics, you might want to pick a router that can handle multiple devices.
Cost
There are many internet service providers. It is therefore advisable to ask for a price estimate from several of them. It will help you choose the one that fits your budget range.
Your internet cost will vary depending on the number of users, speed, and how you are using it.
Security
It is advisable to secure your home Wi-Fi connection. By doing so, you protect your private data and information that you save on your computer and other devices. Encrypting your network connections also prevents individuals from connecting to your Wi-Fi, unless you allow them.
Additionally, when you encrypt your network, it will be easier to monitor your online activities and detect suspicious activities.
Customer Service
Occasionally, you are likely to face challenges with your internet connection. When this happens, your internet service provider needs to fix it as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, there are service providers who will ignore your calls.
Therefore, you need to choose an internet provider who offers quality customer services. To be sure, you can ask for recommendations from friends or relatives.
How to Set Up Your Router for Wi-Fi?
There is more to setting up your router than simply unwrapping it and plugging it to a power source. Today, setting up your router for Wi-Fi is easy, even if you are not tech-savvy. Routers are clearly labeled, and at times color-coded to help you connect everything easily. Additionally, most routers are pre-configured at the factory.
However, even after you plug your router and verify that everything is working fine, you need to optimize your Wi-Fi security and performance. Here is how to configure your router.
Select the Right Router
Choosing the right router is critical for your home wireless network. Therefore, it is advisable to do in-depth research before choosing one. It is not advisable to select routers that support WEP since it is not as secure as it used to be. You want to be using WPA2 at minimum.
If you are clueless about technology, your preferred internet service provider will recommend the right router.
Get Online
After selecting the right router, the next step is to get it online. The process is quite simple if you have a modem from your service provider. Follow the following steps:
• Turn the modem off.
• Unplug the Ethernet cable from your PC and connect it to an internet port on your router.
• Switch on the modem.
• Power on the router.
• Connect the PC to the router’s LAN port using a new Ethernet cable.
• Power on the PC.
Most routers use DHCP to give your computer an IP address automatically. You should be online as soon as you finish the above process.
Access the Management Console
You need to access the management console to configure your router. You can manage the router using a mobile app or a web browser. Routers come with a default IP address and password for your administrator account. Usually these IP addresses get you onto the console:
192.168.1.1
192.168.0.1
10.0.0.1
Check the provided docs if these don’t work
Change the Password
The next step is to change the default password. The default password leaves your network vulnerable to anyone.
By default the username and password areoften:
Admin/password
Admin/admin
Admin (blank password)
The above are steps on how to set-up home Wi-Fi. Once you have configured your router, you can now set-up your wireless network. The process is simple and only takes a few minutes.
