Wireless Router
A wireless router is the box that shares the internet connection arriving at your home, over Wi-Fi, with devices such as phones, computers and televisions.
| In brief | A network device that shares the internet connection arriving at the home wirelessly with the devices in it. |
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| What it does |
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| What to look for |
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| Privacy note | Always change the default administrator password; do not use old encryption standards (WEP/WPA) and keep the device firmware up to date. |
| Limits | The signal weakens through walls and between floors; the internet speed is at most what the service provider supplies, and the router cannot increase it. |
The traffic officer of the home
A router takes its name from its job: it routes the internet traffic arriving at the home over a single line between the devices in the house. It gives each device a local address, keeps track of which data goes to which device, and provides this communication through the wireless technology called Wi-Fi. A modem and a router are different functions; today most of the boxes supplied by service providers combine the two in one body.
Coverage and speed: why does placement matter?
A Wi-Fi signal weakens as it passes through walls, between floors and past large metal surfaces. Placing the router near the centre of the home, high off the floor and outside closed cupboards improves coverage noticeably. Mesh systems or signal extenders can be used for areas the signal does not reach. If the internet is slow, the router is not always the problem; the speed from the service provider, the quality of the line and the number of devices in use also play a part.
Security settings
The router is the door through which all the internet traffic in the home passes, so its security matters. Three basic steps: change the default administrator password printed on the underside of the box, put a strong and hard-to-guess password on the Wi-Fi network, and keep the device firmware up to date. The modern encryption standard, WPA2 or WPA3, should be the one selected. Opening a separate guest network for visitors is a practical way of keeping the devices on your main network apart.
Related terms: Encryption, Smartphone, Synchronisation