Can I Put VPN on My Spectrum Router?
When privacy on the internet is your primary concern, using a VPN is not an option – it is a must. This is why many people are trying to find the best one for them. A good VPN can alter your IP address and can also play an important role in increasing your privacy and security online.
There are two ways you can set up a VPN on your computer – you can install an app and turn it on manually every time you turn on your device, or you can set it up directly on the router.
VPN can be set up directly on the Spectrum router. It has to be configured manually for the first time. After you finish the configuration, the VPN will be automatically turned on every time you connect to the internet.
This is convenient because sometimes you may forget to turn on the VPN and create an issue. To avoid this, there is a simple setup guide you can follow and it is described down below in this article.
Can You Use Any Router for Spectrum?
If you want to get the maximum out of your internet connection, it is a good idea to use a router your internet provider is recommending. This is because recommended devices are more likely going to be able to pull out the maximum from the internet connection.
As one of the biggest providers on the market, Spectrum has assembled a list of devices (routers) that fits their services the best. Once you choose a plan, you will get a router that fits that internet speed the best, free of charge.
If you choose to use a different device, that is not on the recommendation list, you will not be guaranteed optimum performance of the internet connection. Before proceeding with the initial setup, you will be notified that you are using a router that may not be compatible with the internet speed plan you have purchased.
The reason behind this is very simple – all the devices Spectrum is offering have been tested and have proven they can deliver the speed you have purchased. Of course, you can install a device outside this list, but it will be your responsibility.
So the simple answer is yes – you can use any router for Spectrum internet service. However, not all of them will be able to deliver the best performance possible.
The good news is that with Spectrum you can replace your outdated device, once you change your internet plan. If you go for a higher grade, and the router you are using is not on the list of supported devices for that plan, it will be replaced, again free of charge.
What to Look for When Choosing a Router?
If you insist on choosing your own router for Spectrum internet, then prepare yourself since that is not a simple task. There are too many factors you need to look after.
If you are using mostly Apple devices, then it is a good idea to choose an Apple router called Airport Express. This router is great for all Apple devices, from your Mac computer to your iPhone.
It is very easy to set up the router, the VPN and to connect all the devices to it. It supports up to 50 devices! Of course, you will never have this many devices if you are using it only at home.
However, there have been reports saying that it is very hard to configure the router for use on non-Apple devices. Although in theory the router is supposed to be compatible with all devices, the reality is different.
You need to choose the router based on your needs. When there are mostly Apple devices that will be using the internet, then go for the aforementioned specific router. If you are using Android and Windows devices, then go for another brand.
No matter the brand, make sure that you have checked one specific detail on the router – the mark that is stated on the box of every device. Most routers nowadays are 802.11N or 802.11AC.
If you find a router with a B or G letter at the end of this mark, then you should skip that device. These are the marks used to describe routers that cannot provide the optimal performance since they are a little bit outdated.
How to Configure VPN on the Spectrum Router?
The router configuration may differ from one manufacturer to another, but in general, there are few simple and common steps you will need to follow. Before you actually download and install the VPN on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone), you will need to configure the router itself.
To do this, you will need to log into the router’s settings and enable VPN mode from the router’s advanced settings. Here you will see many different settings that are available, but the most important one is to tick the box that allows the use of the VPN on the router.
After this, you can proceed with downloading and installing the VPN as you would even if you skipped the previous step. The only difference is that now, every time you connect to the internet, the VPN will automatically be turned on.
Be aware that free versions of the VPN that are available online are not the best choice. They cannot provide a good, stable, and fast connection. This is why you should always go for the paid version, especially if you are configuring the VPN for router use.
Nevertheless, using a VPN can never be a bad option. VPN will provide extra security and privacy by encrypting your data on the way from the source to the destination. This way it is harder for intruders to steal your data and misuse it.
