There are two types of passwords for the router:
1. The WiFi password
2. The router management password.
The WiFi password is the “key” field in the WiFi security section. You distribute this key to your WiFi users so that hey can connect to the WiFi. The router management password is used to log in the router management console so that you can change settings, set up parental control etc.
Apparently, the WiFi password should be different from the router management password, since you don’t want your WiFi users to be able to manage the router. You should keep your router management password a secret.
Then, there is remote control. You don’t need to enable it in order to manage the router. But if you do enable it, this offers you a second way to manage the router, by logging in pcwrt.com with your pcwrt.com user name and password. However, the Cloud settings can only be changed when you are connected locally (and logged in with the local router password). This is because, when you are remote managing the router, you need cloud management enabled, and you cannot disable remote management while using remote management.
Please bear in mind that while there are multiple ways to manage the router, you don’t have to use all functions simultaneously. You can start from the simpler options and progress toward more complex ones. These options are provided so that if you need them, they are available. But you don’t have to use them until there’s a need.
This is one path you could take:
1. In the simplest form, the router is functional after you perform the initial setup. For basic parental control, simply select “OpenDNS Family Shield” for DNS in the parental control page and Save.
2. If you need MAC address filtering, you can add them after the above setup. Though we want to mention that MAC address filtering does not add much to WiFi security. And for access control, parental control is more powerful and flexible.
3. If you need something more than basic parental control, you can add extra profiles. Configure each profile with different options and assign devices to profiles.
4. If you need time control for certain devices, you can add calendars to profiles.
5. If you need remote access to the router (e.g., when you are away from home), you can enable remote control, which provides you the ability to make changes to the router by logging on pcwrt.com.
