How to view wifi password. How to choose a router: everything you can and cannot save on How wi fi waves look like

As soon as the computer connects to the Wi-Fi network, it will no longer ask for a password from it. And most users safely forget this password, especially if it was written on some scrap of paper. This is not a problem exactly as long as you do not need to connect another device to the same Wi-Fi - for example, a phone or tablet.

I will show you several proven ways to view the password that are suitable for any popular operating system (Windows 7, 8, 10).

The easiest way to find out the password from WiFi

one . Click the left mouse button on this icon in the tray.

It is located in the lower right corner of the screen, between the alphabet and the clock. Sometimes this icon is hidden under a small arrow.

2. In the window that appears, right-click on the network, from which you need to find out the password, and select "Properties".

3. We put a tick in "Display entered characters" and the computer shows the password for wifi in the "Network security key" field.

Another easy way

This option is a little more complicated, but it shows all the wireless networks to which the computer has connected, not just active ones.

one . Right-click on the tray icon and select "Network and Sharing Center".

2. A window will open, on the left side of which we select "Manage wireless networks".

3. We click on the desired network with the right mouse button and select "Properties".

4 . Go to the "Security" tab and put the checkbox next to "Display input characters".

If there is no "Manage wireless networks" item, then click on "Change adapter settings", right-click on the desired connection and select "Status". In the window, click on the "Wireless Network Properties" button, go to the "Security" tab and check the box next to "Display characters to be entered".

We take out the password through the program

There is such a wonderful freeware WirelessKeyView. Thanks to her, you can see the passwords from all points to which the computer was connected. You don't need to install it: just download from the official website, unpack and run the program file. If wifi points do not appear immediately, click on the icon

That's all :)

Of the minuses, it should be noted that some antiviruses swear at it, since the program climbs into the settings (my Kaspersky, for example, caused a panic). If this does not bother you, use it to your health.

We look at the password for our Wi-Fi in the router settings

This method is good in that only thanks to it you can find out the password, which the computer does not know at all. For example, Windows was reinstalled, but you don't remember the password for your wifi and now you can't connect. So in this case, a router will help.

A router is the thing that "distributes" the Internet. It looks like this:

Among other things, the password is stored in its settings. To find it, you need to connect the router to your computer via a power cord (usually included).

If the computer remembers the password and connects to the network, then you don't have to.

one . Open a browser (program for the Internet), type 192.168.1.1 in the address bar and press the Enter button on the keyboard.

Most often, after that, a login / password request appears. If it doesn't, try other addresses: 192.168.0.0, 192.168.0.1, or 192.168.1.0. But if they do not fit, then take the router, turn it over and find its IP address on the sticker.

For example, I didn't even have an address on the sticker. Then I copied the router model from it (in my case, Huawei HG8245A) and typed the query "huawei hg8245a ip address" into the search engine. It turned out that the default address is different, like, in fact, the login and password.

2. In the window that appears, enter the login admin and the password admin.

Usually, this data is suitable (if no one changed it on purpose). But there may be other options, such as root or user. They are usually written on the router itself - on a sticker on the other side.

3. Open the Wireless (Wireless) or WLAN tab and look for the password there. It is often found under Wireless Security.

Typically, the password is written in a column containing the word Key, Password or Password. Often you have to uncheck the box to see it.

By the way, it happens that it is written immediately when you open the router settings.

If it doesn't help

Then you can reset all the settings of the router to the factory settings. But in this case, you will have to configure it yourself: specify the parameters of the Internet connection, network name and password.

To reset the settings, the router has a small deeply hidden Reset button (usually located at the back).

We clamp it with some sharp object for ten seconds. After that, all settings will be reset, and the router will be as good as new - you just need to configure it.

A router is a very complex device with many technical characteristics. We will focus on those that play an important role for the buyer.

WAN port type and connection protocols

The WAN (or Internet) connector is used to connect an Internet cable to the router. This is the first detail to look out for when buying a device. It depends on it whether the router will work with the provider.

