How To Fit A New (Or Used) Modem /router?

[netibiza]

If I buy either a new or used moden/router, how do I connect it. I know the plugs etc but isn't there a special IP number or phone number or somesuch to be added, if so, how do I know it?

[rockyracoon]

I just plugged it in, let the computer find it then put in the password that was on the router.

[netibiza]

Thanks for that Rocky, seems easy enough.

[rockyracoon]

You're not with Sky are you? I think you can only use their routers.

[boxtops]

How do you know what the password is on a used router, tocky? Knowing my luck, the little thing which is on my router with the password would be missing from a second-hand one!

[rockyracoon]

If it's second hand, make sure it's on there before you buy. A new will have it on a label and probably on some paperwork or a small card.

[Buenchico]

A router needs to be configured to the requirements of your ISP. The relevant information should be on their website. (Tell us which one it is and we'll try to locate it for you although, if you're where your username suggests, I can see that I'll probably need to call upon the Spanish I've largely forgotten since I stopped learning it 44 years ago!).

The actual way that you configure a router is to connect it to your computer with an ethernet cable and then enter the relevant IP address into your web browser's address bar. That allows you to gain access to to the router's settings panel. Since the IP address that you need varies between manufacturers, we'd also need to know the make and model of your router.

(The reason that my answer might seem to be in conflict with Rocky's, above, is that Rocky obviously received a router from his ISP that was pre-configured with the relevant settings).

[Dizmo]

I'm going to add to your answer if you don't mind Buenchico.

Once you have connected your computer via an ethernet cable you can find the routers ip address by Start > Run and typing "cmd.exe /k ipconfig" without the " 's.

A window will appear and display. The Default Gateway address displayed is the IP address you require.

All you do then is open Internet Explorer, Firefox or any other browers and put that IP address into the address bar at the top and hit Enter.

If it's secondhand I'd suggest hard resetting it before even doing anything. Usually there will be a small pin sized hole on the router. Whilst the router is switched on use a pin, needle or paperclip to push and hold in the reset hole. Nearly every router I've ever reset always displays flashing lights or solid lights when it has reset. I just tend to hold the reset button down for 10 seconds to make sure.

Sorry if I trod on your feet Buenchico, I need to kill some time.

[Buenchico]

No problem at all, Dizmo.

'Hard resetting' is certainly advisable, Netibiza, as when you enter the IP address into your browser you'll probably encounter a page requiring a password. Using a 'hard reset' returns any password set by a previous user to the default one used by the router's manufacturer. It's usually something like 'admin' (or even an entirely blank field) but simply googling for 'xxxxx router default password' (where 'xxxxx' represents the name of the manufacturer) will easily find out what it is.

[netibiza]

Thank you all very much!