Who do you need a USB Connector on the Asus Router?

Almost every Wi-Fi router manufacturer already has many models with USB connectors. There are routers with several connectors, and with USB 3.0. It seems to me that USB ports will soon be on even the cheapest, budget models.

Asus already has 1 or 2 USB connectors in almost every model. Now we will try to find out why USB is needed on the router, and what can be connected there. Let’s talk specifically about Asus routers. I myself have a router Asus RT-N18U with two USBs. Here we will look at its example.

What can be connected to the USB port on the Asus router?

We have already got used to the fact that you can plug anything into the USB port on your computer: flash drive, HDD, keyboard, mouse, etc. So, on the router USB is needed for the same tasks. It is clear that you don’t need to connect a keyboard or a mouse to the router. But a flash drive, external hard disk, printer, or USB 3G modem can be connected to the router without problems. That’s why you need a USB connector. This applies to all manufacturers, not just Asus.

1 USB modems – Practically all Asus routers, which have at least one USB, support connection of 3G/4G modems. Everything is clear here, the router receives internet from the modem, and distributes it to your devices. If you don’t have a cable internet connection, this is very convenient. 2 Flash drives and external hard disks – Here everything is very simple. We connect the drive to the router, and all connected devices can access the files that are on the flash drive or disk. In addition, the router can not only organize access to files, but also organize 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 necessary for the Download Master download manager to work. The router can download torrents or files via direct links directly to the drive. In addition, it can do it on a schedule.

And Time Machine lets you set up backups for Apple computers.

3 Printers and scanners – plug a printer into the USB port, set up a Print Server, and send documents to print from any device connected to the router.

You may be able to use the USB port on your Asus router in some other way. I have listed all the ways that are already initially implemented in the router firmware, and to configure them do not need to dance with tambourine. For each function, the router has a special utility.

To find out if you can configure the functions I wrote about above on your router, go to the router settings and click on the USB application tab. There will be a list of the applications I wrote about above.

I once saw a question about whether you can use USB hub with Asus router. The representative of the company answered that stable work when connecting several devices to one USB socket is not guaranteed. I think it won’t work at all. Most likely, in the control panel you will be able to select from a list of devices that will work. Too bad I don’t have a USB hub, I won’t be able to test it.

The presence of USB on the router is undoubtedly a big plus. It opens up a lot of possibilities. For example, I connected a 3G modem to Asus RT-N18U, through which the router receives the Internet, and connected a flash drive to the second USB 3.0 slot. I often use Download Master to download files. Configured that the router would download files at night, put in the task to download files or movies, and the router at night itself downloads them to a flash drive. That would not load the daytime and already not very fast 3G Internet. And thanks to the general access to the files on the flash drive, they can be accessed from the computer, and even TV. No need to disconnect the flash drive from the router.

And do you somehow use the USB connector on your router? Write in the comments!