The proliferation of a huge number of devices that can connect to the Internet using wireless technology has led to the fact that the presence of Wi-Fi coverage in a house or apartment has ceased to be something special, but rather has become a necessity. Laptops, smartphones and tablets exist in almost every family, and all users of these devices need Wi-Fi. Today it is very simple to create a wireless network in a small room, you will need a single device - a router. Below we will focus on the budget, but not only due to this very popular model - TP-Link TL-WR740N. Setting up the router will also be considered.
Opportunities
Before proceeding to the installation and configuration of the router, you should dwell on a description of its main features. This will not make a mistake in choosing a potential buyer of the device. Characteristics TP-Link TL-WR740N together with low cost allow this device to claim the title of one of the best solutions for use in an apartment or small house. The device supports modern standards for transmitting information in Wi-Fi networks, including 802.11n 2.4 GHz with a speed of up to 150 Mbps, as well as widely used encryption protocols. Connecting to the Internet can be done using fixed and dynamic IP addresses, as well as through PPPoE, PPTP and L2TP.
Additional functions
Additional useful features include IPTV support, as well as the ability to perform port translation. Among other things, the router supports DMZ and UPnP. Setting up the TP-Link TL-WR740N is quite simple, and even a novice user can figure this out. Summarizing the above, it is worth noting that this model can be recommended for creating a network of 1-3 computers and several mobile devices, that is, for the usual needs of the average user.
Connection
The first thing that is required after buying any router is connecting a cable to the device from the provider, as well as pairing the device with a PC using the patch cord that comes with the router. It is advisable to connect TP-Link TL-WR740N for configuration through a cable rather than Wi-Fi, do not forget about it. On the back of the device there are five connectors, one of which is indicated in blue (WAN). It is in this blue connector that the cable from the provider is connected. To connect to a PC or laptop, use any of the yellow connectors (No. 1-4). After the network wires are connected and the router receives power from the 220 V outlet, you need to press the power button located near the connectors, and you can proceed to configuration. By the way, the TP-Link TL-WR740N scheme, according to which the router connects to other devices, is displayed on the box.
Establish an Internet connection
The main function of each router is to distribute the Internet to other devices. Before implementing this feature, you need to configure TP-Link TL-WR740N to receive Internet from the provider. To do this, use the capabilities of the web interface of the router. Access to the settings is carried out at tplinklogin.net or 192.168.0.1, which is entered in the address bar of any Internet browser. After authorization (by default, the username and password correspond to the admin value), a screen will open in which absolutely all parameters of the router are set. The easiest way to quickly connect the Internet to a router is to use the “Quick Setup” item. Going to this item will launch a special wizard, following the instructions of which you need to determine the network parameters. For most users, setting up TP-Link TL-WR740N in this option comes down to choosing the country, city and provider in the first step of the wizard.
Wireless settings
In addition to the Internet connection, the setup wizard described above allows you to configure the wireless network settings, mainly represented by the name of the latter, password for access, type of encryption. You can set your own parameters, or you can leave the default values. By the way, the default wireless password is written on a sticker located at the bottom of the device. Upon completion of entering the necessary data, you must click the "Next" button on the settings screen, and in the next window - the "Finish" button. After a reboot, the device should connect to the Internet and begin to distribute traffic through a wireless network. If this does not happen, you will have to double-check the correctness of the settings by running the “Quick Setup” again.
Firmware update
Large manufacturers of network equipment, and TP-Link is no exception, are constantly working to improve the software that underlies the work of their devices. To update the firmware, you must use the item “Firmware Update” in the “System Tools” menu of the router’s web interface. It is highly advisable to upgrade TP-Link TL-WR740N if there is a new firmware version on the official website of the manufacturer. In most cases, this procedure increases the stability of the router, and can also introduce new features to the device.
Firmware procedure
So, to update the firmware, you need to use the “Firmware Update” tool described above. But before proceeding to the procedure, it is necessary to download the firmware file from the official website of the manufacturer. When downloading a file, it is important to consider the hardware version of the router. Information about the revision can be found on the box from the device, as well as on the label located at the bottom of the router case. After the necessary file is downloaded to the PC disk, you need to go to the update tool screen, click the "Select File" button, specify the path to the firmware in the "Explorer" window, and then click the "Update" button. The process of overwriting the firmware will begin, and then the router will automatically reboot.
Conclusion
As you can see, TL-WR740N is a router model that can be recommended to each user with low requests as the basis for creating a home network. At a low cost, this solution seems almost ideal, in any case, for those who are taking their first steps in the world of computer networks or owning a small number of devices that require an Internet connection via Wi-Fi.