Model 5354: Changing the default wireless settings

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

Your Cable Modem/Router comes from the factory with a default SSID (Wireless Network Name), WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK wireless security and a random Wireless Security Key (Wireless Password). These default settings for your router are listed on the back label (next to the yellow LAN ports) of your unit. Most users can go ahead and use the default settings.

You may want to change your wireless settings if the wireless devices on your network are already configured to use an existing wireless network name and password. Instead of having to reconfigure all the devices on your network, you can change the Cable Modem/Router to match the existing settings used by your devices. Read the sections below if you want to use another wireless security mode, or if you want to change either the SSID or Wireless Security Key. If you want to use the default wireless settings, you can skip the following sections.

About Wireless Security

There are two basic wireless security modes: WPA and WEP. There are two versions of WPA: WPA and WPA2. When configured as part of a typical home or small office network, WPA and WPA2 require a Pre-Shared Key, or PSK. These modes are typically called WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK, respectively, though sometimes they’re just called WPA and WPA2. You can enable either WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK alone, or you can enable both WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK together. By default, your Cable Modem/Router has both WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK enabled. You will only need to change the security mode if you know that you have a device you are connecting to your wireless network that only supports WEP. (Go to Setting Up Security Using WEP.) In the unlikely event that you want an unsecured network, this is discussed later in Disabling Security.

Note: If you have a Radius Server (very unlikely for a home network), select the WPA/WPA2 options without PSK. All instances of WPA and/or WPA2 that follow refer to WPA-PSK and/or WPA2-PSK unless noted otherwise.

You can check to see if all other clients that you plan to put on the network support WPA or WPA2. You can do this by checking the manual that came with each device or by checking the configuration software for the installed device. Look under Security or Encryption or Setup or Advanced Features. Most devices will support one of these modes.

• To change the Wireless Network Name (SSID) or Wireless Security Key (Pre-Shared key) used by your Cable Modem/Router go to Changing your Wireless Network Name(SSID) and Pre-Shared Key.
• If any of the devices you want to connect to your wireless network do not support WPA or WPA2, go to Setting Up Security Using WEP.
• If you need to set up an unsecured network, see Disabling Security.

Changing your Wireless Network Name (SSID) and Pre-Shared Key

1. Open the Zoom Configuration Manager by typing the following in your Web browser's address bar: http://192.168.0.1
2. In the Login dialog box, type the following User Name and Password in lower case, then click Login.
   

   User Name: admin
   Password: admin

3. Click Wireless on the top menu.
4. Then click Primary Network on the left-side menu and in the text box labeled Network Name (SSID), type an SSID of your choice. The SSID needs to be at least one character long, and it's probably best to pick a name that you'll recognize as yours.
5. To change the wireless security, start by setting all the following drop-down menus to Disable: WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, and WPA2-PSK.
6. Then select Enable for the mode(s) you choose for setting wireless security.

   Note: To use WPA2/WPA, all of the wireless devices on your network must support either encryption method. In this case, enable:

   • WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK (if you want to use a Pre-Shared Key)
     or
   • WPA and WPA2 (use this only if your network uses a Radius Server. This is very uncommon for a home network.)
   If you know that all your devices support the more secure WPA2 you can enable WPA2 only (or WPA2-PSK if you want to use a Pre-Shared Key) instead of WPA and WPA2.
7. In the WPA Pre-Shared Key text box (only if you selected an option requiring a Pre-Shared Key), enter a passphrase of your choice (a minimum of 8 characters). Write down this passphrase and put it where you can find it – on the bottom of the Cable Modem/Router case, for instance.
8. Click Apply.
9. Now you need to set up each of your wireless devices with the SSID and passphrase. If your devices were already set up with this SSID and passphrase then your setup should be complete, otherwise, see Model 5354: Connecting other devices to the Cable Modem/Router.

   Model 5354: Connecting other devices to the Cable Modem/Router

   for help on connecting your wireless computers and devices.

Your security setup configuration is now complete!

Setting Up Security Using WEP

WEP is an older wireless security standard that has been shown to be easily defeated. Because of this, the use of WEP has been phased out by the wireless industry and should only be used if any one of your network devices DOES NOT support WPA or WPA2. WEP can be configured two ways: 64-bit and 128-bit. 128-bit WEP provides more security than 64-bit.

1. Open the Zoom Configuration Manager by typing the following in your Web browser's address bar: http://192.168.0.1
2. In the Login dialog box, type the following User Name and Password in lower case, then click Login.
   

   User Name: admin
   Password: admin

3. Click Wireless on the top menu.
4. Click Radio on the left side menu. Change the 802.11N Mode drop-down menu to Disable.
5. Then click Primary Network on the left-side menu.
6. To change the wireless security, start by setting all the following drop-down menus to Disable: WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, and WPA2-PSK
7. From the WEP Encryption drop-down menu, select WEP-64 bit (or WEP-128 bit for more security).
8. For Network Key 1, you can either enter your own WEP Key or you can have WEP Keys generated.

   If you are entering a network key of your choice, enter 13 ASCII characters or 26 hexadecimal digits for 128-bit encryption keys. Enter 5 ASCII characters or 10 hexadecimal digits for 64-bit encryption keys.

   Otherwise, type something into the text box and click on Generate WEP Keys and WEP Keys will automatically be generated for you.

   Caution! Do not click Apply until you have entered WEP Keys.

9. Click Apply.
10. Now you need to set up each of your wireless devices with the SSID and WEP Key. See Model 5354: Connecting other devices to the Cable Modem/Router for help on connecting your wireless computer and devices.

Your security setup configuration is now complete!

Disabling Security

If for some reason you need to set up an unsecured network, you will need to disable the default security that is currently set up for your Cable Modem/Router. Follow the instructions below.

1. Open the Zoom Configuration Manager by typing the following in your Web browser's address bar: http://192.168.0.1
2. In the Login dialog box, type the following User Name and Password in lower case, then click Login.
   

   User Name: admin
   Password: admin

3. Click Wireless on the top menu.
4. Then click Primary Network on the left-side menu and in the text box labeled Network Name (SSID), type an SSID of your choice. The SSID needs to be at least one character long, and it’s probably best to pick a name that you’ll recognize as yours..
5. Click Primary Network on the left-side menu.
6. Set all the following drop-down menus to Disable: WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, and WPA2-PSK.
7. Click Apply.
8. Now you need to set up each of your wireless devices with the correct SSID. See Model 5354: Connecting other devices to the Cable Modem/Router for help on connecting your wireless computers and devices. Since Security is disabled you do not need to configure security as described in that answer.

That's it! You have now disabled security.