Hello everybody!
In this video, I’m going to tell you how to configure Wi-Fi routers by TP-Link with
your smartphone
and
a special application.
The standard web interface of the router menu is not very comfortable to use from a mobile
device as the letters and symbols are too small so you have to zoom in and out all the
time.
However, TP-Link has been thinking about their customers and finally released TP-LINK Tether
- a very good application for smartphones and tablet PCs to make their lives easier.
You can use it to view the device information and connection settings, manage your Wi-Fi
router, and modify the settings.
The application is available for the two most popular platforms - iOS and Android.
It supports iOS from version 7 and higher, and Android from version 4.
In this video, I’ll be using Android 8.1 for demonstration.
Later in the video, we’ll have a look at basic capabilities of TP-LINK Tether, and
I’ll also show you how to quickly modify main router settings using this tool.
The application supports almost all popular router models by this manufacturer.
I’ll illustrate its work with the example of TP-LINK Archer C20.
For starters, download the app from AppStore or PlayMarket depending on your particular
mobile device and install it; you can find all the links in the description below the
video.
Getting connected to the router To make the application see your router, you
should get connected to it through Wi-Fi.
If you’ve been using the router for some time, it means you are likely to be already
connected.
If you want to configure a new router, find the standard name and password for connecting
on a sticker attached to the bottom side of the device.
When the application starts for the first time, you’ll see a summary of its capabilities.
Scroll it away and tap to start.
If you are connected to a network, you’ll see the router name as well as its MAC address.
To get to the main screen and manage your router, enter the name and password combination
– by default, they are admin and admin, or use your own details if you have already
modified the default information.
Main screen The main screen is divided into several areas,
one of them - a kind of control panel that shows information about your Wi-Fi connection
and the guest network in real time.
By tapping on the router symbol, you will see its name, model, firmware and hardware
versions.
Clients In the Clients tab, the application shows
all devices connected to this network, their connection types and IP-addresses.
By tapping on one of the connected devices, you can also learn its MAC-address and block
the device if you want.
This function can be useful if an unwanted stranger connects to your network somehow.
You can also change the client icon or name.
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Tools Go to the next tab - Tools - and it has much
more options than the previous two.
“Wireless” contains only the most essential Wi-Fi network settings.
You can turn wireless networks on or off, change the network name, password and security
options.
If you have guest network enabled, it will also be shown here.
“Internet connection” is one of the most important sections which is used when configuring
the router for the first time or switching to another Internet provider.
If your provider doesn’t support automatically assigned addresses or uses PPTP connections,
you can use this function to configure settings according to your provider’s data.
Choose connection type and enter details, specify username and password, IP address
and so on.
“Parental controls” let you configure a list of supervised devices, specify permitted
websites and set up access schedule.
“Network diagnostics” lets you check your connection to the router and to the Internet.
“Guest network” allows setting up local access to the internet for your guests - with
a password protection or without it.
“Share password” - the name speaks for itself: you can view the password to the network
or get a QR code to access it.
In the last line, “System,” you can modify administrator’s account data or specify
a new name and password, as well as reboot the router or reset it to factory settings.
Summing up, I can say: although TP-LINK Tether tool includes only a few functions, it does
provide access to all essential router settings.
Its simple interface will never confuse you - unlike the standard administrator’s menu
that opens in your browser.
This application gives a good start for quick router setup, but advanced users looking for
more detailed settings will have to use the web interface anyway.
To enter the web interface from your smartphone, connect to your Wi-Fi network, specify the
router address, administrator’s login and password.
There’s a detailed guide on setting up a router in another video by our channel; check
the link in the description.
And that is all for now.
I hope you find this video useful.
Hit the Like button and subscribe to our channel.
Leave comments to ask questions.
Thank you for watching.
Good luck.