Wired Broadband Routers

Setting up a wired router

It is important to ensure that you are in possession of a broadband router and not a simple broadband modem. A broadband modem will generally have a single connection to the PC, and this will generally be via a USB port. The instructions below refer only to broadband routers.

A wired Internet router actually contains two devices: a modem that converts the incoming ADSL signal into the Ethernet protocol that your PC can understand, and a router, that can be used to connect one or more Ethernet devices to the modem. Typically home routers today will have a basic operating system, offering such services as a web server for configuration via a browser, DHCP client and server and firewall protection.

Connection

Your router will need to be located such that you can simultaneously connect it to a mains electricity supply, your PC and a telephone Master or extension socket; this may require relocation of your PC.

1. Connect the router to the telephone socket
2. Connect one computer to the router via an Ethernet network cable
3. Plug in the router's electrical power source and turn on the router by pushing the power button

Configuring the router

You configure the router with router's administration tool. You access the administration tool from a browser window on your PC.

From the computer connected to the router, open your Web browser. Then enter the router's address for network administration in the browser's address field and hit return to reach the router's home page. Many routers are reached by either the Web address http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.0.1. Consult your router's documentation to determine the exact address for your model. Note that you do not need a working Internet connection for this step.

Log in to the router. The router's home page will ask you for a username and password. Both are provided in the router's documentation.

To connect the router to the Internet, you must enter Internet connection information into that section of the router's configuration. If using ADSL Internet, you may need to enter the PPPoE username and password.

Verify your one computer can connect to the Internet properly by opening your browser and visiting http://www.broadbandverdict.com/.

Additional computers

Connect additional computers to the router as needed using Ethernet network cabling.

After setup

It's very important that you change the router's password for security reasons. You can do this in the router's administration tool.

Recommended Wired Routers

We have reviews of the following full-featured wired routers:

and also a great choice of wired modems and routers in the Broadband Verdict hardware shop.