What can a TP-Link router do apart from providing Wi-Fi? (Part II)

Buy a router, set up Wi-Fi and never remember it unless Wi-Fi goes wrong. That’s how most people do. Perhaps you think the router is limited to providing Wi-Fi. However, it can do a lot of things to make your life easier.

Part I: Mange your Wi-Fi (https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/stories/detail/890)

Part II: Enjoy advanced features for exclusive experience

 

 

Part II: Enjoy advanced features for exclusive experience:

 

1. Monitor and manage your kids’ time online with Parental Controls

Can’t stop worrying about your kids being exposed to inappropriate content and indulged in their tablets for too long? The Parental Controls feature of the router provides an easy solution to help you manage your kids screen time.

It’s impossible to simply isolate them from the internet. Parental Controls provides a smart management tool for you to manage what content is available for the kids and how much time they are allowed to access the internet. And you can also track the websites and applications your kids have been surfing.

This feature will vary depending on the model of router you have. Refer to corresponding FAQs based on your router’s interface:

Case 1: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1531/

Case 2: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2386/

HomeCare supported: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1707/

 

2. Prioritize traffic to specific devices with QoS

Frustrated by network latency when gaming? Annoyed seeing your streaming video skip or buffer? Maybe you need QoS feature of the router to help optimize your Wi-Fi network.

QoS allows you to assign bandwidth to devices and applications when needed. If there are a host of services competing for bandwidth within your LAN, QoS will be of great help to you.

For example, set high and low priorities for chatting and streaming respectively so that you have a stutter-free Skype conference call when your kids are watching videos.

This feature will vary depending on the model of router you have. Refer to corresponding FAQs based on your router’s interface:

Basic: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1532/

HomeCare supported: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1708/

 

3. Smart control using your voice with Alexa

Control your network devices using simply the power of your voice with the TP-Link Router Skill for Amazon. Prioritize the internet connection of your laptop, switch off your router’s LED or ask Alexa to read out the password of the guest network, all without stopping what you’re doing.

Check the Alexa compatibility for TP-Link routers:

https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/alexa-compatibility/

 

4. Set up VPN connection for remote access to your home network

You probably have a myriad of connected resources in your home: a surveillance camera, a NAS device storing your family photos and videos, a private computer, and more. If you want to allow remote access to these resources via internet for yourself, your roommates, your friends, and/or your family members without making it easy to hack and be exposed in public, you can consider using a VPN connection. Set it up on your router and all network traffic going in and out of your network will be protected from prying eyes by encryption.

OpenVPN: https://www.tp-link.com/en/support/faq/1544/

PPTP VPN: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1545/

 

5. A powerful transfer station for sharing using a USB port

If your router has a USB port, don’t waste it. It’s of great convenience. Connect the USB disk or hard drive directly to the router’s USB port, then you can easily get and share stuff from the USB storage devices over your home network locally, or remotely through the internet.

Like a private server, it is a great method for fast and easy sharing wherever and whenever you want. You don’t need to worry about storing and transferring concern.

This feature will vary depending on the model of router you have. Refer to corresponding FAQs based on your router’s interface:

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2385/

https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1527/

 

Apart from providing Wi-Fi, a router can do a lot of things more than you can think. Hopefully, this article could give you a better idea on how to make full use of your router. Features mentioned above are just part of it. You could discover more by following us or visiting TP-Link official website.