Whether it’s your current home or a new place you’ve moved to, getting a good internet connection is one of the most important items on your to-do list. Fortunately, it’s not as difficult of a task as it sounds. Most internet service providers offer a self-install kit for free or at a nominal fee to get you started. And if that doesn’t help, then our detailed guide will teach you everything you need to know, from choosing the right broadband connection to instructions on how to set up internet at your home.
Table of Contents
Learn How to Set Up Internet at Your Home: Step-by-Step Guide
Choose the Right Internet Service
Connect the Wi-Fi Router to Your Modem
Connect Your Devices to the Internet
How to Establish a Wired Connection
How to Establish a Wireless Connection
Let’s begin!
Learn How to Set Up Internet at Your Home: Step-by-Step Guide
We have created a systematic guide that will help you set the internet connection at your home. So we will start with the basics i.e. choosing the right internet connection type.
Choose the Right Internet Service
To gain internet access for your household, you need to first choose an internet service provider that best suits your needs. However, it’s not as simple sometimes as you have to search for the available ISPs in your area, the plans they offer, the type of internet connection they offer, and whether that connection type matches your requirements or not.
In almost every urban/suburban location in the US, you will find a handful of options. However, people in underserved areas may not have as many options. In rural areas, you will usually find one or two providers who are offering a limited number of plans, and that too with specific connection types. Some of the most commonly available broadband connections you’ll find at your residential address are explained below.
Satellite Internet
It’s no secret that a satellite internet connection is easily available all over the country. Just like setting up a dish for a wireless connection, you need clear access to the sky for the satellite dish to send and receive internet signals. A dish installed on the roof connects with a satellite hovering in space. Such a service proves to be adequate when no tall infrastructures surround you. A drawback to this connection is that the distance between the dish and satellite may cause disturbances and limited data to transfer within a specific period of time.
Satellite internet installation could get expensive due to its complexity. To set up a connection, you will need professional technicians, who are familiar with regulations and safety protocols in your area, know how to identify the right location for your internet equipment, align the satellite dish correctly, conduct post-install testing, and more. HughesNet often brings out free standard installation offers for a limited time. Make sure you ask the customer service reps about the offer’s validity and eligibility.
Fixed Wireless Internet
A common cost-effective connection found in underserved and rural communities is a fixed wireless connection. Its installation process is similar to that of a satellite connection. When you sign up for fixed wireless service, a good ISP will first request a visit to your residence in order to identify the ideal location for the antenna
A necessary precaution includes placing the antenna in a direct line of sight (LOS) of the nearest wireless base station, with no obvious hindrances or obstructions in its path. If the antenna is placed in a direction that faces trees, forestry, or hilly areas, it jeopardizes the strength of your internet connection. Another important fact is to remember that the further your location is from the wireless hub, the slower your internet connection will be.
Once the location is determined, the ISP will proceed with the installation of the antenna at your home. Most fixed wireless ISPs like Rise Broadband conduct the entire process themselves for a specific one-time fee, so you don’t have to lift a finger. Rise Broadband even offers amazing discounts on installation.
DSL
Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is available wherever there are phone lines, and they’re basically everywhere. However, the quality of the connection varies even with a specific provider. Most rural areas have traditional setups that deliver extremely slow internet speeds, while other areas consist of newer and proficient DSL technologies that deliver high-speed internet connections.
Due to the difference in infrastructure, DSL providers like Mediacom and AT&T Internet provide different internet speeds across locations. The speeds could be anywhere from 0.8 Mbps to 100 Mbps, you would get the confirmation of speeds in your area by contacting their customer service.
CenturyLink and AT&T Internet both offer professional installation services for a one-time fee. However, if you’d like to save some money, you may request a self-installation kit from the provider at a small fee and set up the internet yourself.
Fiber-Optic Internet
Fiber-optic internet is currently the speediest internet connection available in the market. A 100% pure fiber connection has limited availability compared to other network types, and it’s mostly found in urban/suburban regions. Fiber-optic cables include hundreds of thin glass or plastic strands that transmit pulses of light at a 70% rate of the speed of light.
Usually, with a fiber-to-the-home connection, one can attain symmetrical internet speeds up to 1 Gbps, which allow you to stream videos in 4K without buffering, conduct videoconferences easily, upload and download large files, and do more in a multi-device household. However, providers like AT&T Fiber and Xfinity are offering symmetrical speeds as high as 5 Gbps and 3 Gbps, respectively, in certain metropolitan areas.
Most fiber internet providers do not offer the option to self-install as it often requires laying up-to-date fiber cables and specialized equipment setup. With AT&T Fiber, you may get the option to self-install if you previously had a fiber connection on the premises. Otherwise, you may have to opt for pro installation but do check if you can get free installation with your provider. MetroNet, on the other hand, often offers discounts on installation and a self-install kit once you’ve got a fiber wall plate installed at your home.
Another drawback of this service is its inaccessibility. However, progress is being made and their reach is increasing.
Cable Internet
Cable connections are the commonest in the country as it utilizes the prevalent cable TV infrastructures spread across the country. Providing you dual services of TV and fast and reliable internet connection. Cable internet has become a lot more sophisticated as providers like Spectrum, Optimum, Mediacom, and Hargray Internet supplement their network with fiber-optic. This results in download speeds similar to that of fiber connection, ranging from 100 Mbps to 1000 Mbps. However, the upload speed is limited to 50 Mbps. Cable is certainly cost-effective, and you’ve got a lot of options no matter where you are and you can find the exact cable service that caters to your requirements.
