How to Disable Inbuilt Firewall in a Netgear Wireless Router

Your Netgear wireless router comes with great features and utilities. A built-in firewall is one of them. Disabling the firewall in your Netgear wireless router can’t be a very good idea as it protects your computer data, home network, and Wi-Fi bandwidth from unauthorized users and dangerous hackers. However, you may still want to deactivate it for using certain applications such as port forwarding or adding a gaming console etc.

Understand Your Router?

Your Netgear router doesn’t have an ‘On’ or ‘Off’ button that allows you to disable the firewall. Infect, no wireless router in the world has such button or feature that deactivates the firewall. You will have to login to your router’s admin window to modify the settings. Below are the easy steps that will help you change the firewall rules.

How to Guide:

1.    Open your web browser viz. Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Firefox etc.

2.    Type ‘192.168.0.1’ or ‘198.168.1.1’ (without quotes) in the address bar and hit ‘Enter’ on the keyboard.

3.    When on the login screen, key in your username and password that you entered while initially setting up your Netgear wireless router and click the 'Login’ button or hit the ‘Enter’ key.

4.    If you never changed your original username and password, then these must be ‘admin’ and ‘password' respectively. However, you do check your router credentials before putting in anything.

5.    In the left hand side menu, click ‘Services’, and then click ‘Firewall Rules’.

6.    Under the ‘Inbound Services’ category, click the ‘Add’ button.

7.    Click on ‘Any’ under the ‘Service Name’ list and select ‘Allow Always’ from under the ‘Action’ list.

8.    Click ‘Apply’ to activate the newly setup rule. Move your newly setup rule upward until it sets as the first rule under the ‘Inbound Services’ section.

9.    Click the new rule under the ‘Enable’ column to enable it finally. Now your firewall is disabled and your internal network is fully open to virus attacks.

10. You can enter the same rules under the ‘Outbound Services’ category using the same settings. Finally click the Enable’ column to ensure that your firewall rules are set up for outbound network also.

***You can also find here support for Netgear wireless router problems. Also check out here how to add Kindle Fire to your Netgear Wireless Router. 

How to Add Kindle Fire to Netgear Wireless Router

Kindle Fire is a pretty good tablet from Amazon that can not only compete with but also outdo iPad or any other tablet in terms of design, apps, features and appearance etc. Wi-Fi connectivity is one of those features that Kindle Fire offers to help you connect to your Wi-Fi router and go wireless on it also. In this post, I am going to discuss how you can connect your Kindle Fire tablet to your Netgear wireless router and enjoy best of both the worlds. Check the steps below:

• Turn on your Netgear wireless router. Connect to your wireless network on your computer to make sure that it’s working. 
• Now fire up your Kindle Fire. When Kindle Fire is booted up, tap Quick Settings on the Home screen. Tap Wi-Fi and then turn on the Wireless Networking option if it is off.
• You will now see a list of the available wireless networks. Select your wireless network name (SSID) from the list and tap the Connect button.
• If you have password-protected your wireless network, you will be prompted for a password or security key. Enter it and then proceed. That’s and you will be connected to your wireless network.
• If you are also prompted for login details viz. username and password, enter them and then proceed. The login details must be of your ISP or your wireless network admin.
• If you cannot get through the login screen, contact Amazon or Netgear router support for that matter.
• Now you can enjoy your wireless connection for streaming or sharing movies, videos, music, files etc. to and from your laptop.

***You can also find here solution for your Netgear wireless router problems. 

How to Disable WPS on Your Belkin Router

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is a built-in feature in a Belkin router designed to simplify the setup and management of wireless network. Since some of the old operating systems or computers may not support the WPS feature, only disabling it leaves one with the option. So, if you are using an old OS that doesn't support WPS on your Belkin router, you can disable it. Glance at the steps below and do so:

1. Before beginning, make sure that you have a wired connection through the Ethernet cable to your computer. A wired connection is required to access your Belkin router’s configuration page through the IP address. Besides, grab your login details like username & password to login into your Belkin router.

2. Open your web browser and type ‘192.168.2.1’ (without quotes) in its address bar. Hit the Enter key to proceed. You will see the Router Setup Utility login page. Click the Login button on the extreme top right hand corner.

