Internet Help please

[Beta Man]

I have a wireless connection to my Mac laptop..... I know little to nothing about this stuff, so take it easy on me

I always left my connection "Open" because I figured if neighbors want to 'borrow' my connection, no big deal.... as I didn't use it for file-sharing or big downloads etc.....

Recently I've gotten a Call of Duty addiction, and also have been streaming a lot of movies from Netflix to my PS3.... I want to increase the quality of the movies since they seem to vary sometimes, and also reduce the lag I get sometimes, or the random connection lost errors I get once every 5 hours of game-time or so......

How do I make my connection "protected" ???? My two immediate neighbors on both sides have internet, and they're the only two neighbors I care about anyways..... so I don't feel like sharing anymore

I have a 2-wire or something like that, if that makes a difference.....

Thanks, and sorry for the "Internet for Dummies" questions!

[b0bby]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I have a wireless connection to my Mac laptop..... I know little to nothing about this stuff, so take it easy on me

I always left my connection "Open" because I figured if neighbors want to 'borrow' my connection, no big deal.... as I didn't use it for file-sharing or big downloads etc.....

Recently I've gotten a Call of Duty addiction, and also have been streaming a lot of movies from Netflix to my PS3.... I want to increase the quality of the movies since they seem to vary sometimes, and also reduce the lag I get sometimes, or the random connection lost errors I get once every 5 hours of game-time or so......

How do I make my connection "protected" ???? My two immediate neighbors on both sides have internet, and they're the only two neighbors I care about anyways..... so I don't feel like sharing anymore

I have a 2-wire or something like that, if that makes a difference.....

Thanks, and sorry for the "Internet for Dummies" questions!

open a browser and type in 192.168.1.1
this takes you into your routers configuration page. the default password is usually "admin" or "password" with a blank in the user field (may vary depending on your router, check manual).

go into wireless settings, pick a name for your wireless network under the ssid field, choose the protected schemes ie. wep, wpa, wpa2. type in a passphrase, anything you want. write down your access key. click on save settings.

on your mac's wireless internet tool it'll find the network and ask you for a key to gain access. type in the key, click save. done.

[Beta Man]

I typed in 192.168.1.1 and it just says "connecting" and never does anything...... is there something else I need to type in too?

[mikejet]

What router do you have? Different routers have different main IP's.

[Beta Man]

don't know... some type of A-Wire or 2-Wire or something..... I'll have to wait to ask the wife where she put it..... she's a compulsive "organizer"

[mikejet]

You can check the router and see if the model number is displayed. The brand might be enough though.

[DJ Manyak]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

I typed in 192.168.1.1 and it just says "connecting" and never does anything...... is there something else I need to type in too?

usually when you type in the routers ip's you are suppose to be prompted for user-name and password which is admin / admin before you are able to get the router's settings.

but alot of routers nowadays have a security enable buttons right on the front of router itself.

[bageleaterkkjji]

Step 1: IP Address

Head on up to the Apple menu in the top left of the screen. Click it, and go to System Preferences. Once that's open, click on the Network icon. You should see your IP address under the method through which you are connected to the internet; sometimes that's Airport, or it might be Ethernet, etc.


see if what this page says

[b0bby]

Originally Posted by computergeek

usually when you type in the routers ip's you are suppose to be prompted for user-name and password which is admin / admin before you are able to get the router's settings.

but alot of routers nowadays have a security enable buttons right on the front of router itself.

if 192.168.1.1 didn't give you a log in popup then i would visit the router manufacturers website and try to find a pdf of the manual and find what the router ip is.