The One Gadget You May Be Missing For Your Work-From-Home Office Setup
There are many different ways to improve your home office. Of course, your desk and lighting fixtures are essential parts of the space that are fun to switch up from time to time, and small touches like monitor mounts, laptop stands, and even cable clips can make a profound difference. However, while aesthetic and functional upgrades have their place, when was the last time you looked into your internet system? Like other devices, Wi-Fi routers are prone to slowing down, overheating, and aging, which is why they also need servicing.
According to CenturyLink, routers need to be placed in a spot with proper air circulation and should be replaced every few years. Another crucial aspect of router maintenance is to update their firmware and reboot them regularly. Rebooting can be done manually by pulling the power cable every once in a while or setting a reminder to do it on a schedule. However, there's a more effective way to restart your router and keep a strong internet connection.
A Wi-Fi rebooter
Your router needs to be rebooted regularly to function at its best. When it runs for too long, which is typical, it won't be as sharp as it should be. This is why an automatic Wi-Fi rebooter should be the next purchase you make for your work-from-home office setup. According to CenturyLink, the frequency that you must reboot your device will vary depending on a number of factors. Regardless, all routers need to be powered down occasionally to clean out their cache and secure a more robust connection when they're back online.
An automatic rebooting device works by identifying connection failures or a prolonged state of connectivity and power cycling the device when necessary for optimal performance. This helps to close up any gaps in connectivity, which is great for avoiding drops in connection while you're working. Rebooters can be attached to your router and often come with an app that you can use to adjust the settings. Having this helpful gadget is one more way to upgrade your work-from-home routine.
Various types
An automatic Wi-Fi rebooter often connects your router to an adaptor that gets plugged into a power source. But it may also come in other forms as well. For instance, you may opt for a remote-controlled electrical switch that can be managed from your smartphone. On the other hand, you can also switch out the adaptor for a simple cord that connects the router to a power source (via Gadget Explained). There are even homemade rebooter projects out there if you'd like to DIY! For instance, this one (via Hackster.io) involves a power cord and speaker that buzzes when the Wi-Fi is down and reboots the router automatically.
Lastly, and probably the easiest, various methods exist to program an automatic reboot into your router, with specific models having this feature built-in. If you have to program the amount of downtime yourself, ensure the router is turned off for at least 30 seconds so that it has enough time to shut down completely before rebooting.