⚠️ Attention: the graphical interface and names of menu items in Rostelecom routers may differ depending on the equipment model (Sagemcom, ZTE, Eltex) and firmware version. If you do not find these sections, check the official documentation for your specific model.
A modern Internet user is often faced with the need to control his home network. A situation where the connection speed suddenly drops and pages load with a delay may not be caused by problems with the provider, but by unauthorized access by third parties. Verifying that how many devices are connected to the Rostelecom wifi routerbecomes a critical task to ensure the stability of the network. Using a smartphone based on Android you can perform this diagnostic in a matter of minutes, without using a computer.
The procedure for monitoring network clients does not require deep technical knowledge, but gives a complete picture of the channel congestion. You will be able to see the MAC addresses, IP addresses and names of all the gadgets that are on the air right now. This is the first step to understanding who exactly is “eating up” your traffic and why the Internet is slow.
Preparing your smartphone to enter the router settings
Before you start checking, you need to make sure that your phone communicates correctly with the router. The most important condition is that the mobile device must be connected to the very WiFi network that you plan to test. Using mobile data (3G/4G/5G) to log into the local interface of the router by default is impossible, since you will be on a different subnet.
Open the wireless network settings on your Android gadget and find the network with the name indicated on the sticker under the bottom of the router. Usually this name begins with RT-WIFI or contains the subscriber's last name. After a successful connection, make sure that the WiFi icon in the top curtain is active and has no warning signs.
You will also need to know the standard gateway address to log into the control panel. In the vast majority of cases, for equipment Rostelecom this address is universal. Remember or write it down, as you will need it to enter in the browser:
- 📍 Standard IP address:
192.168.0.1or192.168.1.1 - 🔑 Login login: most often
admin - 🔐 Password: indicated on the sticker under the device body or also
admin
If the standard combinations do not work, the password may have been changed earlier. In this case, you will need to reset the router settings to factory settings, which will lead to a temporary disconnection of the Internet until it is configured again.
☑️ Ready to check the network
Login to the web interface via a mobile browser
To access the list of clients, you do not need special apps, any modern browser on yours is enough phone, be it Chrome, Yandex Browser or Samsung Internet. Open the application and in the address bar enter the IP address of the router that you found out in the previous step. Click the go button.
The system will request authorization. Enter your login and password. After successful login, you will be taken to the main modem settings menu. The interface may look different: for some models it is a classic menu on the left, for others it is a tile with icons in the center. Your goal is to find the section responsible for the local network or wireless connection.
Sometimes the browser may issue a warning that the connection is not secure (SSL certificate error). This is a normal situation for local addresses like 192.168.x.x. Feel free to ignore the warning and select the “Go to the site” or “Continue Anyway” option to get inside the system.
If the page does not load, try switching from HTTPS to HTTP in the address bar, manually removing the letter "s" after http.
Searching for a list of connected clients in different interfaces
The name of the section where information about connected gadgets is displayed depends on the model of your router Sagemcom, ZTE or Eltex. In older versions of firmware, this item is often hidden deep in the menu, while in new interfaces it is placed on the main screen or in the “My Devices” section.
For routers of the series Sagemcom (often found in the "Game" or "Technology" tariffs), the path usually looks like this: go to the tab Local Network (Local network), then select Home Networking or DHCP Clients List. A table with all active sessions will be displayed here.
In devices ZTE and more modern models RT-WiFi with an updated design, you need to look for the section WLAN (Wireless network) and the subsection Associated Devices (Connected devices) or Client Status. This is where the real number of active connections at the current time is displayed.
| Router model | Menu path | Section name |
|---|---|---|
| Sagemcom F@st 2804 | Local Network -> Home Networking | Device List |
| ZTE H108N / H248N | Network -> WLAN -> Client Status | Associated Devices |
| Eltex NTU-RVW | Wi-Fi -> Client list | Connected Clients |
| Universal | Status -> Wireless | Station List |
Pay attention to the number of rows in the table. If you see a device that is not familiar to you, there is cause for concern. Compare the number of lines with the number of gadgets that you actually have at home (phones, TVs, laptops, smart light bulbs).
Analysis of the list of devices and identification of violators
Just seeing the list is not enough, it is important to interpret the data correctly. The table usually displays three key parameters: MAC address, IP address and Device name (Hostname). The device name often helps to quickly identify the owner, for example, “Ivan-iPhone” or “Samsung-TV”.
