How to Configure Linksys Wireless Routers to Work With Bellsouth DSL

Get a Linksys router to connect to your DSL modem.

Bellsouth offers a home networking package with a wireless router for an additional cost per month. Get the regular DSL modem from Bellsouth (the Westell modem), and purchase a router yourself for a cheaper alternative. The Linksys router is one of the top brands to use to get wireless connectivity throughout your house. You can find some inexpensive Linksys routers. They connect to the Bellsouth DSL to provide an Internet connection to one computer and a wireless connection to other computers and devices throughout the home. You will need to configure the DSL modem before connecting it to a Linksys router.

Instructions

1. Connect the DSL modem provided by Bellsouth. This is most likely a Westell modem. Plug in the phone line into the phone slot on the back of the modem. Plug in the Ethernet (yellow) cable in the back of the modem and the other end into an available network card on the computer. Insert the power adapter and plug it into a wall outlet. Windows will recognize your new device automatically.

2. Configure your network card to automatically assign an IP address. Click on "Start > Settings > Control Panel > Network." Right-click on the DSL modem you just connected to the computer. Click on "Properties." Go to the box on the "Configuration" tab, click on the first Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then click "Properties." Click on the "IP Address" tab and then the dial next to "Obtain an IP address automatically." Click "OK" to close all of the forms. Restart the computer, and reset the modem by taking the power adapter plug out of it for 10 seconds. Turn the computer and modem back on.

3. Open your Internet browser and type "192.168.1.254" in the address bar. This opens the configuration screen for the modem. Click on "Broadband DSL Line" or "Expert Mode," depending on the version of your modem. Click "Configure > Connection." Go to the "Protocol" drop-down menu, and click on "Bridged Ethernet." Click "Save and restart the connection." The modem will be restarted. Wait for all of the lights on the front of the screen to turn solid green, and then turn off the computer and the modem.

4. Connect the router to the modem and computer. Attach the power adapter to the back of the router, but wait to plug it into the wall outlet. Take the Ethernet cable from the back of the computer, and plug it into the back of the router in the input Ethernet socket. The router and the cable modem are connected now through the yellow Ethernet cable. Plug another Ethernet cable into the output socket of the router and plug it into the network card of the computer, replacing the cord you took out. Supply power to the router and turn on the modem and computer.

5. Wait until the computer to completely boots up and the lights on the router and modem are solid green. Open your Internet browser and type in "192.168.1.1" in the address bar. This will open the configuration interface for the Linksys router. Click on the "WAN Connection Type" pull down menu and then click on "PPPoE." Enter in your Bellsouth username (with the "@bellsouth.net") and password. Scroll to the bottom and click on the option to "Keep Alive Redial Period" and type in "180" in the box next to it. Click "Apply." Close out of the Linksys Interface and try to browse the Internet.

Tips & Warnings

• Go to several sites, including ones with pictures (like a Google Image search) to make sure everything is working properly.

• Use another computer or device with a wireless network card to connect to the router. The wireless adapter should be picking up the wireless signal from the Linksys router.

References

• DSL Reports: How do I Properly Set up a Linksys Wireless Router With a Westell Modem?