So you signed up high speed internet and you want to hook it up to get sufing and more importantly, download all those goodies that dial-up takes so long to download. Before continuing to read this, please be aware i only tell you how to setup a ADSL router via your landline, NOT satellite!
Before we do that, here is some basic information on DSL/ADSL or sometimes called broadband. Feel free to skips this if you want, but it is handy to know.
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) are two slighty different things. DSL is when you are talking about the technology of high speed internet and ADSL is the kind of speed that your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is supplying. ADSL, is as it says 'Asymmetric', meaning that one part is longer than the other. If you ISP is supplying ADSL that means that your download will be faster than your upload. For an example of this check out this chart at Wikipedia.
So let's get started!
IMPORTANT NOTE: even if you plan to setup a wireless connection from your laptop or desktop or even your mobile phone you will need a landline to get the DSL signal.
what you'll need:
- A DSL Router
- A Landline
- A DSL Line Cable
- An Ethernet Cable
- The Routers Power Supply
In this guide, I will be using the example of a Netopia 3347-WG, since this is the router i have setup myself but most routers have the same settings and i will give links to other models at the end of this guide.
As well as this you will need a network card like this:
If you look at the back of your PC you should see a device similar to this (remembering that only the silver plate will be showing).
Now the easy part, Connecting it all up!
1. Connect the DSL cable to the router and then connect the other end of the cable to the landline.
2. Connect the ethernet cable from the router and the other end to the connection at the back of your PC.
3 connect the power supply to the the router
4. Finally, plug the power supply in to the electrical socket and if there is a switch on the router, turn it on here aswell.
Now that everythings hooked up and connect firmly and switched on. You should see the lights on the router coming on in sequence. The most common lights on a router is Power, DSL Sync, lan and Wireless (if it is also a wireless router).
Once you see the POWER, DSL SYNC and LAN lights have turned solid and no longer flash repeatedly, that means that the router is connected. However it doesnt necessarily mean you can view the Internet in your browser. You must first, login to the router.
So the first thing you must find out is what is your router's adress.
On a Windows XP PC: Click Start -> Run -> type 'cmd' and click 'OK'.
On a Windows Vista PC: Click Start -> All Programs -> Acessories -> Command Prompt.
You should get a black screen come up with a promt, like this:
In this black box, called Command promt, type in: 'ipconfig' and press enter.
Then you should get a lot of information, like this:
Where it says 'Default Gateway' that is your routers address, in the case of my Netopia 3347-WG its '192.168.1.254'. So the next thing have to do is open your browser and type this address in the URL bar. DO NOT type it in to google or any other bar make sure it is the URL bar.
To make sure, For Internet Explorer it look like this:
and for firefox it looks like this:
So once you have entered the default gateway address, the page will come up and you can connect. For the Netopia 3347-WG, the page should look like this:
If you don't have a netopia router go here to see a list of routers, make sure to scroll down to see the list, select yours and it will show you what to do.
Once connected, try going to a website you havent visted beore on you computer, so that you know that it is in fact connected. If it does come up, you on DSL. So thats's it! Congratulations! Last one to a torrent site is a rotten egg!!
If you have any problems, post them. make sure to include you ISP, the model of router you are using, the version of windows you are running (or if it isnt windows, which operating system) and if it is a wireless or ethernet connection.
