If you have the popular Movistar router, in this tutorial we will explain how to configure different parameters of this equipment that is widely used by the operator’s clients. We are going to explain how to change the name of the Wi-Fi network, the administrator password, open ports, open the DMZ and we will even teach you how to use the free application for Android and iOS smartphones among other configurations that we can perform, of course, We will teach you to optimize it to the maximum to achieve the best wireless and wired performance.
In this complete tutorial we have classified the different tutorials into sections, if you want to directly access the section that interests you, we recommend using the following index where you can go to any part of the tutorial:
- How to use the Movistar app
- Change Wi-Fi network name and password
- Create Guest Wi-Fi Network
- Change admin password
- Optimize Wi-Fi wireless network
- Configure Static DHCP
- Open ports (port forwarding or port-forwarding)
- Open the DMZ to the console or computer
Next, you can read the complete guide to make the most of the Movistar router.
How to use the Movistar APP
The Movistar HGU router is one of the most used today by fiber optic users. This often causes doubts to arise on the part of those more inexperienced about how to control it, how to modify some aspects that may be essential in the day-to-day of our connections. Luckily, we can control this router in a simple way through a computer, entering from 192.168.1.1 with the corresponding credentials. But, in addition to that, we can also use the mobile application . We already know that nowadays it is very common to use this type of device for almost everything and yes, also to control the router.
The first thing we have to do to use the HGU router APP is download it. It’s called the Smart WiFi App , and we can find it for both Android and iOS, the two most used operating systems among users.
Once we have installed it, the next step will be to register in My Movistar , if we are not. They will have to send us a verification code to the mobile number associated with that account. Later the process is simple and we will have to create a password to be able to log in. From this moment, once we have carried out the installation and registration process, we will be able to use the application on any device where we are using the App Smart WiFi application. To start session we will have to put the DNI or CIF and the password that we have chosen.
It is true that from the application, at least for the moment, we do not have as many options as when entering from the browser. However, for simple actions, for the most common ones, it is very interesting. We can create a guest network , change the name to Wi-Fi , put a new password or check what equipment is connected to the router at any time.
When creating a guest network in the HGU router, from the application we can allow access to any user without the need for a password. In this way, we gain speed and also maintain security at all times, which is a fundamental factor for our day to day.
As soon as we start the application we will find a map showing the different devices that are connected to that router. In this way, we will not only see if our equipment is correctly connected, but also detect possible intruders. In case we see that there is a connected device that we do not know, that should not be there, it can indicate that there has been a security problem.
From the application we can pause Internet access to any device at any time. In that map that we mentioned, we can click on the team that interests us and give it to pause. You will automatically no longer have access to the Internet, although you will still be connected to the router. We can reverse that at any time by pressing the Resume option. Therefore it also serves to control who can have access and from what devices.
However, there is a very important point regarding the option to connect from the browser: we can access from anywhere . We will only need to have an Internet connection (it does not matter if through mobile networks or Wi-Fi) and we can configure our router remotely.
On many occasions it is necessary to configure our router so that some services and platforms work correctly. This is common among users who want to make the most of their possibilities. We are going to explain how to open the TCP and UDP ports on the Movistar HGU router. It is a simple and fast process, as we will see.
Change Wi-Fi network name and password
To change both the network name (SSID) and the Wi-Fi password and access to the router in the Movistar HGU device, one option we have is to access the configuration from the browser. It is a simple process, since we simply have to put http://192.168.1.1 in the browser bar , and enter with the default credentials (if we have never entered).
If we have never changed the password to access the router, we will have to put the one that appears below the device, it is a sticker with a series of alphanumeric characters. Our advice is that we change that password. In case we have already changed it previously, we will have to enter that personal password.
Changing the Wi-Fi network name or SSID in the Movistar HGU router is very simple. Once we enter from the browser, the first window that we will see is precisely to change both the Wi-Fi name and its password.
As we see in the image above, we simply have to assign the SSID that interests us. By default, something of the Movistar_XXXX type will come. The Wi-Fi key will be the one that comes from the factory, and that we can see under the device. Once we have changed these parameters, we simply click on “Apply changes”, which appears at the bottom of the page.
