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If you already own a travel router or are considering getting one, you can use it in several ways at home. Whether it’s improving network performance or boosting security and privacy, a travel router can be a smart addition to your collection. The problem is that most people only use their travel router on vacation. And a lot of it depends on how travel routers are advertised. They are often marketed as a practical solution to bypass device limits in hotels or improve security on public networks. But that’s not all they’re good for.
You can use a travel router to create a dedicated guest network, set up a network for smart home devices, extend the range of your Wi-Fi, set up a network-wide VPN and ad blocker, or even set up parental controls without touching the main network. And this is all simpler than you think, since most modern travel routers include these features. So, if your travel router has been sitting in a drawer for a while, use it to troubleshoot network issues and overcome common limitations to get a faster, more secure Internet connection not only for you, but for the whole family.
Create a guest network
If people come over regularly, you’ve probably shared your Wi-Fi passwords with them. In the average home, this may not pose as much of a risk, but if you have critical devices connected to the network, anyone with access can see those devices. This includes PCs, network attached storage (NAS), home cameras, smart plugs, wireless printers, or anything else connected to the router. Even if the risk is low, it should not be neglected. It’s important to isolate the network used by your guests from the main home network, and your travel router can do this perfectly.
A travel router is one of the easiest ways to create a guest network. Unlike creating a guest network on the home router, which is not an option on all routers and can be slightly technical for the average user, you can simply connect your travel router to the main network and then share the travel router password with your guests. The best part of this setup is that if you ever feel like there are too many devices connected to the travel router, you can always change its password without affecting the main home network or connected devices.
This is also useful for people who manage rental properties or anyone who wants to add an extra layer of security and privacy to their home network.
Extend your Wi-Fi into dead zones
If your home has several dead zones, you may not need to purchase a Wi-Fi range extender or mesh network. Instead, your travel router can act as a Wi-Fi extender on its own. Simply connect the travel router to the home network and place it halfway between the main router and the dead zone. The travel router will broadcast the signal closer to where you actually need it. This will ensure reliable Wi-Fi connectivity in the dead zone, or if the area previously had low signal strength, the travel router, by improving network coverage, will help increase Wi-Fi speeds.
Keep in mind that the travel router will create its own dedicated network that you need to connect to, but this is also the situation if you were using a Wi-Fi range extender. Another thing to note is that some travel routers have Ethernet ports, allowing a more stable connection for devices like smart TVs, PCs, and gaming consoles. This could help eliminate the need to run cables throughout the house.
Add VPN privacy to multiple devices at once
Many of us rely on VPNs to provide added security and privacy when connected to the web. A reliable VPN service effectively encrypts your internet traffic, making it more difficult for others to monitor the websites you visit. In most cases, users install dedicated VPN apps or VPN browser extensions on each device. Although it works, the approach is more time-consuming and tedious, not to mention the fact that there are several devices where you cannot easily install VPN apps. But if you have a travel router, chances are you can use it to enable a VPN for each connected device through a single setup.
When it comes to VPNs on travel routers, there are two options, depending on the type of travel router you have. If your router comes with a built-in VPN, it’s much easier to configure. However, you will probably need a subscription to the built-in VPN service. On the other hand, you have routers that support VPN protocols like WireGuard or OpenVPN. These are slightly more complex to configure, but can be done through the travel router’s admin panel. If you already have a configuration file, simply upload it to the router’s admin panel and it will automatically route all connections through the VPN, including devices like your smart TVs, gaming consoles, home cameras, security systems, and smart plugs.
Create a child-friendly subnet
Just like your home Wi-Fi router, you can also set up parental controls on a modern travel router and then connect your kids’ devices to it. This way you can block websites, prevent children from accessing certain types of content, choose which devices this applies to and even set time limits for Internet access, without reconfiguring network settings on the main router.
For example, the TP-Link TL-WR1502X Travel Router has these features available natively under Parental Controls in the router’s admin panel. And because these controls are managed at the router level, they apply to all connected devices regardless of the operating system or browser used. However, you can still configure these controls to allow certain devices to enjoy an unrestricted Internet connection.
Many modern home routers also allow you to set up parental controls, but this can sometimes be inconvenient. This is because your critical devices are also connected to it and you will need to create exceptions for them. By reserving parental controls for the travel router and allowing your children to connect to it, you can limit these restrictions to a specific set of devices. And the best part is that your travel router doesn’t sit idle in a drawer, but is always ready to go on the road with you and the kids at any time.
Boost your mobile hotspot during outages
Internet outages, although not as frequent as before, are still a problem. And more often than not, it happens at the worst possible times. Many of us opt for a mobile hotspot in these situations for Internet connectivity, but they aren’t as reliable. That’s where your travel router comes in, allowing you to share your phone’s Internet connection with all your critical devices.
To set up USB tethering, connect your smartphone to the travel router using a USB cable, then enable “Personal Hotspot” on iPhones or “USB Tethering” on Android smartphones. In the router admin panel, switch to USB Tethering mode and your travel router will now use your phone’s internet instead of the home router.
This configuration has several advantages. First, you have a reliable connection to rely on in the event of an internet outage. Second, internet speeds are typically faster since your phone relays the connection to the travel router using a cable and lets the travel router take care of the rest. Between USB tethering and mobile hotspot, the former is usually faster. Finally, since your smartphone is connected by cable, it also charges while providing Internet connectivity.
Keep in mind that you can’t treat this as a permanent setup, especially if your cellular plan has limited internet data or hotspots. But in the event of an outage, using USB tethering with your phone and travel router will keep your important devices connected to the Internet.
