connection: home connectivity without stress

Soedin

An independent reference on home connectivity and the internet. It is not a provider, carrier or shop and is not connected with the former site on this domain.

Reference

Reference

This glossary explains, in plain language, the terms you come across in router settings, in your contract with the provider and when talking to support. The definitions are simplified: they are meant to help you understand what is being discussed, not to prepare you for a networking exam.

Once you know what the broken thing is called, a call to support becomes twice as short and twice as calm.

— Editor’s view

Network

Router
A device that receives the internet over the provider’s cable and distributes it around the home, by cable and over Wi-Fi. It also makes sure data from each device goes out and comes back to the right address.
IP address
A numeric address of a device on a network, used to deliver data to it. Inside your home the router hands out addresses, while the address of your whole home on the internet is assigned by the provider.
DNS
A service that translates a site’s readable name into the address where it can be found. If sites will not open even though the connection seems fine, support sometimes starts by checking DNS.
Network cable
A cable with a clip on the end that connects the router to the provider’s line, a computer or a games console. A wired connection is usually more stable than a wireless one and is the right choice for an honest speed test.

Wi-Fi

Band
The range of radio frequencies Wi-Fi uses: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and on newer devices also 6 GHz. The lower band passes through walls better; the higher ones are usually faster at short range.
Channel
A slice within a band on which the router broadcasts. If neighbouring networks use the same channel, they interfere with each other. Most routers can pick a free channel on their own.
Mesh
Several units placed around a flat or house that work as one network with a single name. Devices switch between them without the user noticing.
Guest network
A separate wireless network with its own password that has no access to your computers and printer. Handy for guests and for smart devices that do not need to see the rest of your devices.

Security

Encryption
Protection for the data travelling over the air between a device and the router. An open network without a password does not encrypt it, so it is best not to enter passwords or card details on one.
WPA2 and WPA3
Wi-Fi security standards. WPA3 is the newer one, introduced by the Wi-Fi Alliance in 2018; WPA2 is still widely used. If your router and devices support WPA3, choose it.
Admin password
The password for logging in to the router’s settings. It is not your Wi-Fi password: it protects the settings themselves, so it is best to replace the factory one with your own straight away.
Firmware update
A new version of the built-in software of a router or smart device. Updates close discovered vulnerabilities and fix bugs; on many routers they can be set to install automatically.

Where these terms come up

  • Practical

    Internet down: a step-by-step check, common mistakes and a checklist. Plus the article catalogue.

  • Questions

    Short answers about routers and Wi-Fi, speed and outages, calls, children and network security.

  • Start (archive) (in Russian)

    A note about the old home page address and a checklist for sorting out your home network in one evening.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: getting connected after a move, working from home, one network for the whole family.

  • Questions

    Short answers about routers and Wi-Fi, speed and outages, calls, children and network security.

  • Collections

    Reading paths: getting connected after a move, working from home, one network for the whole family.

  • New

    A dated feed of the guide’s articles with their topics.

Sources

  • Wi-Fi Alliance — material on Wi-Fi standards
  • User manuals for home routers

This article reflects the situation on the date it was prepared. Router menus, contract terms and the way support teams work differ from company to company and change over time, so always check the manual for your own device and your own contract.