Things You Didn’t Know That You Could Do With Your Router

A Wi-Fi router turns your Internet connection into the Wi-Fi signal you rely upon. However, is that the only purpose of Wi-Fi routers? The article lists some of the things you can do with your routers.

Highlights:

  • A few features may be limited to specific Wi-Fi router models.
  • Setting up guest networks helps you keep your devices secure.
  • File transfers via routers are faster and easy.

Follow Us

Wi-Fi routers

In its simplest term, a router communicates between the internet and the internet-connected devices at your home. By internet-connected devices, we mean the devices like personal computers, tablets, smartphones, smart TV, printers and more. With the router, these devices form a network, and the router will direct incoming and outgoing internet traffic on that network. The information travelling on your network could range from an email to a live feed from a camera installed at your home, taking up varying amounts of bandwidth.




Besides the router, there is a modem. Without a modem, your home network has no access to the internet. Modem’s purpose is to bring the internet from your internet service provider into your home. It connects to your router, delivering internet connectivity to your home network.

There are primarily two different types of routers – wireless and wired. In wired routers, it connects directly to the devices using wired connections. In wireless connections, the router connects to the modem by a cable. The router then communicates with your home network via its built-in antennas without the use of wires.

Is your Wi-Fi router designed just to provide you with the internet? Below are a few things you can do with a Wi-Fi router. While most of these features are possible on most models, a few features may be limited to specific Wi-Fi router models. Check your model’s specifications to ensure.

File sharing

File sharing is a common use of a Wi-Fi router. Transferring heavier files, primarily via methods like Bluetooth, can be challenging and consumes time. Since the devices are all part of your home network, you can quickly share files between multiple devices simultaneously. On Windows 11, to share a file or folder via a network, all you have to do is right-click the file you need to share and click on ‘Give access to > Specific people’. You may also share files with other computers by giving share with > Homegroup (Read or Read/Write).

On the home network, go to the Control Panel > Network and sharing centre. In the left panel, choose ‘Change advanced sharing settings and then ‘Turn on file and printer sharing' to enable the feature.

Parental controls

Most Wi-Fi routers offer ‘Parental controls’ as a basic feature. Parental controls enable restrictions on accessing particular websites. To block websites, you need to open a browser and log in to your router using IP address 192.168.1.1 and enter the login credentials (default username is mostly admin, and the password is ‘password’ unless you change it manually). Check your Wi-Fi router to see the login credentials. Once logged in, click Advanced > Security > Block sites to block the websites.

Setting up Guest networks

You do not need to give your Wi-Fi password to every guest who walks in, even if requested. Instead, set up a guest network with or without a password. This way, you can avoid vulnerabilities of your devices connected to that network. Similar to setting parental controls, you can log in to your router, from where you can enable guest Wi-Fi access.

Schedule access

Besides setting guest networks, you may also impose scheduled restrictions for access. To do the same, you can configure the router to schedule for particular devices and set an access control policy for your router.

Personal cloud space

Wi-Fi routers with a USB port allow connecting an external hard disk to it. Once connected, you may share your files from any device on your home network to the hard disk connected to the router.

Printing files

Many printers are capable of connecting to networks through wired or wireless connections. The printer must have a Wi-Fi adapter or wired network port for establishing a connection. Once connected, you may send the files for print.

Reported By

Reporter

An astute writer with a track record in writing and publishing content for various industries, Ria brings on board her wealth of experience in journalism and love for technology to TelecomTalk. When not writing or reading, she spends a copious amount of time daydreaming and finding obscure Japanese folklore on the internet.

Recent Comments

shivraj roy :

i feel Vi has improved than what it was in 2022 i usually get around 8-10mbps in very heavily dense…

5G Users Consuming 3.6 Times More Data than 4G Users…

biswadeepmondal :

JioAir Fiber is working very well in KPA & HLR. Sadly they don't have any data only plan.

REP: Airtel Expands Network Footprint in Bankura District of West…

Anonymous :

In line with Airtel's ?49 plan that offers 20GB of data for the same duration.

Jio Brings New Rs 49 Plan

SCKPA :

Airtel is claiming so many things. But at our location there have so many places where airtel 2g signal is…

REP: Airtel Expands Network Footprint in Bankura District of West…

Faraz :

Yes.. Corruption and arrogance is in the core of this organisation since beginning.. & Now even gov wants everything to…

BSNL's Operating Profits Signal a Positve Future

Load More
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments