Setting up the Zyxel Keenetic Start router. How to configure a ZyXel router? Connecting and setting up a router

Connecting the router. Remove the router from the box and install it in a place convenient for you. Connect the power adapter from the kit into the corresponding connector on the back panel of the router and into a 220V outlet. Connect the main network cable (the one that was brought into your apartment when you connected to the K-Telecom network) into the INTERNET port, and connect the included network cable with one end into one of the numbered LAN ports on the back panel of the router, and the other into the network card computer. You will not need the installation disk that came with the router.

Important: Do not connect the main network cable to the numbered LAN ports! This will disrupt the communication service throughout the entire house.

Setting up the router. Open a separate tab in your browser, enter the address 192.168.1.1 in the address bar and press Enter on your keyboard. Having gone to this address, we see the authorization window in the router’s web interface. In the “User Name” line, enter the word “admin” in Latin (English) small (capital) letters without quotes, in the “Password” field - “1234”, in Arabic numerals without quotes. Then press “Log In” on the screen, or press the Enter key on the keyboard.

After entering the data correctly, the router settings web interface window will appear in front of you.

To set up an Internet connection, open the “Internet” tab and select “Authorization”. In the “User Authorization” window, in the “Internet Access Protocol” field, select “L2TP”.

After this, you need to enter the parameters of the connection itself, exactly as indicated in the figure below. Next, click on the “Apply” button.

Saving the settings may take some time, please wait.

Setting up WI-FI

To set up a wireless network, go to the “WI-FI Network” tab, and then select “Connection”. The “Network name (SSID)” field is the name of your wireless network (Numbers and Latin (English) capital and uppercase letters are supported). If you decide to change the standard value, then click “Apply”.

In order to secure your wireless network, you must specify a password for the wi-fi network. To do this, select “Security” from the “Wi-Fi Network” menu. The password is indicated in the “Network key (ASCII)” field (if you want to see what characters you enter, check the “Show network key” checkbox).

Setting up IP-TV

To set up IP-TV, select “IP-TV” in the “Home Network” menu.

In the “TVport Mode” field, select “Assign LAN connector”.

After that, select the port to which your IPTV receiver is connected and click on the “Apply” button.

In the window that appears, click on the “OK” button.

The settings will take some time to apply, so please wait.

If you bought a zyxel keenetic router, then you will not be able to use the Internet immediately, since it requires your manual configuration. The main steps you need to complete are: copy your MAC address, set up a Wi-Fi connection, set your username and password, as well as other connection security options. The best solution is to read the instructions that come with the router. You will need ten minutes of free time and full access to an Internet cable to switch it from the router to the computer.

First, you need to connect the Internet cable to the computer from which you are going to perform the setup. If you have already used the Internet from it, then you do not need to perform this action.

Now connect the cables as follows:

Connect the Internet to the router through a special hole, which is located separately from the rest.
Connect the LAN cable at one end to the computer, and the other to the router into any connector, of which there may be several, depending on your zyxel keenetic model.
Turn on the router by pressing the large button on the back.

Please note that at this stage you do not need to connect anything else. You can connect other computers later.

Now open any browser on your computer. Enter the following address in the address bar: http://192.168.1.1, or, if it does not work, http://192.168.1.0

A login window will open. If no one has changed the access settings on your router before, then the default login is “admin” without quotes, and the password is “1234”.

You will find yourself in a window with all the settings and parameters of your router, go to the “Internet” section, and then “Connection”. Here you will specify the basic parameters for connecting to the Internet:

In the “IP settings settings” column, set the value to “Automatic”.
Under this item, do not forget to check the box next to the words “Obtain DNS server addresses automatically.”
Now the most important point is the MAC address. Most often, the router itself determines the MAC address of your computer, which is connected via a LAN network. Set the value “Take from computer” in the second column, and the MAC address itself will appear in the third.
If this does not happen, then you will have to enter it manually.
Move the checkboxes below the items from the screenshot below.

Click “Apply” and you will have Internet access. If any failure occurs, update the firmware on the official website at https://help.keenetic.net

Now set up your Wi-Fi connection. Go to the “Wi Fi Network” item in the left menu of the router, then “Connection”.

