This answer applies to the Zoom Cable Modem/Router Model 5350.

The Zoom Cable Modem/Router comes from the factory with security turned on by default. If you want to use another security mode instead of the default security mode of WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK, or if you want to change the Pre-Shared Key, this answer explains how.

Overview

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 late in this answer 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. Appendix A of the Cable Modem/Router User Manual (included on the product CD or on the Model 5350 product support page) discusses how to check the configuration software for various wireless devices.

If all of the devices you want to connect to your wireless network support WPA or WPA2 you may want to change the Pre-Shared Key and/or change the Network Name (SSID. In that case, go below to Changing the Pre-Shared Key and SSID from the default settings. For instructions on configuring WPA/WPA2 Security with your devices, go to WPA/WPA2 Security.

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 the Pre-Shared Key and SSID from the default settings

In the default security setting, both WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK are enabled. The default SSID is ZOOM and Pre-Shared Key is zoom#### where #### represents the last 4 characters of the Cable MAC address of the unit, which can be found on the label on the bottom of the cable modem/router. If you want to change the SSID and/or the Pre-Shared Key, go to WPA/WPA2 Security.

WPA/WPA2 Security

WPA and WPA2 use a passphrase or PSK that you choose and enter on the Cable Modem/Router and other wireless devices on the network (clients) to set up security. To use WPA/WPA2, all of the wireless devices on your network must support either encryption method. If you know that all your devices support the more secure WPA2 you can enable WPA2 only instead of both WPA and WPA2.

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 Enter Network Password dialog box, type the following User Name and Password in lower case, then click OK.

   User Name: admin
   Password: admin

   (The User Name and Password entered here are not the same as the User Name and Password that your Internet service provider may have given you.)
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. 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.
   • First, make sure that the device's wireless capability is switched on. (Many notebooks have a switch for wireless, for instance.)
   • Next go to the device’s area for configuring a wireless network connection. (If you need them, tips for finding this area are in Appendix A of the User Manual, which is available on the Model 5350 product support page or on the CD that came with the modem/router.)
     • For a Windows computer, click the Wireless Networking icon at the lower right corner of the screen.
     • For another device such as an iPhone or iPad, you may have to click on something like Settings and then WiFi. Skip (c) and continue with (d) below.
   • Select the Site Survey or Scan option to see a list of the access points in your area. That list should include the SSID ZOOM or the SSID you created.
   • Select ZOOM (or the SSID you created).

     Note: If any of your devices support WPS, you can configure WPS for those devices. Press the WPS LED pushbutton on the front panel of the router for 5 seconds. The WPS LED should blink green. 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. Skip (e) and (f).

     Windows 7 (SP1) Service Pack 1 or the latest updates, or Windows Vista SP2 users, you can use WPS for easy configuration. Click Connect. Then press the Wi‑Fi Protected Setup (WPS) button on the router for 5 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 Connect to a Network dialog box. Skip (e) and (f).

   • Enter the Pre-Shared Key that you just wrote down in Step 7.
   • Save your settings.

That’s it! Your security setup is now complete!

Setting Up Security Using WEP

If any of your network devices DO NOT support WPA or WPA2, you can use WEP to configure network security. 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 Enter Network Password dialog box, type the following User Name and Password in lower case, then click OK.

   User Name: admin
   Password: admin

   (The User Name and Password entered here are not the same as the User Name and Password that your Internet service provider may have given you.)
3. Click Wireless on the top menu.
4. Then click Primary Network on the left-side menu.
5. From the WEP Encryption drop-down menu, select WEP-64 bit (or WEP-128 bit for more security).
6. 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.

7. Click Apply.

Every wireless network client needs to be set individually. Open the wireless configuration software that came with the device, which should be running on the computer where the device is installed. (Tips for finding the wireless configuration section of your device can be found in Appendix A of the User Manual, which is available on the Model 5350 product support page or on the CD that came with the modem/router.) Find the configuration menu for security, choose WEP, and enter the Network Key, exactly as you entered it or exactly as it was generated for you on the Cable Modem/Router Wireless page.

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 Enter Network Password dialog box, type the following User Name and Password in lower case, then click OK.

   User Name: admin
   Password: admin

   (The User Name and Password entered here are not the same as the User Name and Password that your Internet service provider may have given you.)
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. Set all the following drop-down menus to Disable: WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, and WPA2-PSK.
6. Click Apply.
7. Now you need to set up each of your wireless devices with the SSID.
   1. First, make sure that the device's wireless capability is switched on. (Many notebooks have a switch for wireless, for instance.)
   2. Next go to the device’s area for configuring a wireless network connection. (If you need them, tips for finding this area are in Appendix A of the User Manual, which is available on the Model 5350 product support page or on the CD that came with the modem/router.)
      • For a Windows computer, click the Wireless Networking icon at the lower right corner of the screen.
      • For another device such as an iPhone or iPad, you may have to click on something like Settings and then WiFi. Skip (c) and continue with (d) below.
   3. Select the Site Survey or Scan option to see a list of the access points in your area. That list should include the SSID ZOOM or the SSID you created.

That’s it! You have now disabled security.