Hidden features of home routers
The vast majority of people set up a router exactly once-when buying, after which they only think about it when the Wi-Fi icon in Windows has an annoying yellow triangle that signals problems with the network. But in fact, the router is not just a device for distributing the Internet, but a small computer capable of some additional functions. Learn about the "hidden" capabilities of home routers that ordinary users don't know about.
Third party firmware
The new third-party firmware can extend the standard features of the router. By installing a different firmware, such as OpenWrt or DD-WRT, advanced users can turn their router into a server, increase the coverage area, unlock new security protocols, and much more. The new firmware opens up a lot of new applications for this home device, but, as a rule, a simple user does not need such an expansion of capabilities.
Changing the channel
Older routers use the 2.4 GHz frequency. Together with the router, this frequency is shared by other household devices. Numerous devices clog up the channel, causing the router to run slower than its basic capabilities. Use the inSSIDer app to find a free channel and reconfigure the router to it in the settings. After this manipulation, the Internet speed may increase, although the problem is solved in an elementary way.
Downloading files
As already mentioned above, a router is, in fact, a small computer that can perform broader tasks than distributing the Internet over Wi-Fi. If the router has a USB input, you can connect an external hard drive or flash drive to it. Most routers have the ability to upload files, and the router can do this on a schedule. Add torrent files or direct links, specify the time, and the router will upload the files to the drive.
Invisible Wi-Fi
Protecting Wi-Fi with a password is very important to prevent unauthorized access by neighbors. You can go further and make your Wi-Fi connection hidden from the eyes of others. Set the filter by MAC address. It is enough to place a list of MAC addresses in the router parameters so that only the devices whose addresses you specified can see the network. This protection will completely exclude unauthorized users from connecting to the router, because your device will not be displayed in the list of connections. You can find out the unique address of each device in the settings.
Router + mobile modem
You can use a mobile USB modem in a more familiar way than just connecting it to a single computer. Of course, you can also distribute the Internet from a PC, but in this case it must be turned on all the time. Connect the modem to the router via USB, set up a network, and use Wi-Fi on different devices. The mobile modem can be used as a backup Internet connection or make surfing the web in the country more comfortable.
Old router as a repeater
After buying a new router, you don't need to send the old one to the landfill. Turn the old man into a signal repeater to expand the range of your Wi-Fi network. Connecting two routers via WDS or bridge mode allows you to increase coverage. This is true for country houses or for those cases when a stable connection needs to be made to the most remote parts of the apartment.