But not only can we easily change the name of the Wi-Fi network and the password of the Movistar HGU router, but we can also choose which channel to use and, most importantly, the type of encryption . To do this we simply have to go to the section just below. There we will see the type of encryption that is assigned to our network and we can choose another. We can also change the channel. The currently most secure configuration is to use WPA2-PSK with AES encryption.
Change the Wi-Fi network name and password from the app
Previously we have explained how to make these changes from the router configuration through the web browser. However, the Movistar HGU router also allows us to carry out a series of configurations from its application. It’s very simple, and we are going to see how to change the network name and password from the Movistar router app .
The first thing we have to do, logically, is access the Smart WiFi application and have it configured with our data. Once inside, we have to click on “My network” to later go to the My WiFi tab. Here we will see the name of our network and the password. To change the name of the network or the password, we simply click and it takes us to the corresponding window.
As we see in the image, the process is very simple and intuitive. We will see a section where the SSID of our network will appear and just below the visible password . To change any of these parameters, we simply enter what interests us and click Save . As a highlight, once again it will show us the security level of that key.
However, it should be mentioned that the application has certain limitations. We will not be able to change the type of encryption of that password, for example. Nor can we change the password to access the router.
How to create a guest Wi-Fi network
Something that is very interesting is creating guest networks . It is very useful if we are going to receive visitors, for example. A way to preserve network security without having to specify the password for the main network. As easy as enabling that network for third parties to connect, and later disabling it when we do not want it to be available. Also to have greater control over who connects, that there are no more devices than we want, etc.
In the Movistar HGU router we can create a guest network in a simple and fast way. We can also do it by accessing the router through the browser, but also from the application itself. In both cases we can do it easily and in a few steps we will have the network ready so that third parties can connect.
First of all, we are going to explain how to create that guest network by accessing the router from the browser. For this we have to enter 192.168.1.1 and put our access credentials. Once we are inside we have to click on Menu and go to guest Wi-Fi . Later we will find a series of options and configurations that we have at our disposal. All this in a very intuitive and simple way.
We will see a section to put the name we want. By default it is the name of our network with the ending “_INV”. But we can change that and give it whatever name we want. In fact, our advice is to never keep the default name. If we keep the name that comes from the factory we will be giving clues about what device we have and even what company we have contracted. This could be used by potential intruders.
The next section we have is the password . We must put a key that is strong and complex. To help us, we can see a kind of traffic light below that tells us if that key is strong or not. It tells us if the strength is low, medium or high. It is interesting that this key is random, that we are not using it anywhere else and that it has letters (upper and lower case), numbers and other special symbols.
One aspect to take into account is the Security section. There it tells us what type of encryption we are using for that key. It is essential that we do not use one that is outdated, such as WEP. The interesting thing is to use WPA2-PSK with AES. Finally, once we have modified all these fields that we mentioned, we simply have to turn ON where it indicates Activate Guest Wifi . Simply with that, the network will already be available for those visitors who want to access it. At any time we can give OF and it will no longer be available.
Create a guest network from the app
As an alternative option we can also create a guest network from the Smart WiFi application. The process is really simple, since you only have to enter the menu, select Guest network and then carry out the same steps that we have indicated above.
We can give that network whatever name we want, as well as enable or not said network. A quick way to have it available for visitors and that they can connect to the Internet without having to know the password of the main network.
Change admin password
We have seen that we can change the Wi-Fi password, the name of the network, as well as the encryption used in the Movistar HGU router. However, we must also change something very important: the administration key to access the device . By default we have to enter with the alphanumeric password that we find under the device, on a sticker. Now, we can easily change this password to make access more secure.
To do this, we simply have to display the menu and look for the option « Change router password «. It will automatically take us to the corresponding section so that we can change the password to access the device.
As we can see in the image, we have to enter the old password, and the new one twice. Something interesting is that a bar appears where it indicates the security level of that key that we are creating. The most important thing is that it is safe, that it has letters (uppercase and lowercase), numbers and other symbols.
Optimize Wi-Fi network: change broadcast channel
As we say, correctly choosing the Wi-Fi channel to which we are connected is very important. Let’s say we are connected to channel 2 and around us many other neighbors are also connected to that channel. This could be a problem that affects the speed, quality and stability of the signal due to interference. But even there are not necessarily problems only if we are connected to the same channel as other neighbors, but it would occur if we are connected to channels close to the most saturated, because the channel width is 20MHz by default, although in 2.4GHz we can configure channel widths. 40MHz channel as well.