If the device name is displayed as a set of characters or simply “android-xxxx”, take a look to MAC address. The first six characters of the MAC address (OUI) indicate the manufacturer of the network chip. You can enter these characters into any online MAC address finder to find out the brand of the device, even if it is hidden in the privacy settings.
Pay special attention to devices that are on the list, but are currently physically turned off or are out of network coverage. Routers sometimes do not immediately remove old entries from the DHCP table, but the connection status (Active/Inactive) is usually highlighted in color. Green indicator means active data transfer.
⚠️ Attention: Some modern Android smartphones use the “MAC Address Randomization” feature to protect privacy. This means that the same phone can appear in the router list under different addresses each time it is reconnected.
How to distinguish smart technology from your neighbor's phone?
Smart light bulbs and sockets usually have a static IP and specific manufacturer names in the MAC address (for example, Tuya, Xiaomi, Sonoff). Neighbors' smartphones often have dynamic IP and common names like "Unknown" or standard OS names.
Using the official Rostelecom application
The company Rostelecom is actively developing the smart home ecosystem, and for many new routers there is a proprietary mobile application. This is the most convenient way to check the network, as it eliminates the need to enter IP addresses and passwords manually through a browser.
Download the Rostelecom or Rostelecom Key application (depending on the equipment model) from the store Google Play. After installation, log in using your personal account number or phone number associated with the agreement. The application will automatically detect your router on the local network.
In the application interface, find the “Devices” or “My Network” section. All connected gadgets are visualized here with icons corresponding to their type (laptop, phone, TV). You can not only view the list, but also give devices clear names, and also limit their access to the Internet in one click.
- 📱 Automatic synchronization of settings with the cloud
- 🚫 Ability to block “left” users without entering the web menu
- 📊 View the download speed for each specific devices
Using the application is especially important if you often change your WiFi password. This is done faster through the mobile interface, and all home devices will require you to re-enter a new password, which will automatically disconnect all strangers.
The official application gives more control over the network than the web interface, allowing you to manage access and traffic priority in a couple of taps.
Security measures and changing the WiFi password
If during the scan you find an unfamiliar device that is actively consuming traffic, you must take immediate action. The most effective way is to change your wireless network password. This will forcefully close the connection for all clients, and you will have to reconnect only your trusted gadgets.
To change the password, return to the router web interface. Go to the section WLAN or Wireless network, then to the subsection Security (Security). In the Pre-Shared Key or Password field, enter a new complex combination. It is recommended to use at least 10 characters, including numbers and letters of different case.
After saving the settings, the router will reboot the radio module. All devices will lose connection. Reconnect to the network from your phone using the new password. Unauthorized users, not knowing the new combination, will not be able to restore access.
Recommended password format:Lowercase letters + Capital letters + Numbers + Special characters
Example: Rostelecom#2026!Safe
It is also recommended to enable filtering by MAC addresses if your router model supports this function. This will create a whitelist that only includes your devices. Any attempt to connect from a different address will be automatically rejected by the security system, even if the attacker knows the password.
⚠️ Attention: after changing the password or enabling MAC address filtering, Smart Home devices (cameras, sensors, sockets) may stop working. They will have to be configured and reconnected through the appropriate applications.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why do the list of devices show more gadgets than I have?
This can happen for several reasons. Firstly, the router can store a history of old connections (DHCP lease list), even if the device is currently turned off. Secondly, one physical device (for example, a modern smartphone) can have multiple network interfaces or use a randomized MAC address for each network, appearing as several different clients.
Is it possible to check connected devices while not at home?
Using standard means via a browser from the mobile data (4G/5G) log into the local interface 192.168.x.x It is impossible, since this is an internal address. However, if you have remote access configured (Cloud management) or you use the official Rostelecom application with an account link, then verification is possible from anywhere in the world.
What should I do if I cannot access the router settings from my phone?
Make sure that you are connected to the WiFi network of this router, and not to the mobile data. Check that the IP address is entered correctly. If your browser writes a connection error, try clearing your browser cache or using Incognito mode. As a last resort, try a different browser.
Does the number of connected devices affect Internet speed?
Yes, directly. The WiFi channel has limited bandwidth. If there are many devices connected to the router, especially those that download torrents or watch 4K videos, the speed on other gadgets will drop. Also, a large number of connections increases the load on the router’s processor, which can cause network freezes.