How to get your MAC address
Please click the appropriate link for directions on how to get the MAC address for the unit.
Windows XP | 2000 | NT
Windows VISTA
Linux
MAC OS X
XBOX 360
PLAYSTATION
Other
1. Call in MAC address to Customer Service at ;) 1-866-255-8181.
2. Once MAC address has been entered in the system, this unit can access the Internet.
Please note: if a unit is plugged into a router, the MAC address is needed for the router only. However, it is convenient to have a laptop or desktop computer's MAC address in the system for troubleshooting purposes.
How to Release / Renew MAC address
- Click the Start menu button on the Windows taskbar.
- Click Run... on this menu.
- If
the computer is holding a current IP address, type 'cmd' (without the
quotes) in the text box that appears. A command prompt window appears
on the screen.
- Type 'ipconfig' (without the quotes) to view the status of the computer's IP address(es).
- If the computer is holding a current IP address, type 'ipconfig /release' to let go of the address.
- Type 'ipconfig /renew' to obtain a new IP address (whether or not the computer is holding a current address).
Tips:
- If
it is not necessary to view the current IP addresses on a computer,
simply type 'ipconfig /release' or 'ipconfig /renew' (without the
quotes) in the text box that appears in Step 3.
- To
bring a computer back onto the network after moving it to a different
location, or experiencing an unexpected outage, first release, then
renew the IP address. Computers on DHCP networks often (but not always)
re-establish network connectivity automatically.
| Your Wireless Connection
4 steps to set up your home wireless network Router
You can use a wireless network to
share Internet access, files, printers, and more. Or you can use it to surf the
Web while you're sitting on your couch or in your yard. Plus, it's easier to
install than you think.
There are 4 steps to creating a
wireless network:
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1.
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Choose your wireless equipment
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2.
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Connect your wireless router
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3.
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Configure your wireless router
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4.
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Connect your computers
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For Windows XP users, Windows XP
Service Pack 2 is not required for wireless networking, but it does make things
much easier. Service Pack 2 also helps protect you against hackers, worms, and
other Internet intruders.
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1.
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Choose your wireless equipment
The first step is to make sure
that you have the equipment you need. As you're looking for products in
stores or on the Internet, you might notice that you can choose equipment
that supports three different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a,
802.11b, and 802.11g. We recommend 802.11g, because it offers excellent
performance and is compatible with almost everything.
Shopping list
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•
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Broadband Internet connection
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•
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Wireless router
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•
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A computer with built-in
wireless networking support or a wireless network adapter
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A wireless router
The router converts the signals
coming across your Internet connection into a wireless broadcast, sort of
like a cordless phone base station. Be sure to get a wireless router, and not
a wireless access point.
A wireless network adapter
Network adapters wirelessly
connect your computer to your wireless router. If you have a newer computer
you may already have wireless capabilities built in. If this is the case,
then you will not need a wireless network adapter. If you need to purchase an
adapter for a desktop computer, buy a USB wireless network adapter. If you
have a laptop, buy a PC card-based network adapter. Make sure that you have
one adapter for every computer on your network.
Note: To make setup easy, choose a network adapter made by the
same vendor that made your wireless router. For example, if you find a good
price on a Linksys router, choose a Linksys network adapter to go with it. To
make shopping even easier, buy a bundle, such as those available from D-Link,
Netgear, Linksys, Microsoft, and Buffalo. If you have a desktop computer,
make sure that you have an available USB port to plug the wireless network
adapter into. If you don't have any open USB ports, buy a hub to add
additional ports.
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2.
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Connect your wireless router
Since you'll be temporarily
disconnected from the Internet, print these instructions before you go any
further.
First, locate your cable modem or
DSL modem and unplug it to turn it off.
Next, connect your wireless router
to your modem. Your modem should stay connected directly to the Internet.
Later, after you've hooked everything up, your computer will wirelessly
connect to your router, and the router will send communications through your
modem to the Internet.
Next, connect your router to your
modem:
Note: The instructions below apply to a Linksys wireless
router. The ports on your router may be labeled differently, and the images
may look different on your router. Check the documentation that came with
your equipment for additional assistance.
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•
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If you currently have your
computer connected directly to your modem: Unplug the network cable from the back of your
computer, and plug it into the port labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN on the
back of your router.