This makes it essential to choose well the Wi-Fi channel to which we connect. It does not matter if we are connected in the 2.4 GHz band or in the 5GHz band , since we must also choose which one is better for us to have the best possible connection. Having a good internet speed over wireless networks is very important. As we have seen, there are many mobile devices that we have at our disposal, so it is normal to navigate from Wi-Fi networks. It is vital that we have our router correctly configured in order to make the most of the available resources.
A very useful program to know which Wi-Fi channels our neighbors are using is Acrylic WiFi for Windows operating systems, you can also use applications such as WiFi Analyzer for Android , and Netspot for iOS.
How to change the Wi-Fi channel on the Movistar HGU router
Let’s see what we have to do to change the Wi-Fi channel to which we are connected in the Movistar HGU router . We will see how to do it in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It is a simple and fast process. The first thing we have to do, as always, is access the router . To do this we put in the browser http://192.168.1.1 and access. We must know the password to enter.
Once we are inside the router, in order to change the Wi-Fi channel , we must go to the menu and enter «Advanced settings». When we are inside, we will see that different options appear. The one that interests us is «Wireless». We will see “Wireless” and also “Wireless 5 GHz”. They are the two bands that we can use. Within Wireless we will see different options and the one that interests us is Advanced . There they will show us aspects related to the network and that we can change, among which we will see Channel , which is the second option.
As we see in the image above, we can choose the channel we want or also put it in Auto . By default it comes in Auto. In the 2.4GHz band we can choose from a total of 13 channels . The ideal would be to navigate through a channel that is not being used by a neighbor.
To change the channel in the 5 GHz band the process is exactly the same. This time we have to click on Wireless 5 GHz and we give Advanced . Once inside we will see the Channel section, which we can change as we are interested.
In the image we can see that the process to change the channel is the same. We can choose the one that interests us or configure it in Auto. When we choose the one we want, we simply have to click Apply / Save. From that moment we will be connected to the channel we have selected.
In short, changing the channel on the Movistar HGU router is a simple process. You just have to follow these steps that we have mentioned and we can do it quickly both in the 2.4 GHz band and in the 5 GHz band.
How to configure static DHCP
The HGU router offers us a wide range of possibilities in terms of configuration. One of them is to be able to configure DHCP to be enabled or not, as well as the private IP addresses where it will be applied. It is a simple process for which we will have to enter the router configuration through the browser. We cannot use the application for this purpose, as it does not have this option available.
Therefore, to configure the DHCP in the Movistar HGU router we have to enter 192.168.1.1 through the browser and there we enter the credentials. If we have not changed them previously, we will have to put the ones that come from the factory, although our advice is always to change the access key to the router for a new one, which is totally random and complex, to avoid security problems.
Once we are inside the router, we have to click on the menu, go to Advanced Configuration (we may be asked again for the password to access) and accept. When we are in the advanced options we have to click on Advanced setup (the second option in the list) and then on LAN . We will see, among other features, the box to configure DHCP . By default, it is enabled, but we can check the box to disable. Also the IP addresses where it will act.
In this way, we can activate or not DHCP on the router. However, we have an additional feature which is to configure static DHCP. To do this we must go to the bottom and click Add Entry. Later we will have to put the MAC address and the IP where we are interested. We give Apply / Save and the changes will be applied. We can add up to a maximum of 32 entries.
What is static DHCP and what is it for?
The DHCP protocol allows a server to automatically assign an IP address to a computer when it connects to the network. It is used so that there are no address conflicts when many users and devices are connected to that network. That conflict would occur if they share the same IP address.
When we talk about static DHCP, we refer to the protocol that allows an IP address to always be assigned to a single MAC address. That is, we can ensure that a device such as a mobile phone, computer, television or anyone that has connected to the network, always has the same private IP address assigned. This is very important if we are going to open ports on the router, because if we open the port to an IP for a specific device, and then change that device, we will be opening a port to the wrong device.
As we know, each device has a MAC address that is unique. A way to identify each team and that we can use to carry out different configurations in the router. For example, whether or not to allow a specific device to connect to the network or, as in this case, to use static DHCP to always assign a fixed IP address to the same computer.