Check the box next to “Enable Wi-Fi client”.
Enter your own network name. This could be your last name or just an ordinary word. The name will appear on other devices when searching for networks.
Network security should be “WPA2-PSK” if you want to set a password to prevent neighbors from being able to connect.
In this section there may or may not be a “Network Key” item, depending on your router model. If there is no such item, then you will find it in the “Protection” section in the left menu. Enter a password that you will definitely remember.
Check the last two boxes.

Click “Apply”.

Change the password and login to enter the router settings for greater security, because every user knows about the password “1234”.

Go to the “System” section. From the drop-down list, select “Password”.

Enter the new password for your router twice. Be sure to write it down and keep it in a safe place, otherwise it will be difficult to regain access.

Now click “Apply”.

You have completed the basic setup of the zyxel keenetic router and can insert the remaining LAN wires from the computers into it. Remember that you can change Wi-Fi settings at any time, in particular, the password for the wireless network and its name. If you change the main computer whose MAC address is copied to the router, then you need to perform this setup again from another computer.

We will tell you in detail how to connect and configure a Zyxel router. Methods for creating connections in several ways through the web interface and setting up a Wi-Fi point will be described.

Brief overview of the router

This device is an affordable and functional router for a home or apartment. The device supports a maximum data transfer rate of up to 300 megabits per second. The transmitter operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. There are 13 channels, 4 LAN ports 100 Mbps. An important advantage is the presence of a USB 2.0 input, thanks to which the user can connect mobile modems and other equipment, such as a printer. Using USB it is also possible to organize a torrent client. The Zyxel Keenetic router supports WPS technology for quick pairing with various gadgets.

The processor operates at 384 MHz. 16 megabytes of SDRAM memory are installed. Built-in support for IP-TV at the hardware level. The router ports can be configured in a special way to connect a set-top box to them. The Keenetic Zixel line includes models with one and two antennas. The interface supports Russian, so you don't have to sit with a translator when setting up the router.

Instructions for connecting to a computer or laptop

First, let's find out how to connect a Zyxel router to a PC or laptop. The package (in addition to documentation and disk) includes a power supply and a LAN cable. If its length is not enough, you will have to buy your own. On the back of the router we can notice several ports, each of which is signed.

To connect, follow these steps:

Take the LAN cable. Insert one end into the yellow LAN1-4 socket. Connect the other end to the network card of your PC or laptop.
Insert the Internet cable that your provider provided to you into the blue WAN port.
Plug the power supply into a power outlet. Connect the plug to the DCIN connector.
Set the WLAN and POWER switches to ON.

If everything was done correctly, the indicator lights will light up, indicating that the router is turned on. Please note that if you are going to connect two TV set-top boxes to the router, then use a pair of inputs LAN3 and LAN4. Once connected, you can proceed to the software settings.

Reset

As you'll notice, there are a couple of buttons on the back panel. The small RESET button resets all settings to factory settings. You will need this in the following cases:

you changed the password for the web interface and forgot it;
attackers hacked Wi-Fi and changed login data;
The device is not working correctly, so you need to return the default settings.

You can also reset Zyxel Keenetic in the settings. There is a corresponding item in the menu.

Setting up the router

Each user can configure the Zyxel Keenetic Wi-Fi router independently. We will provide detailed instructions with images, thanks to which you can easily set up a network with different types of connections. However, first you need to go to the router menu.

Login to the web interface

Changing any device parameters occurs through interaction via the web interface. To log in, you will need a computer or laptop connected to a router, any modern browser and login information. You can find the latter on a label that is glued to the body of the device. Find the Login, Password and IP-address fields. After that, open your browser, and then follow a series of simple steps:

You can get into the interface to configure the Keenetic router via Wi-Fi, if it works and there is no password.

Dynamic IP

This type of connection is already installed in the router from the factory, so the Internet should appear on the computer after connection. If this does not happen, you need to check that all parameters are correct:

Click Apply, and then try logging into the Internet again. The problem should go away. Be careful, as some providers tie Internet access to the MAC address. You can call technical support and ask to change the binding.

Static IP

This type is rarely used by service providers, but there are companies that offer to set up a connection via a static IP. The settings are changed in the “Internet” section in “Connection”. Once you are logged in, configure the following items:

Please note that some devices have a different menu than the one shown. It will also need to check the boxes next to “Enable” and “Use to access the Internet”.

