I have wireless!!

YEAH!! YAY!! YiPEE KEI YEI YAY!!

No, seriously. I don't think you all understand. When it comes to technology, I am cursed. Everything I touch that is techy all of a sudden gets a glitch, or stops working. "Wow, I've never seen this before," is often the sentence that many of my tech operators say. My tech un-savvyness has become so common...yet I still react poorly when I don't get it...or when something should work when the person on the phone or the person in store tells me it will.

I normally say something like, "No, I don't think you understand! I am cursed. I am poison! Everything I touch that is techy, breaks. If you can't show me step-by-step how to do this, I will be back in here with a receipt and I will return your high-techy thing and I will never come back or buy anything from you ever again!"

That's right. I react. The poor people who call me during these high pressure moments. I am so sorry!!

So, for those of you who are looking to buy a router to have your own wireless network and you are a Mac user...I am going to write up some basic instructions that will help you on your way to setting up your Mac to an un-Mac router, specifically the Linksys RangePlus Wireless Router

Helpful Hints:

• The Linksys 24-Hour Technical Support is 800-326-7114. When I went into the store (I will not name the store, nor talk about how ignorant the 'experts' were), they could not provide me with a hotline. They said I could go online and get it. Well duh...if I had internet, this wouldn't be a problem. Hmmm. Way to go geniuses.

• This particular system, made for Windows XP and Windows Vista, is actually compatible with Macs. Don't let anyone fool you. The only problem is that the CD-ROM that you are given is only accessible on PC's. Therefore, you are lacking the necessary steps to setting up your router. Really, it is so much easier to do anyway. I hope I can explain it well.
  

Setting up your Linksys RangePlus Wireless Router with a Mac

Step 1: Connect your router to your modem with the (blue*) chord.

• On the back of your Linksys router, there is an input for your chord labeled 'internet'. On the back of your modem, the chord input is labeled 'ethernet'. Connect both the Linksys router and the modem by connecting these two inputs with the chord. Router - internet, Modem - ethernet.

*Color may vary

Step 2: Plug in your power supply.

• As with all things electronic and not charged by the sun, things need power, therefore so does your router. Make sure to plug your router into your wall jack. Your modem's power supply should also be plugged into your wall jack.

Step 3: Your package will come with another 'ethernet' chord or wire. Plug that chord into one of the 4 inputs labeled 'ethernet. Any should work.'

Step 4: Turn on your Mac.
Step 5: Open your browser.
Step 6: Type in 192.168.1.1 where the URL typically goes.

• This number is just an IP address that apparently all techy people know or have. Don't worry too much about it or where it comes from.

Step 7: When you type this in a box will pop up asking for a username and password. Leave the username blank. Type in the password: admin. A Linksys screen will appear.

Step 8: Don't get freaked out. There is a lot of mumbo jumbo techy stuff all over the place. BREATHE!

Step 9: To get your router to recognize your Mac:

• Click on the tab 'Set Up'
• Click on the link 'Mac Address Clone'
• Click the option 'Enable'
• Then, click the button 'Clone My PC's Mac' (I don't know what the big deal was, but apparently without this, the router doesn't work. I can't tell you why or how or even what, but trust me....it works)
• Lastly, click 'Save settings' (I didn't do this and almost had a heart attack when it didn't work)
  

Step 10: If you want to make your system password protected so no one else can use your internet:

• First, name your SSID (I don't know what this stands for, but it is better than using linksys, which other users might have and it could get confusing). Click on the tab 'Wireless'
• Second, name your SSID in the section 'Network Name (SSID)'
• Third, click on 'Wireless Security.' Here you will have the option of what kind of network you are on. Under the 'Security Mode' option, I chose WPA personal.
  
• Fourth, leave 'encryption' as 'TKIP'
• Fifth, come up with a password
• Sixth, leave 'Key Renewal' at 3600.
• Last, save settings
  

Once you have saved your settings, you can now go to the wireless icon at the top of your screen that looks like a carrot and connect to your brand newly-named router and enter the password. It is your choice whether or not you want your computer to remember this password or not.

If you decide not to worry about the settings and don't mind providing internet for other people you still must follow some last helpful hints.

Last minute problems:

If you are still having problems with your router connecting to your Mac, try these options:

• Disconnect the power from your modem for 10 seconds and reconnect.
• Disconnect the power from your router for 10 seconds and reconnect.
• Shut down or restart your computer.

If your computer is still not responding...I am all out of solutions. I did the best I could!!

Oh...and just so everyone knows...I did NOT figure this out by myself. HUGE kudos to Mike Lyman...the man of the hour!! He is the IT dude at my former company and is a rockin genius. He so cool, he even made headlines.