How to Set Up a Home Network

Connect your devices and create a secure home network with these simple steps.

Setting up a home network used to be a task that struck fear in the heart of the most fearless DIY techie. Not anymore. Technology might be getting more complex, but using it becomes simpler with every innovation, making it easy to handle on your own.

First, have the right equipment

Before starting the setup process, it’s a good idea to know what the key components of your wireless home network are and what they do. It’s also important to remember that when it comes to the speed of your Internet connection, you’ll only run as fast as the slowest piece of equipment between you and the Internet.

The first such device is the modem, which establishes the connection between your home and your Internet service provider that makes all your emailing, web surfing and picture sharing possible. Without the modem, you’re going nowhere on the Internet. The modem connects to the wireless router, which lets you access the Internet without having to physically plug your computer and other devices into your modem. Router performance can be affected by many different kinds of airwave interference, including thick walls, multiple levels or floors, microwaves and baby monitors. Older or cheap routers are more subject to these disturbances, so go ahead and grab a good-quality one featuring better components designed to function more reliably. If you want to use your laptop outside too, be sure your router includes external antennas or enough range to cover your property.

Get your devices to communicate with each other

Your next step is to get the modem, router and your computers talking. Usually, there’s an installation disk to accompany your router. And typically the setup process involves physically connecting your computer to the router using the default administrator ID, password and IP address to “talk” to the router. Once they’re in sync and your wireless is working, you’re almost done.

You may be asked to change the administrator ID, password and name of your Wi-Fi network. This is an important step in keeping your computers and Internet activity secure—and it helps prevent your curious neighbor from browsing through your personal photos or infecting your network with a virus.

Once your wireless network is active, you can connect additional laptops, desktops, smartphones and tablets. The exact method for doing this is determined by the device itself, but now you need only the name of your network and the password to connect to it. Once connected, you can get to work streaming videos, posting on Facebook and checking in on your fantasy football team as fast as you can click a mouse or swipe a screen.