16

3

Connecting Other Devices to the Cable

Modem/Router

This chapter explains how to connect devices (computers, phones, tablets, game

stations, etc.) to the Cable Modem/Router. These devices can be connected either

wirelessly or to one of the Ethernet ports on your Cable Modem/Router.

If you are connecting a computer or other device to an Ethernet LAN port of the Cable

Modem/Router, please go to

Connecting Additional Computers and/or Other Devices to

the Cable Modem/Router’s Ethernet/LAN ports

. If you are connecting one or more Wi-Fi

compatible devices wirelessly to the cable modem/router, please continue below.

Connecting Wi-Fi compatible wireless devices to your Cable

Modem/Router

Your Cable Modem/Router comes pre-configured with these wireless settings:



WPA2-PSK/WPA-PSK security is enabled



A random Pre-Shared Key (also called a security key or password) is assigned.

The Security Key/Password is printed on the back label of your cable

modem/router.

Cable Modem Back label

:

17



The default SSID (wireless network name) is assigned as

Zoomxxxx

(where

xxxx ar 4 random alpha-numeric characters). This SSID is printed on the back

label of your Cable Modem/Router.

Most users should simply use these default settings. If you want to change these default

settings please see,

Chapter 4, Changing the Default Wireless Settings

before

connecting your wireless computers or devices.

You must use compatible wireless settings for each computer or device that you want to

wirelessly connect to the Cable Modem/Router, as described below.

Establishing your Wireless Network

If all the computers or devices on your network support WPS, you can use WPS to easily

set up your network. Windows 8.1, 8, and 7 support WPS. Non Windows devices

typically have a button called WPS on them if they support WPS. (Note: Apple iPads,

iPhones, and Macintosh computers do not support WPS as of Febuary 2015.)

Please

see

Using WPS to set up your Wireless network

if you want to use WPS for wireless

connections to your Cable Modem/Router.

If some of the wireless devices do not support WPS, or if you do not know whether they

do support WPS, you can configure each computer or device manually. To do that,

select one of the possibilities for that computer or other device below:



If you have a

non-computer

wireless device like an iPhone or other cellular

phone, iPad or other tablet, iPod Touch

, etc., see the instructions on page 18 for

Connecting a Wireless-enabled Device to your Cable Modem/Router

.



Many newer

Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, and XP computers have built-in wireless

networking

capabilities and do not require the installation of a wireless component.

If this is the case, you should set up that computer’s wireless connection using the

Windows 8.1 or 8, 7, Vista, or XP connect utility. See

the sections below on

connecting

Windows 8.1 or 8

(page 19),

Windows 7

(page 20),

Vista

(page 20), or

XP

(page 22) computers with built-in wireless capabilities.



If you are using a Macintosh computer see the instructions on page 23 for

Connecting a Macintosh OS X Computer with Built-in Wireless Capabilities



Some older Windows computers may have

built-in wireless networking

capabilities,

but not use the Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, or XP utility to configure wireless networking. If

this is so, set up your computer’s wireless connection using the instructions on page 24

for

Connecting a Computer with a wireless adapter to the Cable Modem/Router

.

18



Some

computers

may need a

wireless network adapter installed

. This can be a USB

adapter, PC Card adapter, or PCI adapter. When you install the adapter, make sure that it

is set to

infrastructure

or

access point

mode (NOT

ad-hoc

or

peer-to-peer

mode). If

you need help installing your wireless adapter or setting its mode, refer to the

documentation that came with it. After you install the adapter, see the instructions on

page 24 for

Connecting a Computer with a wireless adapter to the Cable Modem/Router

.

Connecting a Wireless-enabled Device (including the

iPhone or other cellular phones, iPad or other tablets,

the iPod Touch, etc.) to the Cable Modem/Router

1

Select the wireless-enabled computer or device that you want to add to the network.

The device should have software that will let it perform a

site search

to scan for

available wireless networks in your area. You may have to click on something like

Settings

and then

Wi-Fi

. When the list of available wireless networks appears,

typically you select

Zoomxxxx

where xxxx is 4 random alpha-numeric characters.

Zoomxxxx

is the SSID printed on the bottom label of your Cable Modem/Router.

In

the unlikely event that you changed the SSID from the default, select your new SSID.