A typical router has a WAN port in one of two formats:

1. DSL(ADSL, VDSL and other subtypes) - to connect to the Internet via a telephone line.
2. Ethernet - to connect through a special provider channel.

There are also universal devices that support multiple formats, including DSL and Ethernet. But they are much less common.

In the now quite popular fiber-optic networks, access to the Internet is carried out through a GPON terminal, to which the router is connected. Some routers have an appropriate connector to connect the provider's fiber directly. This allows you to get rid of the terminal, which often suffer from power surges, and remove an extra link in the chain.

Provider compatibility

Internet service providers use various technologies to connect subscribers. Some of them are massive and are supported by default in all routers, others are less common and not available everywhere.

For example, many service providers use L2TP, which does not work on every router. Therefore, before buying, it is advisable to check with the provider's support service whether their networks support the router you are interested in.

If, instead of DSL and Ethernet, the provider uses specific connection technologies, which rarely happens, then it is better to trust specialists in the choice and equipment.

Number and type of LAN ports

Computers, consoles, televisions and other stationary equipment that need stable wired access to the Network are connected to the LAN ports of the router. This connection always guarantees the maximum speed, which is independent of distance and interference.

And the more such connectors there are in the router, the more devices you can connect to it via a wire. Typically, routers are equipped with four LAN ports. But if this is not enough for you, choose a model with additional connectors.

The maximum speed of data exchange between the router and other devices connected to it via a wire depends on the type of LAN ports.

There are two such types:

1. Fast Ethernet provides speeds up to 100 Mbps.
2. Gigabit Ethernet - up to 1 Gbps.

If your provider offers Internet access at speeds greater than 100 Mbps, choose a router model with Gigabit Ethernet ports. This will help you make the most of your channel.

Wi-Fi standards

The maximum possible speed of data exchange between the router and the fleet of devices connected to it wirelessly depends on the Wi-Fi standard. There are two standards in use now:

1. 802.11n - a widespread, but already outdated version, which is supported by the vast majority of gadgets. Possible speed - up to 600 Mbps.
2. 802.11ac - the current standard, provides the highest speed - up to 6.77 Gbit / s.

But don't be confused by the characteristics: the values \u200b\u200bindicated are only theoretically possible within the technology. Real speed indicators are much lower.

The speed indicated by the manufacturer is also often unattainable in practice. This is only a possible value, excluding distance and interference.

Thanks to backward compatibility, any gadgets can be connected to the 802.11ac router via WI-Fi. Even though they only support 802.11n and older. But to unleash the full potential of 802.11ac, both your router and all other devices on your wireless network must support this standard.

Number of Wi-Fi bands

Some routers can operate simultaneously in different frequency bands. In this mode, the router is capable of supporting not one, but several independent Wi-Fi networks at once.

Many popular models are able to distribute data transfer between two ranges. Thus, they create two networks at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, respectively.

1. Frequency 2.4 GHz ideal for connecting smartphones and office equipment.
2. Frequency 5 GHz provides a more stable and faster connection, and therefore is better suited for multimedia devices that work with video and other heavy content. So, if you don't want to connect a TV or set-top box via wires, you can use Wi-Fi at a frequency of 5 GHz.

These networks can operate in parallel without limiting each other. But again, their total speed will not exceed the limit set by the Internet provider.

In addition, not all gadgets support the 5 GHz network.

Number and type of antennas

In addition to the standard and frequency of Wi-Fi, the speed of the wireless network depends on the number of antennas in the router. The more there are, the faster the exchange of data between the connected devices and the router.

The 802.11n Wi-Fi speed limit for the single antenna model is 150 Mbps. With two - 300 Mbit / s, with three - 450 Mbit / s. That is, with each antenna, the maximum possible speed increases by 150 Mbps. And in the 802.11ac standard - at 433 Mbps.