PPPoE connection

One of the most popular connection types. It is actively used by such giants as Rostelecom, Dom.ru and Megaline. Before you start setting up the Zixel Keenetic router, you need to find out your personal login and password from your provider or in your contract. Without them, it is impossible to create a connection.

For a PPPoE connection, follow these steps:

go to the “Internet” tab (item “Authorization”);
access protocol specify PPPoE;
fill in the username and password fields;
Leave the MTU size as default or check with your company operator.

Click “Apply” and then wait for authorization. The Internet should appear in 10-20 seconds. The window may contain (depending on the firmware) other parameters, but you do not need to enter them. They are set by the service representative at his own discretion.

L2TP connection

This is a relatively new type of connection, which, according to the developers, provides higher theoretical data exchange rates. To set it up, you will also need a login, password from the provider, and additionally the name of the VPN server. For example, Beeline servers use the address tp.internet.beeline.ru. Once you have received the necessary information, follow the instructions:

If the IP is not strictly specified, then you need to configure your Zyxel Keenetic home router to receive it automatically by checking the box next to “Obtain an IP address automatically.”

When using a 3G USB modem

The model from Kinetic supports 3G modules connected via a USB port. To use them, you need to configure the router:

Setting up a Wi-Fi network

Wi-Fi activation is performed in the “Wi-Fi network” section. Next, you need to select “Connection” and also enter the network name (SSID). Set the standard to universal – b/g/n.

Please note that the user can control the transmitter power (from 3 to 100 percent), select the preamble length. Additionally, we recommend checking the box next to Wi-Fi-Multimedia for smooth operation.

Now try connecting to the point via your phone or tablet. This completes the wireless connection settings for the Zyxel Keenetic router.

The modern family of ZyXel routers is “Kinetic 2”, as well as gigabit models that have an updated interface. The classic option can be considered the three previous routers: Lite, 3g/4g and ZyXel keenetic. Here we will look at how to configure a ZyXel “classic family” router of any model. We will configure basic functions: Internet connection and wireless network. Let's get started.

First, let’s say a little about the differences between the three different routers of the “1” family. The Lite model does not have a USB port, that is, you cannot connect a 3G modem here. The other two routers do not have this drawback. And keenetic, among other things, is equipped with faster hardware than its younger “brothers”, and double flash memory (and also double Wi-Fi speed). What influences the price. The choice is up to the user.

If we talk about settings, you can notice the following. Although keenetic and 3g/4g routers can work with USB modems and Ethernet, they cannot automatically reserve one for the other. The “classic” interface does not provide this option. Let's start setting up.

First connection

Ethernet Cable Connection Diagram

Looking at the back panel of the device of any of the listed models, it becomes clear how to configure the ZyXel router and how to connect:

The yellow ports are for connecting the router to a computer. Connect the router to the network card using the supplied patch cord.

At the last stage, check that the PC network card is configured correctly:

Finally, you need to turn on the power to the router. And send the computer to reboot.

It is important to know! If the device is purchased after setting it up, be sure to perform a “hard reset”. To do this, a minute after turning on the power, press the reset button on the rear panel (holding it for 10-15 seconds). The device will then be ready for use (you may need to restart your PC).

Let's go to the web interface

On the computer that was connected to the router, you need to open any browser. To navigate to the following address: 192.168.1.1.

The ability to configure a ZyXel keenetic router (and any other) will be provided if you correctly answer the authorization request. The administrator login is admin (default) and the password is 1234.

Now we will look at how to configure connections.

Connection and method for setting it up

Selecting the type of Internet connection

Before setting up connections, in the graphical interface you need to go to the “System” -> “Operation Mode” tab:

Setting up a ZyXel keenetic router (or keenetic 3g/4g) means that you use either a USB modem or an Ethernet cable. The user selects the required option, then clicks “Apply”. Depending on the option used, the list of tabs changes.

Additionally, note that you can first configure one connection option, then another. After this, it will be possible to switch between them, and also from the “Operation Mode” tab (which is possible for an unskilled user).

Internet connection (3G option)

Set the type of connection to the provider to “external 3G USB modem” (don’t forget to click “Apply”). Next, go to the “3G Modem” tab:

Here you need to select one of the operators and check that the fields are filled in correctly:

phone number (understood)
access point name – for example: internet.beeline.ru
username and password

The last setting on this tab for the ZyXel keenetic 4g router (now it is called that) can be very useful. Check the “Allow UPnP” checkbox if you are going to use one of the following programs: uTorrent (which is unlikely for 3g connections), or Skype, ICQ. The same applies to the Kinetic model.

