Home Router LAN and WLAN Configuration

A home router provides a one-box solution for networking
- WAN port facilitates Internet access
- Client devices can connect to the local network via:
  - the RJ45 LAN ports
  - or the appliance’s access point functionality

Service Set ID

The service set ID (SSID) is a simple, case-sensitive name by which users identify the WLAN.

factory configuration uses a default SSID that is typically based on the device brand or model
change it to something more recognizable and not confusing with nearby networks
- don’t use an SSID that reveals personal information
Disabling broadcast of the SSID prevents any stations not manually configured to connect to the name you specify from seeing the network
- provides a margin of privacy at the expense of configuration complexity
- does not secure the network
  - SSID can still be detected using packet sniffing tools and Wi-Fi analyzers

The encryption or security option allows you to set the authentication mode
set the highest standard supported by the client devices that need to connect
Select WPA3
- If necessary, enable compatibility support for WPA2 (AES/CCMP) or even WPA2 (TKIP)
  - enabling compatibility weakens the security because it allows malicious stations to request a downgraded security type
Assuming personal authentication, enter a strong passphrase to use to generate the network key

Most home routers automatically configure and enable a guest wireless network
Clients can connect to this and access the Internet without a passphrase
- guest network is usually isolated from the other local devices though
Use the option to disable guest access if appropriate

For each radio frequency band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz),
- there will be an option to autoconfigure or select the operating channel
If set to auto-detect,
- the access point will select the channel that seems least congested at boot time
As the environment changes, you may find that this channel selection is not the optimum one
can use a Wi-Fi analyzer to identify which channel within the access point’s range is least congested