Recall that we are talking about theoretically possible speeds under ideal conditions. In fact, these figures are much lower. In addition, do not forget that the final speed of Internet access via Wi-Fi cannot exceed the provider's limit.

Antennas can be built-in or external. As practice shows, in a typical city apartment, the type of antenna is not so important. Contrary to popular myth, the difference is subtle.

But for large rooms it is still worth choosing a router with external antennas, so as not to have it. In addition, if external antennas are removable, they can be replaced with more powerful ones if necessary.

USB port

By choosing a router with one or a pair of USB ports, you can connect additional devices to it. For example, a USB drive will provide remote access to shared file storage from any device on a Wi-Fi network. And a wireless USB modem will become your backup way to go online if the cable Internet stops working.

Brief instructions for choosing

Let's go through the key points of the article again. This checklist will help you choose a good router.

1. Find out the provider's requirements for the router: type of WAN connector and connection protocols. Only then choose a model.
2. If the Internet speed is above 100 Mbps, buy a device with LAN ports in the Gigabit Ethernet format (1 Gbps). If the speed is lower, Fast Ethernet connectors (100 Mbps) will suffice.
3. If you need access to the Web only for browsing websites and working with documents, you can limit yourself to a router with one antenna and support for the wireless 802.11n standard.
4. But if you watch streaming video, play online games, use a lot of wireless devices, often download large files and are not used to denying yourself, then choose a dual-band router with multiple antennas and support for 802.11ac.
5. If you wish, you can buy a model with a USB port to connect a storage device or a wireless modem to it.

Hypothetically, if we saw all the digital signals that surround us, what would they look like? If we could physically see the WiFi footprint, what would it be? This is precisely the question that photographer and artist Luis Hernan explores in his newest series, Creative Exploration of Wireless Spectra.

Obsessed with the invisible infrastructure of waves that hold our wireless world together, Louis decided to capture the landscape of electromagnetic waves in a series of amazing color photographs. The photographs quickly gained popularity, which prompted the author to further research in this area.

Using a long exposure camera and RSSI sensors to visualize WiFi networks, he was able to create these vivid pictures. The result is a beautiful collection of surreal images, both active and static. People often abuse technology, but do not even think about its nature. But thanks to Luis Hernan, you can now imagine what Wi-Fi looks like in your home!


This project aims to demonstrate the nature of the space of electromagnetic waves and prove that high technology can be visualized. If the human eye does not see something, this does not mean that it does not exist. And the author of these pictures clearly demonstrated this by making wi-fi waves temporarily available for perception.


The Digital Ethereal project is a progressive creative research project exploring the materiality of wireless protocols. As part of this work, these impressive photographs were taken.

Hello dear visitors! Have you decided to buy a new Wi-Fi router? Great idea! In this publication, we will tell you how to choose a WiFi router for your home, what to look for when choosing a router and how not to be disappointed in a purchase. We have already told you what to look for and how not to make a mistake when choosing. We even wrote an article on how to get in the car correctly. It's time for a home Wi-Fi router.

It's no secret that today there are a lot of manufacturers of wireless routers and access points: ASUS, D-link, Huawei, Linksys, MikroTik, NETGEAR, TP-LINK, TRENDnet, Ubiquiti, Upvel, ZyXEL other. And as models of routers and Wi-Fi access points, each manufacturer can have several dozen. Which router to choose for home among all this variety? Do I need to overpay for famous brands, modern innovations and progressive filling? Let's figure it out together!

In one of our articles, we have already told you what the main principle of its work is. We want to immediately clarify the difference between a Wi-Fi router and a Wi-Fi access point. And then in stores, routers can be called access points, and vice versa. The first difference between a router and an access point is the presence of network ports on the router. And this is not casual, since the task of a simple access point is to expand the network coverage area, and not to distribute the Internet to devices.

