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What is a router?

In one sentence: The box that connects your home to the internet and makes the Wi-Fi signal for your devices.

A little more

Your home router does two jobs. It connects your home to your internet provider, sending each packet out to the internet and the replies back to the right device. And it usually has a built-in Wi-Fi radio that makes the wireless network.

Where you put it matters a lot: high up and near the middle of the home beats a cupboard or the floor behind the TV.

The router also has its own settings page, reached by typing its private address (often 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into a browser while you are on its network. That is where the Wi-Fi name and password live.

See it in action

  1. 7Why does Wi-Fi get weaker through walls?Build a little house, drag the router around and watch the Wi-Fi signal spread room by room.7 min · interactive
  2. BonusHow does the router know which device asked?Your home has one internet address but lots of screens.7 min · interactive

Do it for real

Free grown-up tools and guides on Tooltern, our sister site. They work in your browser and nothing is uploaded.

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