How to Set Up a Home Network- Beginners Guide

Home network setup: step by stem guide

1. Obtain an ISP (Internet Service Provider)

The first thing you need to do to get online is choose an ISP that serves your area (ISP). Several possibilities exist in most places (at least in the United States), although typically just one firm provides each service. If there is more rivalry in larger cities, this could not hold true.

The following are the most crucial considerations when selecting an internet service provider:

• Availability
• Speed
• Reliability
• Price
• Customer service

The availability of an item might quickly limit your options. Find the most suitable residential Internet service providers in your area. While residents of larger cities may have their pick of several Internet service providers (ISPs), those in more remote or smaller communities may be limited to just a few.

Internet through satellite is another viable alternative that may be used anywhere in the United States. You can also use your phone as a mobile hotspot, however we don’t suggest this method. Compared to standard internet plans, phone plans typically feature far lower data limits and much slower download speeds. You shouldn’t get a hotspot plan, for instance, if you prefer to watch multiple episodes of your favorite show on Netflix in one sitting when you get home from work.

Most people choose an internet plan based on its speed, but it’s better to think about how much speed you actually need before committing to the fastest, most expensive plan.

It’s not always about how fast something is, but how reliable it is. Fiber connections, in particular, have a much higher success rate than other kinds of networks. The quoted download speeds for cable and DSL are generally lower in practice, and bad weather can interfere with satellite internet connections.

Although it may appear like price is a simple issue, many factors are often disregarded. Home networking installation and equipment fees are just the beginning and may add up quickly, so it’s important to factor them in before you commit to a move. Be aware of plans that increase your rates or expenses unexpectedly. There should be no surprises when it comes to the cost of your internet service.

Finally, consider customer service. A quick solution is desired whenever an issue arises. If the connection isn’t very stable, this becomes much more crucial. If you’re interested in DSL, for instance, research the provider’s track record to ensure they fix issues promptly and don’t let their infrastructure deteriorate.

The following are the types of internet service providers you have to choose from.

• Digital Subscriber Line (DSL): This is provided through your local phone service company.
• Cable Broadband: Typically offered through the local cable company.
• Fiber Optic Broadband: Offered by your cable company and other local internet providers.
• Wireless: Usually provided by cellular phone companies.
• Satellite: Offered by satellite cable or internet companies like DISH or local internet providers.
• Dedicated leased line: A fixed bandwidth connection dedicated to only your internet connection. Usually very expensive and used by larger companies for their office internet connections.

There are a few ways to find local internet service providers.

Google “internet service provider” to obtain contact information for companies.

It’s not always clear which internet access types these companies offer. Use an online directory to find the correct internet provider.

READ MORE:

• Types of computer networks
• What is Wi-Fi and how it works
• What is 5G wireless technology and how it would change our lives
• Pros and cons of fixed wireless broadband 

Connect your router

Many current routers feature mobile apps that offer you remote access and management. Even if your router doesn’t work with an app, you can still configure it manually. A standard web browser and the IP address of your router are all that’s required. It’s typically listed in the router’s handbook or printed on a sticker affixed to the device. If it doesn’t work, look for it yourself.

Connecting your router on a Windows system:

1. Open up the Command Prompt and type in IPCONFIG.
2. The address you’re looking for will be listed as the “default gateway” and will consist of four numbers separated by periods.

Connecting your router on a Mac:

1. Open your network settings.
2. Select the “TCP/IP” tab
3. The IP address will be listed under “router.”

In order to access the security settings of your router, you must first obtain its IP address, then connect an Ethernet-enabled device directly to it.

Set up your network security

You’ll need your router’s username and password before you can log in. When prompted, provide the username and password you used when setting up your router at your former location. If this is a brand new router, the default login information will be listed either on the device itself (often on a label on the underside of the packaging) or in the accompanying user guide.

Network security is simple to implement once you have the proper data:

1. Sign in using your login username and password
2. Change your network name (SSID).
3. Set your security protocol to WPA2.
4. Set your new password.

Even though you can just use the default settings, we strongly suggest changing both because it is creating a home network setup much safer.

When you and other people look for Wi-Fi networks in your area, you will see your network name, also called its SSID. Set it to a name you will recognize right away when you see it in the list.

WPA2 is the most secure type of security for Wi-Fi networks. It is also known as WPA2-PSK or AES. Make sure your password is strong and easy to remember when you set it up. It’s also a good idea to use a password that you don’t mind giving out to guests who might want to use your Wi-Fi. Don’t use a password you’ve used elsewhere.

5. Connect your devices

If you’ve gotten this far, you’re almost done! Now that your wireless network is up and running, you can start connecting your devices to it.

Get a phone or laptop and test your connection before you start. Your wireless network should show up with the name you gave it, and you should be able to sign in with your new password. If everything is working, you can connect the rest of your devices.

Remember that all the devices that were connected to your Wi-Fi in your old home will need to have their network information updated in order to connect. This includes computers, laptops, and any other smart devices you may have.

How to set a wired connection

To connect with an ethernet cable, just plug one end of the cable into the ethernet port on your computer or laptop. Plug the other end into one of the network ports on the back of your router (not your modem!).

How do you determine which port on the back of your router to connect to?

These network ports are typically indicated in yellow. Also, they are generally numbered. Avoid inserting devices into the “Internet” port, as it should only be used to connect your internet modem.

