Those who buy a new modem may be surprised by the ease with which it is able to configure itself to navigate with the most common connections (in particular with ADSL). Any modern modem is in fact capable of self-configuring itself, making the installation operation really simple even for those who feel more inexperienced than ever.
The ease of configuration of a modem should then be an additional incentive to buy a new one and replace the old one or the one provided by the telephone operator (Telecom, Fastweb, Infostrada etc.).
It can sometimes happen that you are still unable to navigate, perhaps because the parameters used are different: in this case we will have to act manually to be able to navigate with the new modem.
In this guide we will show you how to configure the modem for all the main connections and, in the final paragraph, how to navigate in the case of FTTC and FTTH fiber optics with a new modem other than that of the operator.
READ ALSO -> Best Modem to buy (fiber, dual band, wireless AC)
1) Automatic ASDL configuration
Configuring a modem means activating the internet connection with your operator whose subscription you are paying for.
This can be done with various telephone companies such as TIM, Infostrada, Fasweb and Tiscali.
However, it is not possible to change modems with those internet providers that force their customers to use their specific modem (for example Vodafone), which also remains blocked in the configuration.
Assuming that a modem has been bought, the parameters and operations to be done are absolutely the same for all operators that provide ADSL connectivity .
Before trying this route, make sure that the modem is correctly connected (check the power cable and telephone cable, also checking any ADSL filters placed incorrectly) and that the signal lights are correctly on (we read the manual to understand the operation of the various lights well) LEDs present).
We connect a portable PC to a free Ethernet port and access the modem configuration panel, typing in any web browser 192.168.1.1 (in rare cases it can be the address 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.254 ).
READ ALSO: Enter the router to access settings easily
At this point, depending on the model of modem we have, you may be asked to set a new password or to log in to the modem with a name and password .
These name and password are certainly indicated on the instruction booklet or on the sticker under the modem itself and, usually, they are admin with empty password, admin name and password admin or admin password .
If we do not know the password to access the modem, we can also visit the page where all the configurations of the most famous modems are saved -> RouterPasswords .
After accessing the modem configuration panel, you can click on the guided configuration or Quick setup and indicate, in the screens that appear, the telephone operator with whom we have subscribed, confirming in the final screens that you want to use the predefined parameters .
At the end we will have to be able to navigate without problems, we just have to open the Wireless or WiFi section of the configuration panel and choosing the WPA2-PSK, the name of the network and the access key .
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To finish configuring the modem, you still need to make a little more effort and change the password to access the router so that it is no longer so simple and trivial (this affects the security of the whole network).
2) Manual ADSL connection parameters
If the wizard does not allow us to navigate correctly, we will necessarily have to enter the ADSL connection parameters by hand.
We open the modem configuration panel again, we navigate through the various menu items until we find the screen that allows you to set the connection parameters for ADSL (usually called the Internet or DSL, Modem or Connection ).
Inside the configuration window you can use the following parameters:
- VPI : 8
- VCI : 35 (with Fastweb VCI is 36)
- Connection type or protocol: PPPoE for Telecom and Infostrada, PPPoA for Tiscali ; for Fastweb the connection type is Dynamic IP or Dynamic IP
- Encapsulation Mode : for Telecom and Fastweb it is LLC while for Infostrada and Tiscali it is VC-Mux (this parameter is set by itself).
We also fill in the Username and password fields , which change according to the provider:
- TIM or Telecom Alice : username and password are both aliceadsl
- For Wind Infostrada username is welcome while the password is a guest
- For Tiscali it is necessary to use the email address like and the password of the mailbox as name
- For Fastweb leave empty
As regards the configuration of a modem with the Fastweb connection, it is also necessary to open the //registrazione.fastweb.it web page and verify the account by entering the various personal identification data.
If you still cannot surf the Internet with Fastweb, you can follow the modem guide on the Fastweb website.
3) Modem configuration for fiber (FTTC and FTTH)
With the arrival of the new fiber optic connections, the need to manually set the parameters seems to have "disappeared", since practically all operators impose their modem in order to take advantage of this type of connections (even if something is moving, just google for "free modem" news).
So if we have a modem supplied by the operator, the wisest thing (for now) is to connect one of our personal "cascade" routers to the TIM, Fastweb, Vodafone etc modem, so as to have many more features to use and a lot more choice.
To do this, simply turn off any type of connection on the operator's modem (i.e. WiFi, firewall, parental control etc.) and connect a router (without modem component) to it via a simple Ethernet cable.
The most effective connection involves connecting the cable to a LAN port of the modem, while on the router we will have to take advantage of the port identified with the abbreviation WAN or the Internet (it is usually also colored differently from the other Ethernet ports to distinguish it).
Once this connection is made, we access the control panel of the new router and configure the WiFi as desired.
For the connection we will not have to do anything: the modem will manage the new router as if it were any Ethernet device (automatically providing the parameters to navigate), while the router will manage this signal and will spread it to all the devices that we will connect to it from that moment on then.
This is the only possible configuration, since other services (such as VoIP) can only work with the modem of the connected operator.
In a few months it is possible that the situation will change, given that soon the free modem for all is becoming reality.
READ ALSO: Best Modem to buy (fiber, dual band, wireless AC)
