Syd,

I am unfamiliar with that model, however I have a WRT600N which is only 200 more N than yours, so it is probably similar!

You were correct to just access it via IP address. It isn't cheating, it is the correct way to do things. So let us discuss.

In the User's Guide please view page 7 (Chapter 2). This page lists everything you must do to secure your network. I personally think that MAC filtering is a waste of time since a packet filter and MAC cloning will allow it to be bypassed. It is only worth it if you want Static DHCP.

Lets get back to what matters though. How to change that SSID.

Quote:

To access the web-based utility, launch the web browser on your computer, and enter the Router’s default IP address, 192.168.1.1 or http://wrt400n.com in the Address field. Then, press Enter. A password request screen will appear. (Non-Windows XP users will see a similar screen.) Leave the User name field blank. The first time you open the web-based utility, use the default password admin. (You can set a new password on the Administration > Management screen.) Click OK to continue.

Easy enough, you have already done that part.

So let the fun continue.
Click the Wireless Tab at the top of the screen.
Select the option directly under it "basic wireless settings"
Finally enter in your SSID(s) for the band you wish to use.

I cannot stress this enough, CHANGE THE PASSWORD ON YOUR ROUTER.

Also you should probably use WPA2 instead of WPA or WEP (if your computers can handle it).

Syd Lexia wrote:

It works, but you need a super secret passkey. It'll cost you $100.

Jeebus, I'll hack it, block Syd out and hand you the new admin codes... for only $80!

Syd Lexia wrote:

Thanks GP, that worked. There was actually a third step though, which is what confused me before. The default setting was Wi-Fi Protected Setup. I had to click on "Manual" to change my SSID. New question. The router can broadcast at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Our computers only detect the 2.4 GHz SSID. Should I disable the 5 GHz setup?

Yes.

If you have no Wireless N equipment then you should disable it until you do.

Once you start getting some Wireless N gear, it might be worth it to turn it back on, but until then you will plug a potential security hole.

Syd Lexia wrote:

What is Wireless N?

Wireless N is just another way of saying 802.11n.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11

802.11g or 802.11b is the wireless standard that your equipment uses so that devices can communicate with each other. It just so happens that the g & b versions can talk to each other. The newest standard is 802.11n and it can't talk to b or g. It has some technical advantages over b and g but won't work for you unless both the access point and the client device are both using 802.11n hardware. You can not mix 802.11n and 802.11b/g devices unless you have a dual band router (which you do) that puts out both signals at the same time.