All WiFi hotspots are designed to increase network coverage. That is, it will not work to organize a full-fledged network using an access point (there are no necessary ports). A WiFi router (aka a router) is the same wireless access point, but with the ability to organize a network. Any router can act as a switch, since it has LAN ports for connecting a laptop or computer via a network cable (). What are these network ports, we will now show. This is what a standard Wi-Fi router looks like from the back:

As you can see, there is nothing complicated about it. First of all, you need to understand for which Internet connection you want to choose and buy a Wi-Fi router. After all, there are several connection technologies and here you need to know exactly what type of Internet you have installed. Or what type do you plan to use in the future. we have already covered the different types of internet connections in our article. There are three main connection protocols: Ethernet, ADSL and 3G / 4G.

Advice! Many providers post recommended router models on their websites. It will not be superfluous to go in and check the compatibility of the router with your Internet connection.

First protocol Ethernet(the main three varieties of this protocol in Russia are PPPoE, L2TP or VPN) works over a network cable, if a cable from a provider is connected to the network card of your home computer or laptop, then your connection uses this communication protocol. The most popular providers providing Ethernet access is Beeline (Beeline), Rostelecom (Online), Dom.ru (Dom.ru), NETBYNET, Akado, ByFly, TTK, Ukrtelecom other. In fact, there are a great many of them, it's just that many of the providers outbid the channel from the larger ones. This is what the RJ-45 connector looks like on a router:

The second common communication protocol is ADSL... A provider works with him in Russia MGTS... This is how a WiFi router for the ADSL protocol looks like (the connector looks like a telephone one):

The third popular type of connection is 3G / 4G... It is handled by mobile operators such as MTS, Beeline, Megaphone and Skylink... On a router intended for distribution 3G / 4G the Internet has a special USB connector:

The first thing a buyer always pays attention to is the price. Why one router costs a thousand rubles, and another four to five thousand. In many ways, it's all about its characteristics. But before we look at them, a few words about the price and pricing market for routers.

Very often you can hear two opposite points of view. Some users of home WiFi routers claim that it makes no sense to overpay for expensive router models, while others say that cheap routers are flawed, break down quickly, buggy and work unstable. As usual, the truth is somewhere in between. The vast majority of routers are manufactured in China, but this does not mean that they are all of poor or the same quality. Here's what affects the price of a router:

• What hardware is installed in the router (processor, flash memory, etc.).
• Router brand.
• Hardware and software capabilities of a particular model.

Let's look at all three factors that affect the price. Of course, the build quality and good components that are present in more expensive router models affect the price. But if you understand the essence and look at specific models, then you can choose a WiFi router for your home for less money and do not miscalculate with its filling.

For example, WiFi routers from one of the leading manufacturers Dlink, especially cheap models, are often released with raw firmware, and the hardware stuffing of cheap routers and access points from Dlink is not designed for high performance. Eminent Asus has a varied lineup, which includes both expensive router models and relatively budget options. The latter may not be the best choice. Linksys - relatively expensive, but mostly reliable and high quality routers. TP-Link Is a budget manufacturer of Wi-Fi routers, the quality of this company's products is highly controversial. You can run into a low-quality product. Zyxel - produces a range of home models that are proven enough to be suitable for home use. True, the prices of this company are not the most democratic. Routers from NETGEAR and TRENDnet are also of sufficient quality and relatively cheap.

In general, you can run into a low-quality model from every manufacturer. But if you pay attention to the reviews and specifications, then this probability can be greatly reduced. Hardware and software capabilities are what you need to know if you want to choose a decent wifi router for your home. To a large extent, the price of a particular model depends on the capabilities that the router can provide. But is it really that advanced features are needed in everyday home use of a WiFi router? Let's look at the question of how to choose a router for an apartment, in terms of its technical characteristics.

Main technical characteristics when choosing a Wi-Fi router

If you choose a home router for the price and do not pay attention to its characteristics, then you can be wrong with the purchase. Some cheap wireless devices are not designed for high power and the network coverage can be several meters. In addition, low-power routers do not allow the signal to reach through walls or other obstacles. If you have an apartment with concrete walls or a country house with brick walls, you should take a closer look at the chosen model.

