It’s router time again – with a twist.

The last time we chatted, we had some advice to share on how to get your router ready for holiday guests. Now it’s time to turn things around a bit.  What do you need to do with your router when you’re the one who’s going to be making a long holiday trip?

The answer is: less than you may think. And just like last time, our WiFI6 whole home solution makes it pretty easy.

To start with, leave the router plugged in. That may sound a little counterintuitive: after all, you’re not going to be home using it, right?  But there are two big reasons why you’ll want to make sure your router doesn’t take a vacation:

1. You may have a number of devices that need a continuous Wi-Fi connection, such as an alarm system, security camera or garage door.
2. If you’re using one of our WiFI6 routers, keeping it on helps keep all your connected devices safe with our built-in ProtectIQ security.

If you’re not familiar with ProtectIQ, that’s OK … it’s a pretty quiet worker. More specifically, it works in the background to protect all your connected devices, whether it’s a smart TV or a baby monitor. It also provides malicious website, antivirus and ransomware defenses. And it alerts the NextLight app on your smartphone when something has been blocked, allowing you to see what was intercepted. (Don’t have the NextLight app? It’s made exclusively for our WiFi6 routers; you can get it for free at the App Store or at Google Play.)

That sort of vigilance is definitely something you want to keep active. And if you’re new to using one of our routers, you can even get one free for two months if you add it to your NextLight service by Dec. 31.

Beyond that? Just clean off the router’s vents with some compressed air before you go to get rid of any dust. And then go ahead. Leave it on. And enjoy your trip.

It’s a great way to connect to a little relaxation.