3. Enter your admin password and hit the Submit button. If you never set up a custom password for your router, then leave the box blank. It is because most of the Belkin wireless routers are shipped without any password. Thus, the field is generally left blank until a new password has already been set up.

4. Once logged on, click Wireless in the left hand pane. It will display different sort of information like Language, Version Info, and Internet Settings etc. in the right hand pane.

5. Click Wi-Fi Protected Setup under Wireless and you will see the already selected frequency of your wireless connection like 2.4 or 5G etc. Click the drop-down menu next to the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) option and select Disabled.

6. Click the Apply Changes button to save the changes. Exit the router’s interface if you aren’t making further changes to the settings. You can also verify the WPS disabling with its light. The light over the WPS button but under the Router Status Light must go off after making the changes.

***You can refer to your Belkin router docs for default login details. You can also create a new password or change it anytime you want.

If it was a wireless computer that you made a wired one to pull the router’s IP address, then unplug the Ethernet cable and connect to your wireless network again. You can also find here how to secure your Belkin router.

How to Connect Multiple PCs to a Wireless Router

Networking, wireless connection, access point etc. are what many people use these days at their homes or offices for sharing a single broadband or hi-speed Internet connection, browsing wirelessly, sharing files/music etc., or streaming high-end video content over wired or wireless network etc. Wireless routers have made it possible for us to connect multiple PCs at a time and set up a wireless connection or network for portability, networking, or wireless browsing or sharing etc. In this post, I am discussing some basic steps that will help you connect multiple PCs to a single wireless router. Check below:

1. Before beginning, make sure that your computer(s) has a wireless adapter or card installed on it. If it doesn’t have the card or adapter, then install one. Use USB network adapter if you want to have stronger wireless signal. After the installation has completed, reboot the computer(s) in order to have the card detected. You can also use multiple wireless access points to interconnect router and other devices.

2. Connect your router to the power outlet using the power cable and turn it on. Before using the wireless connection, you will have to make a wired connection and setup the wireless connection (this is applicable only when you are connecting to wireless connection for the first time). To do so, plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the computer and run its other end into back of the router. You can choose any of the 4 LAN ports. You can have all the devices powered off while this connection is being made. 

3. When done, turn on all the devices viz. computer, router. Check your router documents for the IP address to login into the router’s interface and setup and configure the wireless connection as desired. Use a WAP or WEP key for authentication and security of your Wi-Fi. Make a note of the security key as it will be required to connect wirelessly. You must also note down the name of your network and other information for use in other steps. 

4. When done, remove the Ethernet cord from the computer and use it as a Wi-Fi. You will have to click on the Wi-Fi icon in your system. It will show the list of all the Wi-Fi networks that it has detected. Click to choose your wireless connection and enter the key (security) when prompted. Similarly, locate the wireless icon on other computers and select your network to connect.  You can connect as many computers as you want in the same manner.

***You can also find here online technical support for you wireless router, wired connection, printers etc. Call us at 1-877-452-9201.

How to Resolve Common Netgear Wi-Fi Router Problems

Are you unable to connect to your wireless network or does your wireless connection drops frequently? Or are you unable to log in to your Netgear wireless router? Collectively these can be termed as common Netgear wireless router problems that when occur or recur prevent you from using your wireless connection properly. Have a look at the below mentioned cures and fix your Netgear Wi-Fi router problems. 

1. Reboot all the devices viz. router, computer, and the DSL modem. The power cycling will reset the wireless network and the settings and fix a temporary anomaly.

2. If your wireless connection drops repeatedly, disable your firewall temporarily and then reconnect to your Wi-Fi network. If you can connect to the Wi-Fi network and browse, reconfigure the firewall settings as mentioned below.

3. Add the IP addresses of your router and PC to the trusted source directory of your firewall. It will prevent the firewall program from recognizing your router’s IP address as an unsafe zone. If you have a built-in firewall in your antivirus program, you can either disable it or configure it for uninterrupted connection.

