Connecting a router to a modem is an important step in setting up your home Wi-Fi network. The router allows you to create a private and secure wireless network that your other devices can use to access the internet.

Depending on the make and model of your modem, there will be various setup steps you need to take. However, there are a few common settings that you need to set on your modem and router to get them working together.

1. Connect the Ethernet Cable to Your Modem

In most cases, a modem comes with an Ethernet port that you can connect a computer or other device to via an Ethernet cable. Once you’ve connected the cable, plug one end of it into your modem and then the other into the WAN (wide area network) port on your router. The WAN port will most likely be yellow and labeled “Internet” or something similar.

2. Turn On Your Router

Most routers come with a power button that you can press to turn on the device. If yours doesn’t have a power button, you may need to use the router’s web interface to manually turn on the device.

3. Change Your WiFi Password

Most modern routers are equipped with a web interface that lets you change the default password for your Wi-Fi network. This is done by logging into the web interface using your default username and password. You’ll want to choose a strong password that isn’t the same as your other personal accounts.

4. Configure the Wireless Settings on Your Router

Each router’s web interface will look a bit different, but in general, you should be able to find these settings under “System,” “Settings,” or something else similar. From here, you’ll need to set a name for your network and select the SSID (Service Set Identifier) as well as a wireless password.

5. Add an eero to Your Network

You can use a gateway eero to extend the range of your Wi-Fi network. This can be especially helpful if your house has an odd shape or your ceilings are taller than normal.

6. Reconnect Old Devices

To reconnect devices that were previously connected to your gateway eero, you’ll need a switch. A switch is a device that connects to your gateway eero and has multiple ports for connecting other devices to your network.

Once you have the switch connected, you’ll need to reconnect all of the devices that were originally connected to your gateway eero. This can be tricky, as some of your devices may not have an Ethernet connection.

8. Connect a Gigabit Switch

If you have multiple devices that you’d like to connect to your router, you should invest in a Gigabit switch. This is the fastest type of switch and can help improve the speed and performance of your entire network.

Once you have the Gigabit switch connected, you should be able to connect all of your devices to your gateway eero. This should improve the speed and performance of your entire network, as well as make it easier to manage your devices.