Clicking the “Apply” button saves the values in the router’s memory. By pressing the “Connect” button you can initiate a 3G connection, and disconnect it by clicking “Disconnect”. We wish you successful setup.

It is important to know that not all modems are supported by ZyXel equipment. Additionally, in the modem, you will need to disable the option to request a PIN code when creating a connection.

Internet connection (DHCP option)

Provider - distributes the Internet via cable, using the DHCP protocol? Setting up such a connection will be easy.

You need to select the connection type “Via dedicated Ethernet line”. Then, go to the “Internet” -> “Connection” tab:

By selecting “Automatic” in the “Configuring IP parameters” list, we can say that the configuration of the ZyXel keenetic Lite (or “kinetic”, “3g/4g”) router is completed. However, it is necessary to remember that the provider can check the MAC address (and new equipment will not pass the test).

To solve the problem with the MAC address - there is a last tab list. Firstly, here you can see the true MAC value of the router. Also, you can set whatever the user requires (or simply “copy” the MAC address from the network card).

After setting the connection parameters, click “Apply”. Additionally, before this we checked the “Allow UPnP” checkbox, since we are going to work with uTorrent.

After clicking "Apply", the connection will automatically appear in a minute.

Internet connection (option with VPN)

If your provider provides an Ethernet cable rather than a telephone cord, the L2TP protocol is most likely used. For this case, you first need to configure the “Connections via a dedicated Ethernet line” (discussed above). If you use a static IP address, you must specify this in “Configuring IP parameters.”

The main thing that needs to be achieved is the presence of a connection, and at a level that is “below” the VPN tunnels. Only if the connection has been configured correctly, you can go to the “Internet” -> “Authorization” tab:

Here you must specify the following values: VPN server address, user login and password. If a static IP address is not used, the “Receive IP...” checkbox must be checked.

To complete the settings, click “Apply”. In a minute, you can try to open “ya.ru” from your computer. Happy routing!

Note that you can also configure the ZyXel keenetic Lite router. But with L2TP it works slower than Kinetic (up to 55Mbit/s - maximum). The same, theoretically, can be said about keenetic 4g.

Wireless network in ZyXel routers

Setting up and enabling Wi-Fi

Wireless network technology – provides the following connection diagram. One of the selected devices must be an “access point”, all the others must be “subscribers”. Of course, the dedicated device is usually the router (since it is always on).

Basic setup of the ZyXel WiFi router (setting network parameters without encryption) - performed on one tab, “Wi-Fi Network” -> “Connection”:

The parameters must be set as follows:

The “Enable…” checkbox must be checked
It is necessary to specify the “Network name”
Standard – can be left as default (that is, g/n). But if each subscriber can work using the “fast” “n” protocol, it is better to immediately install “802.11n”
Radio channel number and speed – leave in “Auto”
Next, the signal attenuation is set to a value close to “no”. Remember that “-3dB” means a reduction in power by half, and “-6” means a four-fold reduction.
WMM mode – we recommend not using it (even if IPTV is used)
To finish setting the parameters, you will need to click “Apply”. The network will operate without encryption and with an open name.

Wireless Encryption

In the previous chapter, we did not look at how to configure a ZyXel WiFi router to work “on a hidden name”. In fact, when setting network parameters, it was enough to check the “Hide SSID” checkbox.

A more serious protection option is provided by encryption. Its settings are contained in the “Security” tab:

If PCs with Windows OS version XP SP3 (and higher) are used as subscribers, it is recommended to install the following verification method: “WPA2-PSK” with the “AES” algorithm. The main thing is to fill in the 8-digit key field (and click “Apply”). Happy setup.

Setting up the “IPTV” option (for STB set-top box)

The ZyXEL line of routers includes a number of models, ranging from inexpensive budget ones to professional devices. Even novice users usually have no problems setting them up - the control interface is intuitive, basic functions work right out of the box. Let's look at setting the basic parameters of ZyXEL routers using the ZyXEL Keenetic model as an example.

Network connection

First of all, unpack the router and connect it to the Internet provider’s network.