4. Update drivers of your Wi-Fi network adapter. Download and install the latest drivers either from the Netgear website or your computer manufacturer’s website. Thereafter, click Start> right-click My Computer, and choose Properties.

5. Highlight the Hardware tab and click Device Manager. Look for the Netgear wireless adapter, right-click it and select Update Driver. Browse for the driver file, select it, and then update the drivers. When done, close all the windows and reconnect to your wireless connection. 

6. For instable connection, change the channel number for your wireless network. Open your Internet browser, type ‘192.168.0.1’ in the address bar and hit Enter. Enter the login details on the login screen and hit Enter. Click Wireless Settings under Setup and select a number from the Channel drop-down menu. The most widely used channel numbers in the U.S. are 11, 6, and 1. However, you should individually check other numbers as well. When done, hit the Apply button and exit the router’s interface.

7. Since most of the wireless devices including routers transmit at 2.4GHz frequency, they may clash with each other, causing problems in your wireless connection. So, if you have a cordless phone or wireless alarm located near your Netgear wireless router, you are likely to face connection drop problem.

Cordless phones or other such devices operate at the same frequency at which your Netgear device does. So, you must reposition your Netgear device to maintain a sufficient distance to keep it away from such devices and the resulting interferences. If the problem persists, turn on the wireless encryption and the problem should be gone away. It is because when the encryption is enabled, other wireless devices will not be able to interfere.

***ZoneAlarm often interrupts with a wireless connection. So, if you have ZoneAlarm or other such firewall program on your PC, you must configure its settings to avoid frequent disconnections in your wireless network.

How to Secure your Netgear Wireless Router

How often have you called your tech-savvy neighbor home and have him fixed your wireless router issues? Several times, Right! Did you ever try to think that he while fixing your problem might be infiltrating with your wireless security settings and exposing your wireless connection to unauthorized access? I guess, you have never checked on your friend or neighbor like that before.

Or, in a different case, you might have an unprotected wireless connection on which your neighbors or colleagues are logging in and taking account of everything that you do on the Internet or stealing bandwidth etc. This might be scary but it is true.

You must password protect your wireless router if you want to save your confidential information and prevent it from unauthorized access. Such people can ruin your life temporarily or forever by taking advantage of your insecure wireless connection. You may not believe my words but it did happen to a BUFFALO, New York-based homeowner who became prey to his young neighbor’s malicious, stealth modus-operandi (read this:http://www.pjstar.com/free/x1923755260/Buffalo-child-porn-case-shows-Wi-Fi-privacy-dangers. So do not let some one take advantage of your wireless network and router. Check these steps and secure your Netgear wireless router.

1. Connect your PC to the Netgear device using an Ethernet cable. Plug the cable’s one end into the back of PC’s Ethernet port and the other end into any one of the 4 LAN ports at the back of the router.

2. Ensure that all the lights are lit on the router, if any of the lights is not lit then recheck the wire and connection.

3. Open your Internet browser viz. Internet Explorer, FireFox etc.

4. Type ‘http://192.168.0.1’ (without quotes) in the address bar of your Internet browser and hit ‘Enter’. You can also use ‘http://192.168.1.1’ (without quotes) to open the router login page.

5. When the login page comes up, type your username and password that had come with your router credentials. 

6. From the left hand side panel, under the ‘Setup’ category, click ‘Wireless Settings’

7. In the ‘Wireless Network’ section, type whatever name you want to give to your wireless network in the first box that says ‘Name (SSID):’

8. In the ‘Security Options’ section, click on the last option ‘WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]’

9. Under the ‘Security Options (WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK)’ section below, type in your desired wireless network key in the box that says ‘Passphrase ……. (8-63 characters or 64 hex digits)’.

10. Before clicking the ‘Apply’ button, note down the network name, key, and security option on a piece of paper or on a notepad in your computer as you would require these details to connect to your wireless network.

11. Click ‘Apply’ and exit the window.

***If there is a modem connected between your PC and router, disconnect it from the computer by unplugging the Ethernet cable from the back of modem and computer both. Now, reconnect the computer and router by following the first point at the top.

