Configuring the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router with your own hands

This material will describe the connection algorithm and software configuration of the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router. Following these instructions, anyone, including the least prepared user, will be able to properly prepare for the operation of this network device.

Network device niche

The router of this model is oriented to the creation of small local networks. It allows you to create a small wired segment, which can include up to 4 devices. It also supports wireless data transfer technologies of 802.11 different versions (b, g and n). This allows you to connect to the router, almost any modern mobile device. The most optimal this router is suitable for creating small home or office local area networks.

Specifications

As noted earlier, this router supports 802.11 wireless technology (b, g and the fastest n). In the latter case, the speed can reach 150 Mb / s. The coverage in this case provides only one antenna with a signal gain of 5 dB. As a result, the maximum diameter of this wireless coverage will be limited to 10 m. In turn, one input wired port with the WAN designation is limited to a speed of 100 Mbit / s. Somehow exceed this value does not work. A similar speed has also 4 other wired ports marked LAN1 - LAN4. Configuring the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router does not allow changing the input port. That is, for these purposes only one blue RJ-45 with the WAN marking is provided. Also in this model of the router there is no integrated USB port. Therefore, it is impossible to use this network device as a file server or print server. For the same reason, it is impossible to connect a modem to it and provide a backup way to retrieve information from the Global Web. But the previously mentioned technical specifications TL-WR741ND is quite enough to create a compact entry-level computer network, and it is excellent for this.

Contents of delivery

First of all, the router with one detachable antenna is included in the delivery package. To this list, a power adapter and a network computer cable with a length of about 1 m and compressed at both ends, which is used during its program setting, are added to this list. An impressive list of documentation is bundled with this network device. Separately, it is necessary to allocate several advertising booklets at once, in which, in addition to this router, another technique produced under this brand is described. In detail in the user manual, which is also available in the boxed version of the delivery of this router, the setup of the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router is described. The instruction has been translated into several languages, and in this list it is not difficult to find exactly the one on which it will be convenient for you to understand the switching, tuning and operation of this network device. Also in the delivery list there is a warranty card and a disk with electronic versions of the attached documentation and application software.

Choose the installation location

With the correct selection of the installation site, the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router setup begins. Operating Tips Indicate that it should be located as close to the center of the building or premises as it needs to be covered by a wireless network. Another important point is the lack of various metal surfaces or objects near the router's location, which will degrade the quality of the signal. Near the place of installation of the router there should be a socket for 220 V to organize the power supply of this network device. The last important nuance in this situation is the ability to easily extend to this very place the wire from the provider.

Connectivity

Setting up the TP-Link TL-WR741ND begins with its correct connection, which consists of the following steps:

• The computer, router and other network equipment must be off.

• At the connector on the back of the router, wind up the antenna.

• Install the power adapter to the nearest free outlet, and the lead from it to the round socket on the back of the router.

• The input wire from the Internet service provider is connected to the blue port labeled WAN.

• All network devices that must be connected using a twisted pair are connected in series to the yellow LAN1-LAN4 ports.

Without fail, at the initial setting, at least one desktop PC or laptop must be connected to the TL-WR741ND. The location of all necessary ports on the back of this network device is shown in the figure below.

Customize

The software configuration of TL-WR741ND consists of the following:

• We check the correctness of the previously assembled scheme.

• Turn on the Power button. We wait 60 seconds to load the network device.

• We turn on the computer or laptop connected via wires to the network. We are waiting for the end of its download.

• We launch any available browser on the computer. In the address dialing line, enter 192. 168. 0. 1 and press Enter.

• In the next window, type the name of the administrator of the router and its password. By default, they are absolutely identical - admin. Then, after filling both fields, click on the Ok button.

• In the setup menu, select "Quick Setup". In the next window, confirm your actions and click "Next".

• Then in the list of suggested items, select "Auto Detect" and click again on the button labeled "Next".

• Then the router will automatically detect the connection type and ask for additional information. This is a password with a username for accessing the Global Web, and a network address and a subnet mask. All this information is provided by the provider of Internet services. As a rule, it can be found in the service contract. If it is not in this document, then call the provider and find out.

• Then we set the wireless connection parameters. In this window it is enough to set only the network name, encryption method (it should be WPA / WPA2) and password. All other values remain unchanged.

• In the next window click the "Finish" button to finish the configuration process of the software component of the router.

• Next, you need to reboot the configured router. To do this, click on the corresponding button. After that, the router is ready for use.

This completes the software configuration of the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router. How to properly configure a wireless connection from any mobile gadget will be described later.

Testing

After all the previous manipulations, the configuration of the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router has already been completed. How can I connect using a Wi-Fi technology from a smartphone or tablet in this case? We will give an answer to this question. And the order of actions in this situation is as follows:

• When the router is on we go into the settings of the smartphone and start the search for wireless networks. After its termination we find the name given earlier and choose it.

• In response, you will be prompted for a password. We type it. Waiting for the appearance of the inscription next to the name of the network "Connection established." We close all open windows during the connection setup stage.

• We launch any email client on the mobile gadget and check for new emails on the electronic box. After that, the list of received emails will be updated and new ones will be added, which have been received since the previous connection to the electronic mailbox.

But the wired connection does not need verification, and it was already done at the stage of the router setup.

Reviews and cost of the router

To date, you can become the owner of such network equipment for 1500 rubles. Given its technical specifications and reliability, we can say that the TL-WR741ND is an excellent solution for creating a small local network. In turn, the owners' feedback indicates that it is very, very simple to configure the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router with their own hands. The menu of the program setup wizard is simple, convenient and intuitive, and the "Auto Detect" procedure greatly simplifies this difficult at first glance operation.

Results

As you can see, the configuration of the TP-Link TL-WR741ND router is not so complicated, and it can even be used by a novice user.