We are going to explain to you what exactly a neutral router is, since if you are looking to buy routers or hear about home configurations, surely it is a concept that you have heard of. A neutral router is something very easy to understand, but we are going to try to explain it to you as best as possible.
We are going to start by talking about what a neutral router is and how it differs from the others. Later, we will tell you what you will be able to use it for if you want to buy one. There are routers with different operating modes, which is what we are going to refer to, although the one that has these modes or others will depend on each model and manufacturer.
What is a neutral router?
A neutral router is a router that you are going to buy on your own and does not belong to any operator, which is why they are also called commercial routers. When you contract Internet at home, the operator will place a router for you, but these are usually quite bad and very limited.
That is why many users prefer to buy a neutral router, which usually greatly improves the coverage, power, and stability of the WiFi in your home. We refer to them as neutral precisely because they do not belong to an operator, and are therefore neutral. Come on, most routers you buy in a store are neutral routers.
A neutral router is not the same as a modem. Some carrier routers have a modem or ONT built into them, so fiber or ADSL cables can be connected to them. But neutral routers do not usually have that, although some are at higher prices, so you usually have to connect them to the operator’s router or an ONT that you buy separately with all the difficulties that this entails.
Here, keep in mind that if you have fiber at home, your operator’s router will have a built-in ONT, which is the device to which the cable goes, and it interprets the signal by acting as a modem for the router to broadcast it. If you want to completely replace the operator’s router, you will have to buy an ONT that is compatible with your operator’s switchboard, and you will need a series of keys that your operator will never give you.
Therefore, if you are going to buy a neutral router, you should know that you are going to have to connect it directly to the operator’s router. Even so, the most likely thing is that you will notice the improvement of your network almost instantly, being an alternative to other methods to improve the WiFi in your home or office.
Neutral routers also tend to have more advanced technologies than those of the operators, although this will always depend on the model. They may have better hardware, added as dual-band, or extra options such as latency control to optimize online games, create special networks for guests, or use parental controls.
What is a neutral router for?
As we have told you, the first function of the neutral router is that, to act as a router. This means that it will capture the Internet signal from the operator’s router, which will act as a modem, and will send it to any device that connects to it both by Ethernet cable and by the WiFi that you are going to create with it.
Neutral routers will have better features in their router mode than those of the operator, although it will always depend on the models, and they will also give you more options to allow you to have greater control over your home network. However, there are neutral routers that are multimode, which means that they can also fulfill other functions.
For example, some routers can act as an access point. This is useful when you have a modem from your operator that does not have WiFi, and the router will act as an access point by taking the wired network and making it wireless. They can also have a repeater mode, with which they simply capture the WiFi from another router that you have and relaunch the signal so that it goes further if you have the neutral at an intermediate point.
In addition, they can act as a hotspot to capture public networks and create with them another network of their own with your username and password, so that your devices can navigate more securely. Another way that some have is to be compatible with mesh networks, made up of a base router and its access points that communicate with each other to form a single Wi-Fi network for the user with the same SSID and password. Routers with this mode usually require you to have multiple devices from the same manufacturer or routers to set up the network.
And finally, there are also 4G-compatible neutral routers. This means that you can insert a SIM card and have them create a WiFi connection with it. It is a perfect method to be able to go on a trip and have your data if you are going to use many devices at the same time. Of course, you will have to pay separately for that SIM and its data.
Sharlene Meriel is an avid gamer with a knack for technology. He has been writing about the latest technologies for the past 5 years. His contribution in technology journalism has been noteworthy. He is also a day trader with interest in the Forex market.
