This month, we’re going to give you a slightly shorter article that deals with a topic smaller in scope . . . but the topic is a very important one that our technical support team has seen come up increasingly in the recent past.  Many of our customers, particularly in the Bassett/Rock County area, have had difficulty with their high-speed Internet connections once they purchase a router and attempt to use it so that multiple computers can connect to the Internet at their location.  So we’re going to go through how to set up a router and use it with your high-speed Internet connection.

First of all, the question of what a router is and what it does.  A network router is a device that performs several complex (but necessary) networking functions such as directing the data traffic, specifying the network protocols, and determining which data packets need to go to which computer.  If you have multiple computers connected to each other, a router allows them to work smoothly together.

In most cases, if you just have one computer connected to your high-speed modem, the modem will function as a router and handle all of these necessary functions.  So if you do want to network multiple computers and purchase a router, there may be conflicts between the two devices unless your modem is reconfigured to act as a bridge rather than a router.  You can contact us using the information below and we’ll be happy to help you determine what you need and what needs to be reconfigured.

Once you have the router, all you need to do is connect it correctly between your modem and your computer.  You would use Ethernet cables (you may hear them called RJ-45 cables or networking cables) to do this.  First, take an Ethernet cable and connect one end into the jack on your high-speed modem that will be labeled “PC” or something similar.  The other end of this cable would connect to the router—and there is a specific jack you will need to use.  It will be most often set off slightly from the other jacks in the router, and will be labeled something like “Internet” or “WAN” or “LAN” or other similar designation.

Then, using other Ethernet cables, you would connect each computer at your location that will need Internet access to the other jacks on the back of the router.  Each computer should have a network jack in the back that is rectangular and slightly larger than a standard telephone jack; you would connect the other end of each Ethernet cable to that jack.  The one exception would be if you purchased a wireless router and have computers with wireless network adapters included; those would connect using the wireless network connections features within your operating system.

Usually, it’s a good idea to connect the devices in the following order:

1. Power up your modem and make sure it’s connected to your telephone/cable jack (using either standard telephone or coaxial cabling)
2. Power up your router and connect your modem to your router as we describe above
3. Connect the router to all computers at your location that will need Internet access
4. Power up the computers

That should allow you to establish connectivity and you’ll be ready to enjoy your Internet experience.

You may also want to check out this past Info Bytes article where we discuss networking computers in greater depth.  The article goes into all the terms involved with networking and all the equipment you will need.

If you have any questions at all about setting up a router with your high speed Internet connection, our trained technicians at HunTel.net® are available and are happy to assist you.  You can contact us by phone at 402-533-5777 (Washington County and Omaha) or 1-888-491-9115 (toll free throughout our service area); by E-mail at techsupport@huntel.net; or through our live support chat service at http://www.huntel.net.  Normal support hours are 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Central time, 7 days a week.

Thank you for using HunTel.net!