Almost every manufacturer of Wi-Fi routers already has many models with USB connectors. There are routers with multiple ports and USB 3.0. It seems to me that USB ports will soon be available even on the cheapest, budget models.
Asus, already in almost every model, has 1 or 2 USB connectors. We will now try to find out what the USB is for on the router, and what can be connected there. Let's talk specifically about Asus routers. I myself have an Asus RT-N18U router with two USB. Here is his example, and we will understand.
What can be connected to the USB port on an Asus router?
We are already accustomed to the fact that you can connect anything to a USB connector on a computer: a USB flash drive, HDD, keyboard, mouse, etc. So, a USB router is needed for about the same tasks. It is clear that you do not need to connect a keyboard or mouse to the router. But a USB flash drive, external hard drive, printer, or USB 3G modem can be connected to the router without any problems. This is what a USB connector is for. This applies to all manufacturers, not just Asus.
1USB modems - Almost all Asus routers that have at least one USB support 3G / 4G modems. Everything is clear here, the router receives the Internet from the modem, and distributes it to your devices. If you do not have the opportunity to connect cable Internet, then this is very convenient. I already wrote a separate instruction for setting up a 3G USB modem on Asus routers.
2Flash drives and external hard drives - Everything is very simple here. We connect the drive to the router, and all connected devices can access the files that are on the USB flash drive or disk. In addition, the router can not only organize access to files, but organize a DLNA media server, or iTunes Server. And the AiDisk function can organize access to files from the Internet.
In addition, connecting USB drives to Asus routers is required for the Download Master to work. The router can itself download torrents, or files via regular direct links directly to the drive. In addition, he knows how to do it on a schedule.
And the Time Machine app lets you set up backups for Apple computers.
3Printers and scanners - we connect the printer to the USB connector, set up the Print Server, and send documents for printing from any device connected to the router.
Perhaps you can still somehow use the USB port in the Asus router. I have listed all the methods that are already initially implemented in the firmware of the router, and you do not need dancing with a tambourine to configure them. For each function, the router has a special utility.
To find out if it is possible to configure the functions that I wrote about above on your router, go to the router settings and go to the USB application tab. There will be a list of applications that I wrote about above.
Once I saw a question, they say, is it possible to use a USB hub with an Asus router. A company representative replied that stable operation is not guaranteed when multiple devices are connected to one USB connector. I think it won't work at all. Most likely, in the control panel it will be possible to select a device from the list that will work. It's a pity there is no USB hub, I can't check it.
The presence of USB on the router is undoubtedly a big plus. There are many opportunities open up. For example, I connected a 3G modem to Asus RT-N18U into one connector, through which the router receives the Internet, and connected a USB flash drive to the second USB 3.0 connector. And I often use downloading files through the Download Master. I set up the router to download files at night, put files or movies in the task, and the router itself downloads them to the USB flash drive at night. So that during the day not to load the already not very fast 3G Internet. And thanks to the shared access to files on a flash drive, they can be accessed from a computer, and even a TV. No need to disconnect the USB flash drive from the router.
Do you somehow use the USB port on your router? Write in the comments!
