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First Time Setup Steps For Your Pre-Owned Home Router

When you purchase a pre-owned router, many of the prior owner's settings may still be applied. So it's important to change these settings for your network's security and your convenience. The main important things you need to change are the wireless network's name, called the SSID, the password, and the encryption type.

1. Log in to the router's administrative area

To log in to your router, you need to plug it into your computer and put a certain address in your web browser's address bar. It is usually an address that looks like http://192.168.1.1 or http://192.168.0.1. A quick Google search for your router's manufacturer should pull up the information you need. Use your smart phone if you need to since your home Internet may not be set up yet.

Once you go to the address, you need to enter the router's login info. This login confuses a lot of people. It is a separate login than the login information you use to connect your devices to the Internet. Instead, this is the administrator login. If the last owner didn't change it, it most likely uses the default login info such as admin / password or admin / admin. Again, a Google search should help you find that.

If the default login info doesn't work, the last owner probably changed it. In that case, you need to reset the modem.

2. Change the network settings

Once you log in successfully, the following page is the admin interface. You need to search for a section with a field for the SSID or network name. Once you find it, change it to a name you prefer.

Close to the SSID field should be a box for the network password. Change this to the password you want. These are what your devices will use to connect to the Internet.

You should also set the encryption type to a strong standard. WPA/WPA2 mixed is a standard that works well for older devices, but still supports the stronger WPA2 standard. WEP is not a secure option, and also leaving your router open without a password is not secure. This makes it easy for hackers within the range of your network to snoop on your Internet traffic and steal personal information.

Lastly, make sure your router is in a central area of your home and clear of any surrounding walls or shelves. This provides the best range so your devices can connect to it at any location in your home.

If you're interested in purchasing a pre-owned router, check out a business like IT Outlet Inc.


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