On the rear panel of the device there are four LAN ports for connecting user devices and one WAN port for connecting to the network. We connect the provider cable or patch cord from the ADSL modem to the WAN port.

Connect the power adapter plug to the POWER socket. We connect one of the LAN ports with the patch cord that comes with the router to the network card of your computer. Then turn the power switch to the ON position. If the router is working properly and everything is done correctly, the LED indicators on the front panel should light up. The indication will help you understand what is currently happening with your device.

Indication

There are nine LED indicators on the front panel of the Wi-Fi router.

Power indicator - lights up if the router is turned on. If the indicator is not lit, then power is not supplied (in this case, all other indicators will not light either).

Four LAN port indicators. The port is off - nothing is currently connected to it. Lit or blinking - a device is connected to the port.

Internet connection indicator. Lights up or flashes when connection is established. Off - the cable is not connected or there is no signal from the provider. Lights up yellow (orange for some routers) - there is a signal, but the Internet is not connected. Additional settings may need to be made.

Wireless indicator. If it is on, the Wi-Fi network is enabled. If it blinks, data is being exchanged, that is, the device is connected to the network. Off - the wireless network is disabled in the router settings.

WPN - indicator of connection to a wireless network via WPN.

USB indicator. Lights up or flashes when a device is connected to the USB port. Off - the device is not ready or not connected.

When you have connected the router to the network, the power, WAN and LAN port lights on the display panel should light up. The Internet connection indicator should also light up. Since most providers provide the ability to connect via dynamic IP, the router can establish a connection to the network on its own. In this case, the indicator will light or flash green. If the indicator lights up yellow (orange), you need to perform additional configuration of the router in accordance with the parameters provided to you by your provider.

Connection via web browser

You can enter the settings of the ZyXEL Keenetic router through the web interface. Any web browser installed on your computer is suitable for this.

It is recommended that the initial setup be performed via a cable connection, as the wireless connection may be unstable. It is also recommended to first connect one computer to the router, complete the setup, and then connect other devices.

In the settings of your PC’s network card, check the “Obtain an IP address automatically” checkbox. The network connection icon in the lower right corner of the desktop should become active.

To enter the web interface, enter the router address in the address bar of your browser. You can check the IP address on the sticker at the bottom of the router. From the photo below you can see what IP address you need to specify in order to log into the ZyXEL Keenetic router - 192.168.1.1. There may be other options, for example, it is sometimes used to log into the router 192.168.0.1 or my.keenetic.net. The standard login and password are also indicated here. You will need them to log into the web interface. It is recommended to change them in the future for safety reasons.

If the address is entered correctly, a window will open for entering your login and password.

Enter the required information and click “Login”. After this, we get to the main menu of the router, where the network settings will be made.

Settings

First you need to specify the connection type. Go to the “System” section, “Operating mode” item. By default, the cable connection selected here is Ethernet. If you are not using another connection method, you do not need to change anything here.

Dynamic IP address

If your provider provides network access using a dynamic IP address, but after connecting the Internet does not work on your router, then additional authorization by MAC address is required.

Go to the “Internet”, “Connection” section. If you already had Internet configured on your computer, you need to select the “Clone MAC address” option. If this doesn't help, contact your provider's support. You may need to manually register your device on the network.

There is no need to change any other settings.

PPPoE (Rostelecom)

Select the desired connection type from the drop-down list. In this case, PPPoE. Be sure to check the “Disable WAN interface IP address” checkbox. In the appropriate fields we indicate the login and password provided by the provider. There is no need to change any other settings.

L2TP (Beeline)

If your provider uses the L2TP connection type, the algorithm of actions is similar. In the “Authorization” item, select the desired connection type, enter the server name, login and password in the appropriate fields.

We leave the remaining settings as default unless they are changed by the provider.

Wi-Fi setup

The wireless network on ZyXEL Keenetic is already configured and should work. Access parameters are indicated on the label at the bottom of the device. However, if you wish, you can change the default settings and turn Wi-Fi on or off.

To do this, go to the “Wi-Fi network” item in the web interface menu. On the main settings tab, you can change the name (SSID) of the wireless network, turn Wi-Fi on or off, and adjust the signal strength.

Here we select the encryption method (authentication). The default is WPA2-PSK. It is not recommended to change this parameter. And enter your password (network key).

