How to WLAN: How I built my first network

Luca Fontana

7.8.2018

Translation: machine translated

I have to write a TV story and need WLAN for it. Connecting to the internal company network is a nightmare from a security point of view, so I set up a network myself. Et voilà - we've already got a "How to WLAN" article for you.

Today is a special day because I get to borrow toys from senior editor Dominik Bärlocher and play around with them. Oh yes, he's not even in the office today, which makes playing around a lot more fun. He won't be able to tell me how to use it.

But from the beginning. I'm currently writing a TV story. I need WLAN for this, because modern TVs naturally need a connection to the Internet. Of course, we have an internal company network, but connecting to it with an external device is a security nightmare. And IT gets annoyed. It's much quicker and easier if I just build a Wi-Fi network myself. Easy-peasy.

WLAN taming made easy

How exactly does that work? Of course, I have a Swisscom box connected to a router at home and stuff like that. So I'm not completely new to the industry. But building my own network? I've never done that before. I ask Dominik for advice, and because he's not here, he sends me instructions via WhatsApp. By the way: If you're an old hand at networking, you probably won't learn anything new here. Otherwise - just read on.

Luca, this is what you need

• Paper clip or SIM tool or needle or something
• Laptop with RJ45 connection
• RJ45 cable (probably lying around somewhere)
• WLAN router from Netgear: In a box behind my desk. Red and black box. I think it's a Netgear R7000. Good thing!
• Socket strip: Every meeting room should have one.

And now you do exactly that

1. Disconnect the laptop from the WLAN
2. Unpack the router
3. Connect the router to power
4. Wait a little while
5. Press the reset button on the back of the device with a paper clip until the LEDs flash or something like that. Simply perform a reset

6. Connect the router to the laptop
7. Open the web browser
8. Enter 192.168.1.1 in the address bar. If this does not work: 192.168.0.1
9. Username/password: admin/password
10. Click on Wireless on the left in the router software
11. Set the WLANs. You will find three WLAN types. Two 5 Ghz networks and one 2.4 network. Choose a naming scheme such as frametest5ghz1, frametest5ghz2 and frametest24ghz
12. Use a simple and insecure password, as this is completely sufficient for the test → Do not do this at home!
13. Save
14. Connect TV with WLAN
15. Connect mobile to WLAN

So. done

I get to work

Anyone who read my Harmony story on the taboo topic of remote controls will know by now that technology and I... have an interesting relationship. Let's put it this way: patience is not my core competence. Installing, connecting and linking hardware in particular always gives me moments for life.

No wonder I'm eager to find out whether Dominik's flawless and clear instructions will guide me through the procedure just as easily and confidently as it seemed when I skimmed through them.

Good to know

"Yes, but wait, my overzealous IT colleague," you might be shouting, "what if I don't have a Netgear router? What then?"

Of course you will have shouted that. The above IP address actually only works with Netgear devices. There is a very simple workaround for the other brands, and it goes like this:

1. Go to google.ch
2. Type in the search term "$marke router login IP". Replace "$marke" with the brand of your router.

And you too are on board with a non-Netgear router.

Step by step to success

I quickly screwed on the router's antennas - a Netgear R7800, by the way, dear Dominik. As an old hand at being a pianist, I'm quite capable of making fine, gentle movements with my 1A fingers. Ensure the power supply, then press "Power On" and it's up and running. As instructed, I reset the box with an expertly selected paperclip from the Smart Office brand (and no, that's really not product placement, cough cough). After all the LED lights have blinked once in disco mode, I connect the router to my laptop via LAN cable.

By the way, if the router is new, you don't need to reset it. In my case, this was only necessary because Bärlocher had already configured his toy once before.

In the web browser, I call up the IP address in question. As promised by Dominik, I find the router software where I can click on Wireless.

Here I can rename the WLAN network correctly and specify a simple, highly questionable password in terms of security.

Misdemeanour committed. Or to put it in Dominik's words: So. done.

And - did it work?

I put it to the test. In other words, I select the relevant network on my mobile, log in with the password I've chosen and enjoy a flawless network connection (without the Internet, because I haven't connected the router to the Internet). Now the same procedure with the TV. And lo and behold: connection established. Thumbs up!

I'm a bit gobsmacked. It really wasn't rocket science. And it worked, just like that. I would have loved to give you an exciting episode from "Luca's fun adventures - fun and games with technology", but... there's not much more to say. Follow the instructions above and nothing will stand in the way of your own little network.

So. done.

Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.» more

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