Despite its quirks, WPS is a convenient way to connect supported devices to your Wi-Fi network. This is a major reason routers from ISPs like Frontier offer support for WPS connections. However, if you are new to Frontier routers, you may have trouble locating and using the WPS button. In this guide, you can find the steps you need to find the WPS button on the Frontier router and connect devices using the method.
What Is the WPS Button?
The WPS button is an integral part of the WPS connection system, which stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup. WPS is designed to make it easy to connect to a Wi-Fi network by avoiding the use of passwords. That is, you get to connect a device to a supported Wi-Fi router by pressing the WPS button on the router.
The WPS button comes in handy when trying to connect devices like printers and scanners to Wi-Fi. These devices mostly don’t have a user interface that lets you enter the password. So, the option to pair these two devices using buttons makes a huge difference.
Find WPS Button On Frontier Router
Frontier Internet may provide different router models depending on your location and subscription plan. You can find the WPS button at various locations. I will give an overview, though.
Typical Locations of the WPS Button
At the time of writing, you get Frontier routers from makers like Actiontec, Arris, D-Link, Greenwave, Pace, and NETGEAR.
Arris Routers from Frontier
ARRIS, NVG443B, NVG448B, NVG448BQ, NVG468MQ, and NVG589 are some of the typical Frontier router models you will come across. Among these, Arris NVG589 is the most popular option.
Arris routers from Frontier have the WPS button on the front. You can find the WPS button below the status LED lights.
D-Link Routers from Frontier
On D-Link routers, such as N300 DSL 2750B, you can find the router on the back panel. It will be next to the Ethernet/power ports.
Greenwave Routers from Frontier
These routers have the WPS button on the front panel itself. You can locate it next to the status icons for Wi-Fi and Internet.
Pace Routers from Frontiers
Frontier routers from the maker Pace also have the WPS button on the front. You can find it next to the LED lights.
In summary, you can find the WPS button on the rear panel or the front panel. Modern routers tend to keep it on the rear panel, next to the Reset button.
Visual Cues to Identify the WPS Button
Another idea is to look for visual cues, such as the WPS symbol.
Most WPS buttons would have the symbol next to it, allowing users to find the button faster. Frontier Wi-Fi routers are no exception in this matter.
So, if you can’t find the button on the front/rear panels, you can keep looking for the WPS symbol.
WPS Connection Methods
You can use two methods to set up a connection using WPS.
Push Button Configuration (PBC)
Push Button Configuration, also known as the push button method, is the most convenient way to connect a device using WPS.
To use this method, you first need to connect to the network from the device. When it is time to enter the password, you can press the WPS button instead. Alternatively, you can pair the WPS-enabled devices by pressing the buttons on both (your Frontier router and the device).
PIN Entry Method
WPS also supports the PIN Entry Method, which lets you set up a WPS PIN. So, instead of entering the Wi-Fi password for the router, you can enter the PIN. This option is convenient if your printer has a keypad.
Security Considerations
You should keep in mind that the PIN entry method is a less secure option. It is prone to brute force attacks, where hackers repeatedly try PIN combinations to bypass authentication.
So, if you need to use WPS on a Wi-Fi router, you should stick to the push button configuration.
Enabling WPS also means anyone with access to the router can connect to your network. They need not to know the password. So, I wouldn’t recommend turning off WPS on public routers, say the one in your office.
How to Solve WPS Connection Issues
Since it’s a legacy technology, WPS may come across issues during connection. Here’s how you can solve the most common WPS connection issues.
- The WPS pairing process may fail in between. At this point, you can attempt a reconnection using the WPS button again. You should also check whether the other device has a functioning Wi-Fi module.
- Some operating systems may have turned off WPS connections by default. In this case, you may need to override those settings and re-enable WPS connections.
- Similarly, some Wi-Fi models would also set up additional restrictions for WPS connections. You can solve this issue by logging into the router dashboard and enabling the feature.
- Issues with the router firmware may also prevent a proper WPS connection. So, it’s better to install the latest firmware update before you attempt to reconnect via WPS.
I have also noticed that modern Wi-Fi routers turn off PIN entry method by default. It is a security measure that you should not override—for your own sake.
Conclusion
As you have seen, setting up WPS and connecting devices to your Frontier router is easier than ever. But you should be aware of the potential security issues. While WPS is indeed a convenient way to handle Wi-Fi, you need not compromise your security/privacy.