How to Hard Reset a Linksys Wi-Fi Router

When you forget your password or want to reconfigure your wireless settings from the scratch, you can hard reset your Linksys router. Forgetting password is mostly the main reason behind a router reset. It's quite normal to  forget passwords due to busy schedules in offices, professional engagements, and even personal problems.

No matter how hard you try, sometimes that alphabetic or alpha-numeric string won't strike your mind. It is because there are so many of them and for everything that is surrounding you. For e.g. there are credit card, bank account, email, website login, social networking like Facebook, Instagram etc., wireless router, and computer among other passwords. Phew! So many of them as I said above. Now please don't think that you are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It just happens.

Image 1

So, let's not worry about other passwords as I am sure you are going to take care of them except the Linksys wireless router's. I am going to discuss how you can hard reset your Linksys wireless router. Afterwards you can choose to reset your password or wireless settings. Have a glance at the steps discussed below:

 



Image 2

1. Grab a sharp and thin paper clip, hair pin, or any other object and keep it aside. For example, a pen's nib will do. Turn your Linksys router upside down and locate the Reset button, a tiny hole. If you do not find the button underneath the router, look at its back. (See image 1 and 2)




Image 3

2. Once you have located the Reset button, insert the sharp, thin object in the hole. Push the button and hold it for 10-30 seconds (See image 2 or 3) in the same position. You must see the lights going crazy and turning off/on on the router. Remove the Power cable from the back of router while holding down the Reset button. 

 

3. Release the button after 10-30 seconds and plug the Power cable back into the Linksys router. Turn on the router and wait for it to reboot fully. That's it and your router is reset. Now if you want to access the web interface of your router to login or reset password, open your web browser. Type '192.168.1.1' in the address bar and hit Enter.


4. A login screen will appear now. Enter the default admin password and username of your Linksys router and click the Submit button. You can refer to your Linksys documentation for the login details. Once logged in, you can change your password or reconfigure your wireless settings.



Common Linksys Wireless Router Problems, How to Fix Them

Despite being an excellent piece of technology, it’s common for a Linksys wireless router to run into troubles owing to miscellaneous reasons. You might at times find it difficult to connect to your wireless network or browse the Internet wirelessly. You may often experience  that the wireless connection drops frequently or the download\upload speed is very slow. You can definitely fix these common Linksys wireless router problems in no time and get your wireless connection up and running again. Follow the steps given below:

1. If you did not make any changes to your wireless network configurations lately, then simply power cycle your router and computer. If an Internet modem is connected in between, reboot it also. A power cycle should resolve a temporary network glitch due to which the chaos started. If power cycling does not fix your issue, move onto next step. You can also reconfigure your Linksys router settings if you want to.

2. Isolate the issue by verifying if it is only one computer, which is facing issues or if other computers too have been affected. If it is only one computer that is facing the connection drop or poor signal strength, update its adapter drivers. Go to the CiscoHomeSupport website, enter your Linksys product model, and download the file. Save the downloaded file and unzip its contents to another file.

Afterwards, go to Device Manager, locate and select the Linksys wireless adapter, right click on it, and choose Update Driver. Browse to the downloaded file, select it, and update the adapter. Exit all the windows and reconnect to wireless network on this particular computer. Verify whether the issue has been resolved or not.

3. If all the computers seem to have been affected, then first verify that you have an active Internet connection. To do so, disconnect your computer from the Linksys router and connect it directly to your DSL modem using the Ethernet cable to make a wired connection. Connect to the Internet and open your web browser. If the Internet isn’t working, contact your ISP. If there is a temporary network congestion, you will have to wait until it is gone away. If the Internet is working fine, you must verify and/or change your existing wireless connection settings in the router.

4. Change the channel number. To do so, open your internet browser, type ‘192.168.1.1’ in the address bar, and hit the Enter key on the keyboard. When prompted, enter the login details viz. username and password and hit Enter. Once logged in, highlight the Wireless tab and then click on the Basic Wireless Settings sub tab. click on the drop-down arrow next to Channel and select any of 1, 11, or 6 from the listed numbers.

