Computer Help and Support

Paper Roses

(7,475 posts) Mon Apr 6, 2015, 11:20 AM Apr 2015

You all know how chicken I am to do anything to my computer.

I posted before about my thoughts re: neighbors using my wireless connection. I am not comfortable messing with this machine and all parts. I rarely use the laptop--in fact I don't use it for months.
I noticed a button on the wireless router (Netgear WPN824v3) that says:

LED Off/ ON.
Does this button disable the WiFi on a temp basis or is this just a way to turn off the blue rotating light?

I would really like to disable the WiFi connection and use it for an 'as needed' connection.
I found out that I am password protected so that is not a problem except it is not really secure. I will not change that until my children and grandchildren come again because they have the password in order to use their laptops. The current password is too simple and can be easily found by someone who might be interested.

Is there a simple way to temporarily disable the connection to WiFi without messing with stuff I don't understand? Something where I could push a button to connect/disconnect? Some process that would allow me to disconnect but leave a note as to how to reconnect in case I am not able to tend to it myself?

Thanks again to all of you for helping this old Granny with my really dumb questions. I do Google for answers but I find that I can rarely find the answer I need or I don't understand the terminology.
Ain't progress grand?--Except if you are an old timer and deal only with very basic stuff.

3 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

You all know how chicken I am to do anything to my computer. (Original Post) Paper Roses Apr 2015 OP

I think that is just for the light... ProdigalJunkMail Apr 2015 #1

It looks like the button turns off the lights so if you are using it in a bedroom it's not flashing Fumesucker Apr 2015 #2

Typically what fumesucker describes is fairly easy ... brett_jv Apr 2015 #3

ProdigalJunkMail

(12,017 posts)

1. I think that is just for the light...

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Mon Apr 6, 2015, 12:17 PM

Apr 2015

and if I am not mistaken, you would have to log into the router to disable the WiFi. Would probably be easy once you get in, though.

sP

Fumesucker

(45,851 posts)

2. It looks like the button turns off the lights so if you are using it in a bedroom it's not flashing

Reply to Paper Roses (Original post)

Mon Apr 6, 2015, 12:22 PM

Apr 2015

There are two sets of logins and passwords for a wifi router, one set is to connect to your local network and the internet wirelessly when you have security enabled and the other set is to allow you to get into the controls of the router to set it up or change any settings (such as the wifi password). The router has its own built in "website" that allows you to control it through your browser just like looking at DU and controlling your account here, you log into the router like you do DU with a name and password and then you can get it to tell you about how it is set up and what it is doing.

You will have to log onto the router's "website" in order to turn off just the wifi, you may be better off to leave it alone until your kids and grandkids can show you exactly how to do it.

brett_jv

(1,245 posts)

3. Typically what fumesucker describes is fairly easy ...

Reply to Fumesucker (Reply #2)

Tue Apr 7, 2015, 03:04 PM

Apr 2015

Usually you just type this into your browser (no http or anything) address bar:
192.168.0.1
and hit enter.

Before you do so though check for a sticker on the bottom of the router & see if it gives values for something like the following: Admin Login & Password. If you know those two values (the paperwork you got w/the internet equipment from the cable/dsl provider likely has that info as well), you're good to go.

When you browse to 192.168.0.1 you'll be prompted for those two values ... just type them in, and you're into your router. From there you should be able to find options for the wireless piece like changing PWD. I'd write the pwd that you choose onto a label or masking tape and put it under the router as well, label it 'wi-fi login'. And I use the wpa2-psk security, which is pretty solid protection.

If you just come up with a random password i.e. collection of upper/lower case & numbers like zW4e21ZFq1 you can be about 99.9% sure you'll never be hacked cause there's 62^10 possible combinations (roughly 84,000,000,000,000,000) and your router would blow up and die long before somebody could even attempt anywhere near that many login attempt/combinations.

Just make sure you don't accidentally change the admin password for the router itself, be sure you only change the WIRELESS password. This is really the only potentially tricky part. Although if you accidentally did that, you'd just have to use that password next time you log into the router itself when you're prompted (after browsing to 192.168.0.1).

Reply to this discussion