How to use a router?

Question

ok, so i bought a router, now i connected it to my sisters modem so i could have an internet too(i have a laptop).my question is do you have to turn on the modem so i cud have an internet or you could turn it off, because when i turning off the modem i dont have an internet. if not, tell me how to do it.

Answer 1

Here's how to set it up.  Turn everything off (sister's computer, your laptop, the modem, everything that has anything to do with the computers).  Unplug your sister's modem and the router from any power outlets.  Connect the modem to the router using RJ45 (also known as ethernet) cable.  Connect the modem to the high speed internet source (cable, telephone line for DSL etc.) The router will have a special place to plug in the modem and will label it differently depending on the brand.  Most have the modem plug a different color or at least a gap between it and the other plugs. Plug in the modem and let it "cycle up" or get all of its lights on and steady that it should have on including power, signal and others (depending on the brand of modem and the service you have).  Plug in the router and see if it lights up.  Now, run a RJ45 cable from your sister's computer to the Router and turn your sister's computer on.  Let it get fully up and running.  Try surfing the net on it.  If it will not surf the net, call the internet provider company and talk with tech support.  They will give you the website for setting up the modem (it depends on which service you have and which modem you have).  Then they will ask you what brand of router you have.  This is usually on the top or bottom of the router. They'll then give you the website for setting up the router and tell you what to put in the blanks on the website so that the router is configured to work with their service.  Then, plug your laptop into the router with an RJ45 cable and turn the laptop on.  You should now be able to surf the net on both your sister's computer and your laptop.  You must have the modem and the router turned on in order to surf the net on your laptop.  Your sister's computer can be off but the rest must be on.  I highly recommend using the RJ45 or ethernet cables to connect the laptop and desktop computers instead of wireless and there are a lot of things that can go wrong with wireless connections.  

Answer 2

You cannot turn off your modem, why do you want to in the first place? In order for the router to connect to the internet it must first be connected to the modem, the router is used for sharing via wired or wirelessly, and the modem is the base that sends  data to the router in order for it to connect  to the internet, therefore you cannot turn off either one, period.