The wireless network setup is complete.

IPTV

Setting up IPTV on the ZyXEL Keenetic router is not required - this option already works by default. You only need to specify the LAN port that will be used to connect the set-top box.

If you don't have a set-top box, you don't need to configure anything.

DHCP setup

DHCP is a service that allows devices to automatically obtain IP addresses when connected to a router. This saves you the trouble of manually setting up a network connection on each computer. By default, DHCP is enabled and working.

To change the default settings or disable/enable the service, go to “Home Network” – “Network Organization”.

Here you can change the IP address of your router (IP address of the Internet center), as well as manually specify the range of IP addresses that the router will distribute to client devices. To do this, uncheck the “Generate automatically” checkbox and set the range manually. For example, you can generally limit it to two addresses - one for your PC, the other for your laptop. Then no more devices will be able to connect to the router.

You can also assign a specific IP address to each device on your home network. This may be required for some applications to function correctly. In the “Leased addresses” sub-item, indicate the MAC address of the device and write down the IP for it.

Port forwarding (opening ports)

Configuring this setting may be required for some programs that use incoming connections. For example, a torrent client.

By default, incoming connections are disabled on ZyXEL routers. For them, you can either manually configure port forwarding (redirection) or simply allow incoming connections.

In order to open ports on the ZyXEL Keenetc router, go to the “Home Network” menu, you need to allow port forwarding by checking the appropriate box. And then manually enter the settings. To do this, you need to know which port and which protocol your program uses.

Setting up UPnP

If you don't know exactly which ports you need, or you have multiple programs that use different ports and protocols, you can allow incoming connections in the UpnP settings. Then the programs themselves will be able to resolve the necessary connections.

In order to enable UPnP on the ZyXEL Keenetic router, you just need to check the “Enable UpnP” checkbox.

However, be aware that this may not be secure, as it creates a potential backdoor for malware.

Change Password

In order to protect your network from hacking, it is recommended to change the password and login on the ZyXEL Keenetic router, and not leave this setting as default. This can be done in the “System” menu – “Administrator Password”.

In the tab that opens, just enter the new password twice and click the “Apply” button. After this, the router will reboot and to log into the web interface you will need to enter a new username and password.

Saving and resetting settings

To save the settings you have made, you can export them to a file. Go to the menu item “System” – “Configuration”.

To save the settings to a file, click the “Save” button. All device parameters will be written to a file on your computer.

To restore settings in the event of a failure, you can restore the configuration here by specifying the path to the settings file via “Browse”.

You can reset the ZyXEL Keenetic router to factory settings by clicking the “Reset” button. This item may be useful if you made some changes to the configuration, after which the router began to work incorrectly, but you do not know what changes led to this.

If you've lost or forgotten your password, or can't log into the web interface after making configuration changes, you may need to do a hard reset. This is done using the RESET button on the back panel of the router. The button must be pressed and held for 10 seconds. The router lights will turn off and come back on. All settings will be reset to factory settings.

Firmware update

If the firmware (built-in software) of your router is out of date, and updated software is available on the manufacturer's website, you can rewrite the device's firmware. The ZyXEL Keenetic router firmware is updated via the web interface. No additional software or drivers are required for this.

It is recommended to update via a cable connection. During the firmware process, the Wi-Fi module will be disabled, which can lead to failure and failure of the router. It is also recommended to leave only one computer connected to the router from which the update will be performed, and turn off the wireless network altogether.

We go to the web interface and go to the “System” – “Firmware” menu.

Here we see information about the current firmware version and the “Browse” button to select the new firmware file.

The firmware should be downloaded from the official ZyXEL website for your router model. Also check the hardware version of your device - it is indicated on the label. If you try to flash the router with firmware from another model, it may break.

Using “Browse”, indicate the path to the downloaded and unpacked updated firmware file and click the “Update” button. The router will download the new software and reboot.

Do not under any circumstances turn off the power to the router while flashing the firmware. And also do not connect new network devices and do not restart the computer from which the firmware is being installed.

If the update was successful, you will see information about the new firmware version in the web interface.

If a failure occurs during the update and the router does not turn on, the indicators do not light up, or the Internet does not work, try performing a hard reset. If this does not help, see the recommendations for restoring the router's functionality after unsuccessful firmware.