Logging In To Your Belkin Router

The heart of a Belkin router is the router maintenance page, which is where nearly all possible changes for your router, and the Wi-Fi network it provides, are made. To change the name of your Wi-Fi network, to manage security settings, and to check the general status of your Belkin routerareall done via this menu. However, even getting to the menu can seem intimidating for someone who is not familiar with how a router works. Luckily, the step-by-step guide below can help get you started by getting you into your router’s interface.

Who Are Belkin?

Belkin International, which is a parent company to Belkin, is an American electronics producer who specializes in networking devices. Belkin was started in 1983 by Steve Bellow and Chet Pipkin, out of California. Since then, they have built up an extensive range of products, including routers, network switches, and mobile phone accessories.

Along with Belkin, Belkin International also owns Linksys, which is another networking brand, Wemo, and Phyn. Belkin International became owners of Cisco System’s networking division, which included the Linksys brand. As of 2018, Foxconn is awaiting the purchase approval of the Linksys name from Belkin for $866 million.

Belkin, as well as being a vast network device producer, also have some charitable projects paired to their brand. From 2013 to 2014, Belkin had sponsored a Dutch professional cycling team, taking over from the previous sponsor, Rabobank. Additionally, Belkin is regularly involved with the Compton community through the ASAP program, which stands for Advanced Surveillance and Protection Plan. They also assist with the Everybody Wins reading program.

However, despite the above good deeds, Belkin has faced some criticism. In 2003, Belkin launched a domestic router that would occasionally replace an HTTP request with an advertisement for Belkin’s filtering software. Then, in 2009, further criticism came when a Belkin employee had been paying online retail users for positive reviews on a Belkin router that was having issues with bugs. The Belkin president denied that the company sanctioned this action. However, an anonymous letter, supposedly from a Belkin employee, indicated that staff was encouraged to get positive reviews, no matter what it took.

Comparing Belkin Routers

Belkin themselves, do not currently offer a wide range of routers, because their routers come from the Linksys brand. The range of routers Belkin does have is classed by their speed, using and AC and N classification, which relates to Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Wi-Fi 802.11n. Belkin also separates their routers by the number of bands, with a router being either a dual-band unit or single-band.

Dual-Band Routers

Dual-band means the router is capable of providing two separate networks, with the total Mbps of the router split between the two. The two networks are a 2.4GHz network, which is compatible with older devices and most gaming consoles, with the 5GHz network used for newer computing devices. The different networks are necessary as some devices can connect with the now-standard 802.11ac Wi-Fi, while other devices still work with the older, and less powerful, 802.11n Wi-Fi. Belkin has six routers in its dual-band router range, starting with the most potent router:

What Should I Look For In A Belkin Router?

Belkin’s range of routers is limited when compared to competitors, though there are still great options for those looking for a no-thrills, simple router. Belkin classifies their routers between dual-band and single-band, though dual-band should be the only option worth considering. Then, your decision on which router to buy comes down to speed. Higher speeds are best, and the faster routers of Belkin’s range also come with Gigabit ports, which means your wired connections will also be more rapid than if you connect through a standard ethernet port.

To ensure the best results from your router, you need to ensure that your network is optimized. Belkin and other router manufacturers do this with a QoS or quality of service feature, though it only comes with Belkin’s dual-band range. QoS prioritizes the network’s data distribution, which makes the network experience better for all users. QoS on any router is vital if you expect that router’s network to have heavy traffic.

Some of the dual-band routers by Belkin also come with a built-in media manager. By using the Media Mover by myTwonky, you can plug a storage device into the USB port and easily stream its contents to any of the devices on the network, whether the device is a smartphone, tablet, or smart tv.

Nearly all Belkin routers have a self-healing system built-in. Belkin’s self-healing feature resets the router at preset intervals and performs any necessary maintenance to the router in that reset. By default, self-healing takes place every Tuesday at 3.30 am local time.

Your Security

The above features of a Belkin router, all need to be considered, before making a purchase. However, though all of us want an optimized network experience, it should not be at the expense of security. Belkin takes care of this for you, with all of their routers shipping with WPA/WPA2 security enabled. You will find a plastic card in the packaging of your router, that provides the access details. The WPA/WPA2 security scheme is more secure than the older WEP security scheme, though not as compatible, with some devices refusing to connect to a router using the new security settings.

If you are using a dual-band router, and you are having difficulty connecting a device, you can set up the second network with the WEP security scheme. Doing so will allow complete compatibility with all of your devices.