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|
•
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If you do not currently have a
computer connected to the Internet:
Plug one end of a network cable (included with your router) into your
modem, and plug the other end of the network cable into the Internet, WAN,
or WLAN port on your wireless router.
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•
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If you currently have your
computer connected to a router:
Unplug the network cable connected to the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port from
your current router, and plug this end of the cable into the Internet, WAN,
or WLAN port on your wireless router. Then, unplug any other network
cables, and plug them into the available ports on your wireless router. You
no longer need your original router, because your new wireless router
replaces it.
|
Next, plug in and turn on your cable or DSL modem. Wait a
few minutes to give it time to connect to the Internet, and then plug in and
turn on your wireless router. After a minute, the Internet, WAN, or WLAN
light on your wireless router should light up, indicating that it has
successfully connected to your modem.
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3.
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Configure your wireless router
Using the network cable that came with your wireless
router, you should temporarily connect your computer to one of the open
network ports on your wireless router (any port that isn't labeled Internet,
WAN, or WLAN). If you need to, turn your computer on. It should automatically
connect to your router.
Next, open Internet Explorer and
type in the address to configure your router.
You might be prompted for a
password. The address and password you use will vary depending on what type
of router you have, so refer to the instructions included with your router.
As a quick reference, this table
shows the default addresses, usernames, and passwords for some common router
manufacturers.
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Router
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Address
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Username
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Password
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3Com
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http://192.168.1.1
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admin
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admin
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D-Link
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http://192.168.0.1
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admin
|
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Linksys
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http://192.168.1.1
|
admin
|
admin
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Microsoft Broadband
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http://192.168.2.1
|
admin
|
admin
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|
Netgear
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http://192.168.0.1
|
admin
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password
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Internet Explorer will show your
router's configuration page. Most of the default settings should be fine, but
you should configure three things:
|
1.
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Your wireless network name,
known as the SSID. This
name identifies your network. You should choose something unique that none
of your neighbors will be using.
|
|
2.
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Wireless encryption (WEP) or
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which help protect your wireless network. For most routers, you will provide a passphrase that
your router uses to generate several keys. Make sure your passphrase is
unique and long (you don't need to memorize it).
|
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3.
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Your administrative password,
which controls your wireless network.
Just like any other password, it should not be a word that you can find in
the dictionary, and it should be a combination of letters, numbers, and
symbols. Be sure you can remember this password, because you'll need it if
you ever have to change your router's settings.
|
The exact steps you follow to
configure these settings will vary depending on the type of router you have.
After each configuration setting, be sure to click Save Settings, Apply,
or OK to save your changes.
Now, you should disconnect the
network cable from your computer.
|
|
4.
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Connect your computers
If your computer does not have
wireless network support built in, plug your network adapter into your USB
port, and place the antenna on top of your computer (in the case of a desktop
computer), or insert the network adapter into an empty PC card slot (in the
case of a laptop). Windows XP will automatically detect the new adapter, and
may prompt you to insert the CD that came with your adapter. The on-screen
instructions will guide you through the configuration process.
Note: The steps below only apply if you're using Windows XP
Service Pack 2. If you're running Windows XP and you don't have Service Pack
2 yet, plug your computer into your wireless router and download and install
Windows XP Service Pack 2.
Windows XP should show an icon
with a notification that says it has found a wireless network.
Follow these steps to connect your
computer to your wireless network:
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1.
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Right-click the wireless network
icon in the lower-right corner of your screen, and then click View
Available Wireless Networks. If you run into any problems, consult the
documentation that came with your network adapter. Don't be afraid to call
their tech support.
|
|
2.
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The Wireless Network Connection
window should appear and you should see your wireless network listed with
the network name you chose. If you don't see your network, click Refresh
network list in the upper-left corner. Click your network, and then
click Connect in the lower-right corner.
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3.
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Windows XP prompts you to enter
a key. Type the encryption key that you wrote down earlier in both the Network
key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect.
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4.
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Windows XP will show its
progress as it connects to your network. After you're connected, you can
now close the Wireless Network Connection window. You're done.
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Note: If the Wireless Network Connection window continues to
show Acquiring Network Address, you may have mistyped the encryption
key.
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