These are preferred channel numbers in the U.S. for a wireless network as they do not overlap. However, it is recommended that you should try each channel number individually for the best wireless range and connectivity. Choose only that channel number at which your wireless connection works most steadily. Click on the Save Settings button to save the changes and exit the router interface.

5. If you are facing a slow download issue, turn off IPv6, a built-in feature in your computer. To do so, right click on the Local Area Connection icon in your system tray and choose Open Network Connections. Right click on Local Area Connection and choose Properties. Under the General or Networking tab, look for Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and uncheck the box next to it. Press the OK button to exit the window. This should fix any slow download problem in your wireless connection.

6. You can also upgrade the firmware if it has not never been done. To do so, you will need to download the latest firmware upgrade file from CiscoHomeSupport. Save the file and extract its contents to another file. Thereafter, login to the router and browse to the Administration tab and then Firmware Upgrade. Press the Browse button, locate the saved .bin file, and then hit the Start Upgrade button. Do not exit this window and/or turn off your computer while the upgrade is in progress. It is quite normal for your router to reboot several times during the upgrade. You must save your current configurations before performing the firmware upgrade. Otherwise, you will lose them.

7. If nothing works, hard reset your router. You must save your existing settings before performing the hard reset as it will wipe them out. Once you have saved the settings, take a thin, sharp pin and insert it into the Reset button of the router. It is a very small hole underneath the router. Hold the button for 15-20 seconds and then release it. Wait for the router to boot fully. When done, reconfigure your wireless settings.

How to Boost the Range and Signal Strength on a Netgear Wireless Router

Netgear wireless devices are known to woo users for their networking and wireless capabilities, outstanding Wi-Fi range as well as excellent signal strength. That said, Netgear devices are one of the best choices for going wireless.

However, these devices are equally known to pose challenges like poor Wi-Fi signal strength, range, and intermittent connection among other Netgear router problems at times. Don’t worry! I'll discuss some great tips for your Netgear wireless router to help you fine tune it for the optimal results. You can save tremendous time using these tips and happily go wireless.

1. Positioning – It plays an extremely important role in having a good wireless range. Choose a location that is free of obstacles, electrical equipment like microwave ovens, fax machines, mobile phones, and computers etc. You can choose to place the router in the centre of a room or home for even and omni-directional range. You can also mount it on a wall that is empty of electrical, phone wires or metal objects as well as those mentioned above.

2. Point the antennas (of your Netgear router) upward in line as well as view of one another. If your router came without antennas, then buy one or two as per your choice from a third-party manufacturer.

If you are using an external antenna, then it is recommended to place it high as well as away from physical touch with equipment and obstructions etc. If there is a multistory building, then position it at least 45 degrees (or more) high from the ground.

3. Attach an Antenna – As said earlier, you can buy and attach an external antenna to your device in order to enhance the signal strength & range. Follow the instructions mentioned in the above step for the right positioning of the antenna.

4. Choose a strong channel – There are total of 11 channels (13 in Europe) for 802.11g and 802.11b wireless router versions. You can select any one of them for your Netgear device. 802.11g and 802.11b protocols just have three non-overlapping channels. Choose the channel number, which is not being used by anyone else in your neighborhood. Though it is practically impossible, but still options are there.

5. Attach a Powerline Extender – Buy a powerline extender from Netgear (it does offer these little, powerful gadgets) and plug it directly into your router with another end into a power outlet. The extender doesn’t require configuration and is low priced. It simply uses a power line to transmit signals instead of an Ethernet cable.

6. Upgrade Equipment – If your router is an old genius, then it is better to upgrade it. Old devices are prone to transmitting weak signals and thus making your wireless connection perform real slow and sluggish. Thus upgrade your Netgear device to a newer version. You can also visit Netgear’s official website for upgrade options and help.

***RangeMax products of Netgear come with multiple antennas and hence usually don’t pose such problems. Advanced users can also choose to setup their Netgear device as an access point, use a repeater, or site survey etc.

