There's always a part of purchasing a new device that I don't really care for. A new gaming PC will have me drooling over the CPU, GPU, and RAM specifications, but picking out a PSU feels like a chore. Never mind the fact that the PSU is the sole reason all my beloved parts even function in the first place; it's an unsung hero that keeps everything ticking over, and skimping out on it will only spell disaster.
Well, I often see this applied to the humble router. They're the sole gateway between us and the internet, but we often just set it up, stick it somewhere where it can give a good signal to all our devices, and then let it collect dust as it tirelessly handles all the data packets for our 2 am Stranger Things binge. So, here are some ways you can show the router some love.
Put that USB port on your router to good use
Yes, there's a good chance it has one
Routers these days usually come with a USB port on the back. If you don't believe me, go look at the back of your own router. There's a good chance it'll have a USB port, sitting there and waiting for you. But what is this port even for? When I first looked at it, I assumed it was a way to update the router's firmware while it's offline, and...that's about it.
Turns out, there's actually a lot you can potentially do with those ports. What you can do with it depends on the model of your router, but you can usually do some pretty cool things with it. For instance, if your router allows it, you can run a network-attached storage (NAS) off of it. We covered some other ways you can put your router's USB port to work, so be sure to give them a try.
Your second Ethernet port is useful, but stop thinking about it in terms of speed
It all comes down to flexibility
Hook up your router to a Raspberry Pi
Don't get limited by the stock settings on your router
If you've been neglecting your router, there's a good chance that you booted it up, hooked up your devices to it, and then called it a day. In truth, there are plenty of things you can do with the router to enhance your experience, but not every model will support it. For instance, you can set up a VPN with your router, but you have to own a router that has that functionality programmed in.
However, what you can do instead is attach a Raspberry Pi to your router. This can then add functionality that your regular router may not support. For instance, you can set it up as a VPN for your router to use, or you can install Pi-hole on it and have your router use it as a DNS sinkhole. The best part is, because you're doing this with your router, all traffic going through it benefits from your tinkering. Set up Pi-hole to block ads, and you'll get the same experience on a PC, laptop, tablet, or phone, just so long as it's connected to the router.
It's not quite as simple as plugging in the Raspberry Pi and calling it a day; you'll need to do some tinkering. However, we have a piece on using a Pi as a VPN and as a Pi-hole hub if you're interested in learning more.
5 powerful things you didn't know a home router could do
Your home router might be more capable than you think
Swap out its firmware with a custom one
Just make sure it'll work properly
If you don't like the firmware that your router comes with, you might be able to change it with a different one. This will usually add some advanced features that your stock router didn't have, and it may even end up being more secure if the developers of your chosen firmware keeps up with patches faster than the stock one. There are plenty of reasons why you should try a custom router firmware, so give it a go if you're curious. Just make sure your router will accept the custom firmware before you do anything.
5 reasons to replace your basic router with a pfSense or OPNSense box
A custom router and firewall gives you so many more options.
Just use a mini PC as your router while you're at it
Yes, it can be done
A few of my suggestions have come with a caveat or two. Yes, you can set up a VPN, but your router needs to be compatible with it, or you'll need a Pi. Yes, you can install custom firmware, but your router may not be compatible with it. Well, if you want complete and total control over what your router does, you can do worse than simply replacing it with a mini PC.
It may seem weird, but it makes a ton of sense when you think about it. Routers are miniature computers at the end of the day, so there's absolutely nothing stopping you from taking a mini PC (or an older one you're not using anymore) and turning it into a router. And once you achieve that, you can really pull out the stops; you can install whatever router operating system you want, get Pi-hole running on it, and anything else you might think of.
Granted, there are some aspects that make a good PC router, so check out our guide on replacing an ISP's router with a cheap mini PC for all the details. But it can be a really cool project that turns your router from a forgotten piece of hardware to a feature-packed powerhouse you can customize to your liking.
Setting up OPNsense on a mini PC was easier than configuring my old router
Consistent performance with predictable behavior
Routers are neglected, but they don't have to be
When we're talking about our system specs, we rarely bring up the humble router. However, there's a ton you can do with it to really enhance your networked experience, from setting up a NAS to creating a DNS sinkhole.