Your router is perhaps one of the most important gadgets you own. That said, in many cases, people tend to set it up with the hopes of never having to think about it again.
You might have just gone ahead with installing the router provided by your internet service provider (ISP). When you sign up with an ISP, it’s common for them to provide you with both a modem and router.
It might have seemed like a convenient thing since you no longer need to buy your own, but there are several disadvantages to sticking with your ISP’s router for your home internet. This is usually an understandable blind spot.
Routers are rather mystifying with their blinking lights and the misleading bandwidth claims. However, with the current era of technology, we need a fast internet all the time for working and socializing.
That is why, we’ll be sharing why it’s high time for you to replace your ISP’s router, as having a good router is as essential as ever.
Buying Your Router Can Be Cheaper For The Long Run
When signing up for your ISP’s service, you’ll likely be given a set of equipment so that you’re online in no time. This router can also be a part of the internet deal, and in all honesty, there’s nothing you can do about it.
Sometimes, however, you might have to pay a small rental fee for the equipment. Although the upfront cost of purchasing your router is higher, the long-term costs of having to pay the rental fee for your ISP’s router in comparison to your router will indeed save you money.
Your ISP’s Router Might Have Weak Wi-Fi Signals
Of course, not every ISP produces a slow router, because some produce routers that have Wi-Fi signals that easily cover the entire house. Some, however, have weak Wi-Fi strengths or upload and download speeds that make it frustrating to use the internet.
Your best bet is to look into the ISP’s router’s specification, and then compare it to your internet plan’s speed. If the router is unable to carry much data, you might just be better off with your router.
Moreover, you can also make use of Wi-Fi signal measuring tools to find out how strong the signal is. If moving the route around doesn’t improve the signals, try looking for a more powerful router.
Some routers are specifically made to produce better Wi-Fi signals in difficult places. If your house has one too many signal-stopping walls, you should look for a route that provides tri-band Wi-Fi signals.
Your ISP’s Router May Not Have Many Networking Tools
Almost every other router has the ability to create guest networks. With a simple click, you can offer up Wi-Fi access to your guests with a customized password without having to give away your personal network’s password.
This feature is great for keeping Wi-Fi thieves off of your network. This maintains the privacy of personal items stored in your computer or laptop. You also have the option to turn off the guest network when not in use if you’re paranoid about hackers.
Guest networks ensure that the user isn’t able to see anything else attached to the network, or access other devices. In fact, it might also be able to keep guests from seeing one another. Guest networks offer a lot of added security and convenience, which is barely provided by ISP routers.
Therefore, if you’re on the fence about settling down with an ISP router or buying your own, we recommend that you go with the latter.
You Might Need Parental Controls
Perhaps you want to control the internet usage of your kids? Well, you would definitely need parental controls in your router, and most ISP routers don’t have parental control options in them.
While you can use parental apps on your kid’s devices, parental controls on your router are definitely much harder to crack and more effective. There are some ISP routers with parental controls, but in all honesty, it’ll be hard to find one.
For example, Netgear routers have a free app that allows you to adjust its setting through your phone. In addition, you can also choose to set up timings in which you want to block certain websites.
Conclusion
Internet routers are the one thing that makes or breaks your online activities. There’s no compulsion for you to use the router provided by your ISP. If possible, it’s best to opt-out of it as the benefits you can enjoy from a store-bought router are nowhere near the same as using your ISP’s router.