As cable installation is often not that complicated, Spectrum, Optimum, and Mediacom offer you the choice between pro and self installation.
Now that you know the kind of connections available and the choice of installation you may have, you may look for the ISP that offers what you want. Is it free professional installation, a choice to opt for a self-install kit, or to use your own equipment? This may seem a bit overwhelming if there are a lot of options around you. One thing you can do is enter your zip code at BuyTVInternetPhone. You will be able to see all the internet providers available in your area and the plans that they offer. Once you’ve made your choice, you can contact customer service at 1-855-349-9328 to ask relevant questions and subscribe.
Install Your Modem
If you’re done with the installation part of your home internet service, then you must be wondering how to set up your internet equipment. During professional installations, the service provider takes care of the entire process or a self-install kit offers detailed instructions on setting up the service.
However, if that’s not the case with you, then you need to know how to set up internet at your home. You will have to rent or purchase the necessary equipment to access the internet service. Depending on the provider, the router and modem may be different from others. Below are details on internet equipment for different connection types.
- In DSL modems, technologies include ADSL or VDSL, which simply refer to the different ways that data is transferred over a phone line. In most cases, the input port on your modem will include one for the phone. So you will insert one end of the cable in the phone jack on your home wall and the other in the modem.
- If you have chosen to sign up for cable internet connections, you will have to plug one end of the cable into the broadband jack in your home and the other end into the router.
- For fiber technology, your modem or gateway might include GPON data transfer technology, which is where you will have to insert the cable.
- In the case of satellite or fixed wireless technology, the modems will form a connection with the antennas installed at your house to communicate with the overhead satellites or nearby base station, respectively.
At the time of signing up, you will have the choice to either rent the modem from the provider or purchase it along with the plan. If you intend on renting the equipment, the provider will usually charge you an additional amount every month along with your internet plan. If you plan to purchase the equipment from the provider or a third party, you will be able to pay for the cost of the device upfront and own it forever. Spectrum is one of the rare few providers that doesn’t charge its subscribers for modems.
Now let’s move on to how to install the internet equipment on your own:
- Bring the modem near the port, which you will connect to access the internet service. That could be a cable outlet, phone jack, or it could be near a window if you have a satellite modem.
- Now connect the modem cable to the outlet in your home.
- Using the power adapter that comes with the modem, plug the device into a power outlet.
- Once your modem is switched on, your connection will show up in your network options and you are free to set it up for use. You can call the internet provider to check if your connection is active yet.
Connect the Wi-Fi Router to Your Modem
Once you have the internet connection set up inside your house, the only thing left to do is to enable a wireless connection so multiple devices can connect to the home network. If your modem is Wi-Fi enabled, then it can also act as a Wi-Fi router by producing an internal Wi-Fi network, which you can use to connect to other devices. If your modem is not equipped to do so, you will have to purchase a Wi-Fi router to connect to the modem.
You will see that there are several ports behind the router. Don’t let them scare you. It is very easy to connect to the proper ports. Follow the steps below to connect the modem to the router.
- Use the Ethernet cable to connect the internet port on the modem to the internet port on the wireless router.
- Power up the cable/satellite/DSL modem and wait for all the lights to stabilize and the internet light to be on.
- Now switch on the wireless router and wait for its internet light to switch on. The light may also show itself by flashing quickly.
- Your in-home Wi-Fi network is now ready.
Before moving on to the next step, ensure that your Wi-Fi router is configured to secure the in-home network from all hackers. This step will also prevent neighbors from accessing your internet and using up your bandwidth and data. Now you can set up your password and username that you will enter on your devices to connect to the internet.
Connect Your Devices to the Internet
You can connect each of your devices to the internet in one of the two possible ways. Either you can choose to connect multiple devices to the wireless network or you can use an Ethernet cable to connect a device directly to the router.
How to Establish a Wired Connection
A wired connection delivers top internet speed compared to that of Wi-Fi. It’s very easy to connect to the internet using an Ethernet cable. All you need to do is plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the internet port on the back of your wireless router. The other end of the cable has to be inserted directly into your laptop or PC.
In most cases, these ports are highlighted in yellow to make them more obvious and are also numbered at times. Avoid plugging the cable in the ‘Internet’ port as that is reserved for your modem. Once the cable has been plugged into the correct ports, you will be connected to the internet.
How to Establish a Wireless Connection
To connect your devices to a wireless connection, all you need to do is select the wireless icon on the screen of your device. Once you click on the icon, you will be able to see all the wireless networks that are in range. You will only be able to connect to the network for which you have the password and that’ll be your home network.
You will have to follow a similar process for any device. Find the Wi-Fi icon and enter the password for your network to establish an internet connection. Once you have successfully connected to the internet, you will be automatically connected to the network every time you are in range.
In the End
Internet connections are easily available in the US. All you need to do is find a provider that is offering a suitable plan for your location. If you still have any questions, you can always contact BuyTVInternetPhone at 1-855-349-9328.