How to Convert a Linksys Wireless Router into an Access Point

Linksys router is a great device for networking, connecting to wireless connection, or in terms of performance. The device allows configuration of different features like access point, Client Bridge, or repeater among others to help make the most out of a wired or or wireless connection. Access Point is one of such features that Linksys wireless router has. An Access Point is very useful in broadcasting wirelessly on a wired network or extending a wireless network's range. So, if you have two Linksys wireless routers, you can set either of them as an access point and get going. Have a glance at the steps below:

Things you will need:

a. Linksys router's login details viz. username and password

b. IP address

c. DHCP address

d. DNS address

e. Wireless network name (SSID)

f. Channel number

g. Security type (WEP or WPA)

h. Wireless encryption/security key

1. You will first need to find out the IP address and other configurations of your router. To do so, click Start and navigate to Run. Type ‘cmd’ (without quotes) in the Run window, click OK. This will bring up the Command Prompt window. Type ‘ipconfig’ and then hit the Enter key on the keyboard. Make a note of all the information like IP address, subnet mask, and DNS address etc. and keep it aside for use in next steps.



Yellow Ethernet Cable



2. Now connect your computer directly to the Linksys router using an Ethernet cable. Disconnect the modem if it is connected in between as well as the network cable from your present network. Plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the back of the router’s 4 LAN ports and the other into the computer as shown in the pic 



Linksys Router Login Page



3. Open up Mozilla Firefox or Internet Explorer whichever web browser you have. Type ‘192.168.1.1’ (without quotes and as is) in the address bar and press the Enter button on the keyboard. You will see a login screen like this. Enter the username and password in the respective fields and click OK. The default username and password for Linksys routers are 'admin' and 'admin' or 'password' respectively. However, you must refer to your router docs before entering anything in the fields. The information may differ according to the router model.



4. When logged into the router setup utility, highlight the Wireless tab and then the Basic Wireless Settings. Check the Wireless Network Mode (it should be mixed or b or g). The Wireless Network Name (SSID) should be changed to something else that is hard to recognize but not Linksys. Change the channel number if you desire to. Wireless SSID Broadcast should be enabled.

5. Click the Wireless Security sub tab and change the configurations here too. Click on the drop-down menu next to Security Mode and choose WPA Personal. Assign a security key (pass code) in the WPA Shared Key box and then hit the Save Settings button.

 

6. Now click the Setup tab and navigate to Basic Setup. Under Network Setup, change the Local IP Address to something else other than the original IP address (which was there in the ipconfig information). Do the same with Subnet Mask, change it to something not similar to the original one.

7. Disable the DHCP Server by selecting the Disable button. The DHCP functionality is being disabled due to the fact that your other router will use DHCP addresses. Press the Save Settings button again to let the router reboot. If the router doesn’t reboot automatically, then do it manually. Reboot your computer and the other Linksys router also. Connect the network cable from your current network and restart your computer. Your router-computer connection should be like the one in the picture.

Now you can login to your latest wireless access point and go wireless.

How to Install a Netgear WPN111

The Netgear WPN111 wireless network adapter helps to connect a system with wireless network. User can access home or corporate networks and the Internet. The Netgear WPN111 adapter connects via USB and supports all industry-standard wireless networks. The Netgear WPN111 adapter capability allows high packet data transfers at up to 108 Mbps for maximum throughput. Follow the given steps to install a Netgear WPN111 adapter.

If you want to configure a Netgear DG834GT router,then follow this blog- How to Configure a Netgear DG834GT

Step1: Connect the Netgear WPN111 wireless adapter by plugging it into an available USB slot on your computer. Plug the router into its respective electricity outlet and turn it on.

Step2: Insert the installation disc and wait for the auto-prompt to come up. From the Menu option, click "Install the Software" to proceed installation.

Step3: Click "Check For Updates", system is connected to the internet or click "Install From CD".

Step4: Select your country location when prompted and click "Agree" to continue. Select the option for "NETGEAR Smart Wizard" and click "Next."

Step5: If you want to connect a wireless network immediately, click "Yes", otherwise you can continue installing the device, click "No" to complete the installation procedure.


Note: If you are facing any problem on router then you can reach online technical support service desk of V tech-squad at their Toll Free No +1-877-452-9201.

See also: Netgear Router - How to Block Unwanted Websites
                  How to Secure Your Wireless Router