In order to configure DHCP, we will need to know the MAC address of the equipment where we want to apply it. This, as we have indicated, is unique for each device.
Open ports (port forwarding)
The reasons for wanting to open the router ports can be several. For example, we could have problems with the download speed of some P2P applications, we could have problems with access to a VPN server, FTP and even problems with online games because we do not have the necessary ports open. Opening ports is also called “port forwarding”, or “port forwarding” in English.
The router is in charge of receiving and sending all the information that passes through the network through NAT, thanks to NAT technology we can navigate simultaneously from several computers on the local network without having several public IPs, each of these connections has a source and destination port, along with source and destination IP, this is called a socket. By default, all NAT ports are closed, it is only necessary to open ports when we access a computer on our local network from the Internet, if we access the Internet from within it is not necessary to open ports, because the NAT will do it automatically.
There are thousands of ports available in a router, as we say. However, to preserve security, it is normal for them to be closed. We only have to open those that are really necessary or we are going to use for a specific tool. The rest must remain closed if we do not want security problems.
The ports are divided into several sections. One of them is what is called known ports. They are the ports that go from 0 to 1023. They are those essential that we mentioned previously. There are also the registered ports, which range from 1024 to 49151, which can be used for certain games or applications. On many occasions these ports are opened when we install that corresponding software. Finally, there are the dynamic ports, ranging from 49152 to 65535, which are used to connect to a specific server.
Steps to open ports (port forwarding or port forwarding)
The first thing we have to do to open the ports in the Movistar HGU router is to access the configuration from the browser. We have to enter http://192.168.1.1 and put our access password that will allow us to enter the platform. Once we are inside, we will see a first window to change the network name or password. However, what interests us is to open the ports. To do this we click on the menu and go to Ports.
Within the Ports section, a box like the one we see in the photograph above will appear. We simply have to manually fill in the different parameters. We can give a name to the rule we are creating (for example, the name of a game if we want to open ports to play something specific). We can also assign the private IP address of the computer to which we are going to open the ports , the type of port (if it is TCP or UDP) and, finally, write the port or selection of ports that we want to open.
As we can see, we have the possibility of opening only one port or a range of ports . On many occasions we need to open a fairly wide selection of ports, so we can select the specific range.
Opening ports in the Movistar HGU router is very simple and fast. You just have to follow the steps we have mentioned to do so. It is a very common process that we must sometimes carry out to take advantage of available resources. We already know that Internet speed is a very important factor for users. However, sometimes we cannot download as we would like and one of the problems is that we are using a platform or tool without configuring correctly, without having the necessary ports open.
How to open the DMZ
Our router has different functions that we can enable or not, according to our needs. We can open ports, change the type of encryption, the password, create a guest network, etc. Now we are going to explain how to open the DMZ , something that is sometimes very interesting for certain reasons and thus achieve a better functioning of the network.
But many users may wonder what the DMZ is or why we should open it. It should be noted that this option is used to avoid certain problems when using an application, Internet games or any tool that has access to the network. What the DMZ function does is open all the ports of the router to a single private IP address (all ports, except those that are specifically open in NAT).
What does this mean? Let’s take as an example that we are using a game console or a computer. Each device has a private IP with which it connects to the router. If we want to open all ports (except those that were in rules in the NAT table) to a private IP address, we can make use of the DMZ function that is present in most home routers.
Opening the DMZ in the Movistar HGU router is very simple. To do this, once again, we will have to access the router through the browser. Put http://192.168.1.1 in the address bar and then enter the access credentials. If we have never changed them, it will be the access code that comes under the router, although our advice is always to change that password.
Once we are inside the router, we have to go to the menu, click on “Advanced Settings” (it may ask us for the password again) and accept. When we are at this point we have to give Advanced Setup , NAT and DMZ Host .
As we see in the image, a hole appears to write the IP address that interests us. It is the one of the device for which we want to open all the ports of the router . We simply have to put that address and give the button that indicates Save / Apply. From that moment the changes will be applied and the DMZ will be open for that specific address that we have put.
It is a simple and fast process. Simply by following these steps we can open all ports to a specific IP address. This time we will not be able to use the application to open it from the mobile. We can only carry out this configuration from the browser, through the gateway to the router and entering the credentials, as we have indicated.
