Model 5354: Connecting devices to the cable modem/router

NOTE: This answer applies to Zoom Cable Modem/Router Model 5354.

This answer explains how to connect devices (computers, smartphones, 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 (next to the yellow LAN ports) of your Cable Modem/Router.
  Cable Modem/Router back label:
  
• The default SSID (wireless network name) is assigned as Zoomxxxx (where xxxx are 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, Model 5354: 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 Mac computers do not support WPS as of February 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 device or computer manually. To do that, please refer to the table below and the follow the steps for your device or computer.

Please note:

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

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

1. Go to the computer that is set up with a wireless adapter that you want to add to the network. For many wireless adapters, you will use their configuration manager software and click a Scan button or select a Site Scan, Scan Networks, or other similarly named tab to do a site search. When the list of available wireless networks appear, you typically select Zoomxxxx where xxxx is 4 random alpha-numeric characters. Zoomxxxx is the SSID printed on the back label (next to the yellow LAN ports) of your Cable Modem/Router. In the unlikely event that you changed the SSID from the default, select your new SSID.
   If you need help, refer to the documentation that came with your wireless adapter.
   Note for Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista and XP users: If you installed a wireless adapter on a Windows 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, or XP computer, Windows may try to automatically configure the adapter (rather than let you use the software provided with the wireless adapter). You will know this is happening because you will be prompted with a message about one or more wireless networks being available. You will also be able to click a link to open the Wireless Network Connection Properties dialog box. If this happens, click the link, clear the Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings check box, and then click OK. You can then use the software provided with your wireless adapter without interruption from Windows.
2. When prompted for the wireless password, enter your Security Key/Password and hit Connect. Your Security Key/Password can be found on the bottom label of your Cable Modem/Router.
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 Model 5354: General 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 section of this answer.

To disconnect from the current network:

1. On your computer that has a wireless adapter, find the wireless network connection option (similar to the process of adding your computer to the network).
2. Click or highlight the Wireless-N Router’s Wireless Security Name.
3. Select or click on Disconnect or similarly-named button.

Using WPS as an alternative way to set up your Wireless Network

If all the Wi-Fi compatible wireless devices on your network support WPS, you can choose to quickly setup your wireless network by pushing a button on your cable modem/router and on each wireless device connecting to your cable modem/router.

Windows 8.1, 8 and Windows 7 users should follow the instructions below: Other computers or devices such as tablets should go to If you are using a non-Windows computer or other device that supports WPS.

If you are using a Windows 8.1, 8, or 7 computer:

1. Open Connect to a Network on that computer by right-clicking the network icon in the notification area of the Windows taskbar.
2. A list of available networks is displayed.
3. Typically you then click Zoomxxxx where xxxx is 4 random alpha-numeric characters. Zoomxxxx is the SSID printed on the back label (next to the yellow LAN ports) of your Cable Modem/Router. In the unlikely event that you changed the SSID from the default, select your new SSID.
4. You will see a screen with a text box for the Security key. If WPS configuration is supported, you may see a message such as You can also connect by pushing the button on the router. If you see this message, continue at step 5 below.
   
5. Press the Wi‑Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button on the router for at least 3 seconds. (You do not need to type a security key or passphrase in the Security key text box on your Windows machine). The Cable Modem/Router will automatically set up the computer to connect to the network and apply the network's security settings. Then click OK on the computer’s Connect to a Network dialog box.

Repeat steps 1-5 above for each Windows computer you want to connect to the Cable Modem/Router. If you want to connect a non-Windows computer or another device such as a tablet, follow the instructions below.

If you are using a non-Windows computer or other device that supports WPS:

Please refer to the instructions for your device for more information on using WPS. The directions below should work for most users.

1. Press the WPS button on the front panel of the router for at least 3 seconds. The WPS LED should blink green.
2. Within 2 minutes (before the WPS LED light turns off), press the WPS button on the device that you’re linking wirelessly to the modem/router. The button may be a physical pushbutton on the device or a button on a page of the device’s wireless network configuration menus.
3. Congratulations! You should now have a secure connection between your Cable Modem/Router and a device. Now is a good time to check that your device’s Internet connection is working. Open your browser and go to a familiar Web site. If you are able to connect, continue with the next step below. If you are not able to connect to the Internet, please see Model 5354: General troubleshooting tips.
4. If you have other devices whose WPS security you need to set, repeat steps 1 through 3 for each device. When they are finished, the basic setup for these local wireless devices should be complete.

Connecting Additional Computers and/or Other Devices to the Cable Modem/Router’s Ethernet/LAN ports

You can plug up to four computers, game consoles, or other Ethernet-capable devices into the Cable Modem/Router’s LAN ports. For information about your specific device, please refer to the documentation that came with that device. Follow the instructions below for each computer or other device.

1. If you connected the Cable Modem/Router to a computer using a wired connection when setting up the Cable Modem/Router, unplug the computer now if you don’t want that computer to stay connected to the Cable Modem/Router.
2. To connect a computer or other Ethernet-capable device, plug one end of an Ethernet cable into an available Ethernet (LAN 1, 2, 3, or 4) port on the Cable Modem/Router and plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port of the additional device you want to connect to the Cable Modem/Router. (If you are connecting a hub or a switch, this is typically called an Uplink or Expansion port.) If you are connecting a computer or game station, go to step 5 of this section.
3. If you are connecting a network device such as a switching hub, use the instructions that came with that device. Then reboot any computer that is part of your network. For example, if you connected a switching hub, reboot any computer that will be connected to that switching hub.
4. If you are connecting a HomePlug adapter pair with one adapter plugged into the Cable Modem/Router and an AC outlet, and the other adapter plugged into a computer, game station, or other device and an AC outlet, make those connections and then go to step 5.
5. Verify that your Internet connection is working. Open a Web browser on each computer that’s using your network and try to connect to a familiar Web address.
6. Congratulations! You have connected an additional device to the Internet. You can connect up to 4 Ethernet-capable devices to the Cable Modem/Router, following the instructions above for each device by starting at step 2 of this section.