In order to find out the channel numbers of other routers in the vicinity, you can use a utility that will scan the wireless network and list it out to you. If you know what channel other routers in your area are using, set yours apart from theirs by at least three channels apart. This should be done because if you are having other wireless routers in your area (or neighborhood), you could be using the same channel they are using, which will cause interference in both networks and reduce the efficiency and speed of your wireless network. This ranges from channel 1 to 11 with each channel differing marginally in frequency values to keep them apart. So if an outsider is scanning for a wireless network and sees your SSID, he should not know whose it is.Ī wireless channel is the frequency zone of operation for your router's wireless network. Change the default to something else, but resist putting in sensitive information that can give out details stating that it is your network. Here you should give your wireless network an SSID or a network name. This way, the sixth device will not be able to get an IP address and get on the network easily.Ĭhange the channel of the wireless operation accordingly For example, if you have five devices connecting to your router, set the DHCP server to give out only five IP addresses. If you wish to keep it enabled, you should set the IP address range to a minimum. In this way, if a user has access to the router’s username and password, he would still have to guess an IP address to enter the network. Disabling it will mean every computer or device on the network will have to be assigned with a static IP address. This is a service built into your router, which automatically assigns an IP address to every computer or device that connects to it.

This will now be your router’s default IP address to configure it in future, unless you decide to factory reset the router again. For example, you can change it to 192.168.25.1 or to make it safer, you can change the entire subnet to 10.20.xxx.xxx or 172.16.xxx.xxx to be safer. We recommend that you change second-last section to a random number between 1 and 254. By default, the manufacturer uses IP addresses such as 192.168.0.1 or the 192.168.1.1. Next, you should set a local IP address for the router. You can choose to go ahead with the setup wizard to configure the router or stick to manual configuration. You should see the option in the Administration section.

You should consider this mandatory as routers usually have a common username and password and anyone can easily get in. Once you are logged in, change the password. Change the default IP address and set the DHCP accordingly

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