How to Set Up a Travel Router

Are you someone who always needs to stay connected to the internet wherever you go? Do you often go away on business or vacations? Then you need a device that will help you keep in touch with your colleagues and friends; you need a travel router.

If you are tired of paying for a hotel internet connection that only allows you to connect to your laptop to the internet with a wire, you should think about investing in a reliable travel router.

What exactly does this device do? The basic thing it does is to work as a router, converting a wired internet connection into a Wireless Fidelity connection or WiFi hotspot. This way, you can be online on your laptop, smartphone, tablet or other wireless device without having to pay extra internet fees.

You just have to connect your router to the hotel’s internet network and you can use multiple devices at once. What’s more is that the hotel won’t notice you doing this, and it’s not illegal anyway.

If a regular travel router costs around $70 and hotel internet costs around $30 per day, then a travel router is a cheaper and better investment. While hotels only have limited internet connectivity in terms of range, travel routers extend that coverage by sending strong signals even to those dead spots. Aside from this, the connection is also more secure and safe.

Now that you know how a travel router works, it’s time to learn how to set up a travel router, starting with the basic setup. One good tip is to set up the router before you hit the road.

The Basics on How to Set Up a Travel Router

1. First, plug the router into a socket then connect your computer or laptop to the WiFi network via Ethernet.
2. Open your browser then type the http://192.168.1.253 to the search bar. This should lead you an interface where you will have to log in using the default admin credentials.
3. Provide a new username and password once you have logged in. There should be a Router Management menu where you can do this. Make sure that the new login information is strong enough to enhance security.
4. Click Apply Settings then Status. This will lead you back to the first login page. This time, use the new username and password.
5. Disable the WPS to increase the security of your network. This process requires a router reboot before you proceed to the setup wizard.

Operation Modes

Part of knowing how to set up a travel router is understanding the different functions. Some routers such as the Satechi router feature different operation modes that come handy in different situations.

Router Mode

This mode works like your regular router at home. It asks for an IP address that is provided by the network. This makes your connection secure. In other words, no one in the other room will see your iTunes or other personal information. Enable router mode by clicking on it in the Wizard. Click next.

Create the SSID of your router, leaving the IP box checked. Also, leave the Channel into Auto mode. Then set the Security Mode to WPA2 Personal. Click Save and Reboot.

Access Point Mode

This mode allows you to connect to the wider network. The Access Point mode passes along the IP address from the network. The connection is still wireless but other devices will see the other users of the network. The process for enabling this mode is the same as the first one.

Bridge Mode

If the hotel you are staying in has a wireless internet connection but the coverage is poor, set up the router in Bridge mode instead. This mode keeps your network settings while also connecting to the WiFi network of the internet.

Again, the set up will be the same as the first two modes. But you should remember to choose the right network then enter the key if necessary before saving and rebooting.

Tip: Once you have arrived at your hotel room, connect the router to the Ethernet cable. After that, connect the laptop to the router. Do all of this before signing up to the hotel’s plan. This way, the hotel will not recognize that you have set up your own router or treat it as a new device, asking you to pay an extra charge.

I hope this effectively teaches you how to set up a travel router.