Once Ethernet is connected, your computer or laptop will have an instantaneous Internet connection.

Wired Network Advantages

• Fast typically 100 Mbps to 10 Gbps
• Secure and reliable.

Wired Network Dis-Advantages

• Doesn’t work with devices that don’t have an Ethernet port e.g. tablets and smart phones.
• Not so easy and fast to setup as it requires running cables. However Home plug or powerline adapters can be used instead.
• Not so easy for visitors and mobile devices (laptops) to connect to.

Main Uses

It Is best used for network backbone i.e. connecting between router, network switches and wireless access points on different levels (floors).

How to set up Wireless internet connection at home

To connect your Windows 10 PC or laptop to your home WiFi network, just click the wireless icon in the lower right corner of the taskbar. This will show a list of all the WiFi networks to which you can connect. Just click Connect and enter the password for the network.

To connect a Mac to a WiFi network, click the WiFi icon in the menu bar, choose Turn WiFi on, and then choose the WiFi network you want to connect to.

Open Settings on your Android device, tap Connections, tap Wi-Fi, and then tap the network you want to connect to. Open Settings on your iPhone, tap Wi-Fi, turn Wi-Fi on, and then tap the network you want to join.

If you try to connect a device and it says it’s connected to the internet but you can’t get online, you’ll need to try more advanced ways to fix your internet connection.

At this point, your home should have an internet connection that works and a WiFi network that you can use to connect all your devices that can connect to the internet.

Things to consider while connecting wireless devices in home network setup

1. Ensure the Wi-Fi on your device is powered on.
2. Your wireless devices like smartphones, laptops, PCs, tablets, gaming systems, iPods, etc., should have the Wi-Fi switched on to connect to the internet seamlessly.
3. Go to the device’s settings.
4. Visit your device’s settings and find the network settings. Click on the Wi-Fi icon on your laptop or PC’s toolbar, which will show the connections available nearby.
5. Find your Wi-Fi network.
6. In your network settings, you will find several connections available. Find your broadband network or hotspot by the name you’ve set as default. Select the network and enter the password. If you’re connecting to a public network, ask the person responsible for the network for it. However, open public networks don’t require a password to connect.
7. Wait for the device to connect.
8. It takes a few seconds for the network to connect to your device. If the connection times out, more than often, it’s because the device is far from the network. In this case, move closer to the Wi-Fi network and reconnect.
9. Test the connection.

Wireless Network Advantages

• Easy to setup from an end user perspective.
• Allows easy access to smart phones, Tablets and mobile devices.
• No cables to run.

Wireless Network Dis-Advantages

• Not as Secure as wired networks without proper configuration, and easy to setup insecurely.
• Not as fast as wired networks.
• Not as reliable as wired networks.

Main Uses

Connecting peripheral devices such as computers, smart phones, and tablets, among others.

Most home networks will utilize both wired and wireless connections.

Increasing the capacity of your home network

In large homes/offices, it may not be able to connect all devices directly to the Wireless router; therefore, extra networking components will be required.

You can extend your home internet network in the following ways:

• Increasing your Wi-Fi network’s coverage by installing additional Wireless Access Points or a more potent access point.
• Alternatively, you can extend the home wired network setup by running cables into additional rooms
• Or by adding home plug adapters on your power lines. See Extending a Home Network

Home network IP addresses

All your devices will require an IP address.

This is provided automatically by a service known as DHCP, which is provided by the home router by default.

As they are subject to change, IP addresses issued by a DHCP server are known as dynamic addresses. You can also manually assign addresses, which are known as static addresses.

Static addresses are not often issued, but are frequently required when port forwarding is utilized.

They can be assigned via the network settings of the device, although it is preferable to use reserved addresses on the DHCP server.

Additionally the addresses used on your home network setup are known as internal addresses.

When you connect your gadget to the Internet, it will utilize an external IP address. This is the IP address of the router or network hub. See Internal IP Addresses vs. External IP Addresses for a complete explanation.

READ MORE:

• What is a dynamic IP address, and how it works?
• Do you know the difference between static and dynamic ip address

Finding your DNS, IP, MAC, and router IP addresses

You might need to determine your DNS server or the IP or MAC address of:

• Your Home Router.
• Your own computer/tablet/phone

The most important tool is ipconfig (Windows) or ifconfig (Linux).

The image below displays the ipconfig command with the /all option. i.e. ipconfig/all

Your home router serves as the entry point to the Internet. Some devices refer to the default router when reading your setup, while others use the phrase default gateway.

In the image above, the IP address is 192.168.1.254

Splitting your home internet network

For security purposes, you may need to divide your home network. This is especially true in small business network setup, such as eateries, where customers also have network access.

Many current routers feature guest networks for this purpose, and their configuration is straightforward.

Utilizing VLANs is a frequent but less straightforward alternative. See Using and Comprehending VLANs

Configuration of firewalls on home networks

A Firewall functions as a router, and on small networks, the most common configuration is a firewall/NAT router combo in which a single device performs as both a NAT router and a firewall.

Your home or small business network’s PCs and devices are protected from Internet intruders by a firewall.

It effectively functions as a digital one-way gate, preventing devices on the Internet from accessing your network while enabling devices on your network to connect to devices on the Internet. (schema depicted below)