It wasn’t all that long ago that the humble router led an uneventful existence. Its task was to distribute incoming data packets to attached computers. It was also entrusted with blocking the occasional packet off the Internet if it hadn’t been ordered by one of the PCs.
But in recent years the diminutive network boxes have morphed into tidy little communication hubs combining network connectivity, a WLAN access point, and often even a telephone system as well. “That saves a lot of electricity and jumble of cables,” says Johannes Endres from Hanover-based computer magazine c’t.
Routers offer many other unexpected functions as well. Here’s a rundown of a few.
INTERNET TELEPHONY: An analog phone connection has typically meant being stuck with just one phone line. One cost-effective way to work with multiple lines using your own phone number is to use a router with a built-in Internet telephony function (VoIP) and a corresponding switching box.
“It’s significantly cheaper than an ISDN connection, although it also doesn’t offer the same range of functions,” Endres says. A VoIP provider can be selected as desired. You should first check whether your contract with your ISP already includes VoIP service — such as a flat rate for all calls within your national landline network.
SERVER: Many routers also possess a USB port for connecting a printer, external hard drive, or USB stick. Those devices are then available to all computers on the home network. “That solution requires less electricity than using a computer as a network server. It is slower, though,” Endres explains. For those who only occasionally swap data, the solution is often sufficient.
REMOTE ACCESS: Users who need to access data on their home network while on the go can use dynamic DNS (DynDS) and the port forwarding function on the router. DynDNS allows the router to be…