There are a lot of negative reviews from owners of cheap routers who complain that their router cuts the incoming and outgoing internet speed over WiFi. This is due to the cheap and low-quality iron filling of Wi-Fi routers. For example, if your provider gives access over a 10 megabit channel, and the measurement of the download speed of files is less than 1.25 megabytes, then it may not be a poor-quality service, but Wi-Fi.

In addition, cheap models of routers can freeze, glitch and just turn off. Agree that constantly rebooting a router is a very nerve-racking exercise. Sometimes a flashing, that is, replacing the internal firmware with a newer one, saves the device from such behavior (the latest firmware can be found on the manufacturer's website). However, you may not be lucky with an expensive analog, but the likelihood of such troubles is lower.

Now we will look at the main characteristics of routers that you need to pay attention to when using WiFi at home. If you are choosing a WiFi router for the first time, then most likely you do not understand the specific parameters. In fact, it's not that complicated. Above, we have already found out that any router has a port for connecting a channel from a provider, LAN ports for connecting to a computer's network card and the ability to distribute the Internet using wireless wi-fi technology. These are the characteristics a modern router should have, if you do not know which WiFi router to choose, then they will be enough:

1. The ability to encrypt the channel with all available encryption types - WEP, WPA, WPA2.
2. The ability to work on all wireless standards - 802.11b, 802.1g, 802.11n... N mode provides the fastest wireless connection. It is desirable that the router be able to work with mixed modes 802.11b / g and 802.11b / g / n ... This will allow you to connect those devices that I can work with 802.11n and those older gadgets that only work on 802.11b or 802.1g... Some models support the standard 802.11ac, which theoretically allows you to work over a wireless gigabit channel. But in practice, a gigabit channel is not needed at home, and you need to look for a provider who can provide such bandwidth.
3. The router must be able to work with protocols PPPoE, L2TP and VPN... The first is usually included by default in all models, but the second and third protocols are not available for all. Even if now you do not have a VPN or L2Tp connection at home, it is not a fact that you will not need it in the future.
4. It is desirable that the router has a removable antenna. This will allow you to increase the WIFI coverage area if it is insufficient.
5. The number of external antennas - the more, the better. However, for a small apartment or a small country house, a Wi-Fi router with one antenna may well be enough. If the apartment or private house is large enough, then you may have to install a wifi router in the middle of the house or apartment, or buy an additional access point.
6. Volume. It is advisable to buy a router with 64 megabytes of RAM or more. 32 MB of RAM may not be enough when using WiFi with a large number of devices.
7. It is advisable to find a router that is not the weakest. A powerful wifi router for your home is a guarantee of its stability in the future. The processor determines the maximum data transfer rate over Wi-Fi and the signal stability during device operation.

All modern routers have their own web interface with which you can. Don't worry about the lack of such an interface. In addition, all modern models have a built-in DHCP-a server that allows you to distribute IP addresses to a computer, laptop, phone, tablet or other gadget in automatic mode. Also, most routers have a built-in software firewall (FireWall), which will protect your home network from hacking by an intruder. A more specific characteristic of the router is the function WPS... It serves to quickly connect devices that support it. For those who are interested in quickly setting up a WI-FI connection using WPS, we advise you to read our articles and settings and. We also suggest that you read our articles on setting up a WiFi router:

• - how to connect a Wi-Fi router using the example of a router Trendnet.
• - even more detailed instructions for setting up and connecting a Wi-Fi router.
• - what to do if WiFi still doesn't work.

Typically, home use does not require a router with a print server (with software that allows a group of users to share the printer by connecting it via USB). Nevertheless, if this function is necessary, do not forget about it when choosing and buying a model you like. In the next chapter, we have compiled a rating of home routers based on their characteristics, which, in our opinion, are the most optimal choice in terms of price-quality ratio.