2

When prompted for the wireless password, enter your Pre-Shared Key (Security

Key/Password) and click either

Next

,

Connect

or

Join

. Your Security Key/Password

can be found on the bottom label of your Cable Modem/Router.

Tip!

If you need help, refer to the documentation that came with your wireless device.

3

Test your wireless connection. Open your device’s Web browser (for instance,

Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome) and try to connect to a familiar Web address. If

you are unable to connect, make sure you followed the instructions.

If you did,

please see

Appendix A: Troubleshooting Tips

.

Your device is now connected to your wireless network. If you want to connect additional

computers or devices, follow the instructions for your device by starting at the first page

of this chapter.

To disconnect from the current network:

1

On your wireless device or computer, find the wireless network connection option

(similar to the process of adding your device or computer to the network).

2

Click or highlight your SSID (wireless network name).

3

Select or click on

Disconnect, Forget,

or

Forget this network

or similarly-named

button

.

19

Connecting a Windows 8.1 or 8 Computer with Built-in Wireless

Capabilities

1

Click the

Wireless Network Configuration

utility icon

in your computer’s

system tray.

2

Typically you then click

Zoomxxxx

where xxxx is 4 random alpha-numeric

characters.

Zoomxxxx

is the SSID printed on the bottom label of your Cable

Modem/Router.

In the unlikely event that you changed the SSID from the default,

select your new SSID.

3

Click

Connect

. If you want to connect to this network automatically in the future,

check the

Connect Automatically

checkbox.

4

When prompted to enter your Network Security Key, enter your Pre-Shared Key

(Security Key/Password) and hit Next. Your Security Key/Password can be found on

the bottom label of your Cable Modem/Router.

5

When asked “Do you want to turn on sharing between PCs and connect to devices

on this network?” Click

Yes

to enable sharing and

No

to disable sharing. Sharing

sets up your firewall to allow other users on your network to share files, folders or

devices such as printers.

Most users should select

Yes

. If you know you don’t want

to share files or devices, select

No.

6

Test your wireless connection. Open your computer’s Web browser and try to

connect to a familiar Website.

If you are unable to connect, make sure you followed

the instructions.

If you did, please see

Appendix A: Troubleshooting Tips

.

Your computer is now connected to your wireless network. If you want to connect

additional computers or devices, follow the instructions for your device by starting at the

first page of this chapter.

To disconnect from the current wireless network:

1

Left-click the wireless network icon in the notification area of the Windows taskbar.

2

Right-click your SSID (wireless network name) and select

Disconnect

.

20

Connecting a Windows 7 Computer with Built-in

Wireless Capabilities

1

Click the

Wireless Network Configuration

utility icon

in your computer’s

system tray.

2

Typically you then click

Zoomxxxx

where xxxx is 4 random alpha-numeric

characters.

Zoomxxxx

is the SSID printed on the bottom label of your Cable

Modem/Router.

In the unlikely event that you changed the SSID from the default,

select your new SSID.

3

Click

Connect

. If you want to connect to this network automatically in the future,

check the

Connect Automatically

checkbox.

4

When prompted to enter your Network Security Key, enter your Pre-Shared Key

(Security Key/Password) and hit

OK

. Your Security Key/Password can be found on

the bottom label of your Cable Modem/Router.

5

Test your wireless connection. Open your computer’s Web browser and try to

connect to a familiar Website. If you are unable to connect, make sure you followed

the instructions.

If you did, please see

Appendix A: Troubleshooting Tips

Your computer is now connected to your wireless network. If you want to connect

additional computers or devices, follow the instructions for your device by starting at the

first page of this chapter.

To disconnect from the current network:

1

Right-click the wireless network icon in the notification area of the Windows taskbar.

2

Right-click your SSID (wireless network name) and select

Disconnect

.

Connecting a Windows Vista Computer with Built-in

Wireless Capabilities

1

From the

Start

menu select

Connect to

.

2

In the

Connect to a network

dialog box, typically you then click

Zoomxxxx

where

xxxx is 4 random alpha-numeric characters.

Zoomxxxx

is the SSID printed on the

bottom label of your Cable Modem/Router.

In the unlikely event that you changed

the SSID from the default, select your new SSID.